Centre du droit de l'art
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr
Morgantina Goddess Statue – Italy and J. Paul Getty Museum
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/morgantina-goddess-statue-2013-italy-and-j-paul-getty-museum
An ancient statue of a goddess, which was likely illegally excavated in the late 1970s in Italy, was purchased by the J. Paul Getty Museum in 1988 for a record-setting US$18 million. That same year, Italian authorities began an investigation at the conclusion of which the Getty Museum agreed to consider returning the statue to Italy.No publisherOwnership/propriétéIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteConditional restitution/restitution sous conditionNegotiation/négociationStatute of limitation/prescriptionArchaeological object/objet archéologiqueCriminal offence/infraction pénaleIllicit excavation/fouille illiciteItaly/ItalieJ. Paul Getty MuseumSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 19702017/10/06 10:40:00 GMT+1Page3000 Archeological Objects – China and Two British Dealers
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/3000-archeological-objects-2013-china-and-two-british-dealers
On 10 February 1998, the Chinese government and two British dealers signed an out-of-court agreement that resolved the question of ownership of over 3000 archaeological objects. Most probably these were transferred to the United Kingdom through illegal excavation and trafficking.No publisherOwnership/propriétéIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteNegotiation/négociationJudicial claim/action en justiceBritish Dealers/marchands d'art anglaisArchaeological object/objet archéologiqueUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionChina/ChineIllicit excavation/fouille illiciteSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 19702017/01/16 11:10:00 GMT+1PageDurga Idol – India and Germany
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/durga-idol-2013-india-and-germany
In the 1990s, a 10th century idol representing the Indian Goddess Durga was reported as stolen from a temple in Tengpora, Pulwana in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. The idol was found at the Linden Museum in Stuttgart in 2012. After presenting the evidence of its provenance, the idol was returned to India on “ethical grounds”.No publisherSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelOwnership/propriétéNegotiation/négociationSubhash KapoorCriminal offence/infraction pénaleDue diligenceUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionGermany/AllemagneArtwork/oeuvre d’artIndia/IndeDiplomatic channel/voie diplomatiquePost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Illicit exportation/exportation illicite2016/10/05 11:55:00 GMT+1Page89 Moche Archaeological Objects – Peru v. Johnson
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/89-moche-artifacts-2013-peru-v-johnson
After the discovery of the Moche site of Sipán (Peru) in the mid-eighties, many archaeological objects were looted and smuggled out of the country. In 1987, a smuggler who had been involved in the exportation of these objects to the United States contacted United States Customs agents and led to the eventual seizure of 89 Moche artifacts from Benjamin Johnson, a private collector. The government of Peru sued to retrieve the artifacts from Johnson. Peru’s claim was unsuccessful and the 89 archaeological objects remained in Johnson’s possession.No publisherOwnership/propriétéBenjamin JohnsonDonationJudicial claim/action en justiceCriminal offence/infraction pénaleEnforcement of foreign law/applicabilité du droit public étrangerRequest denied/rejet de la demandeIllicit importation/importation illiciteJudicial decision/décision judiciairePost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Illicit exportation/exportation illiciteAntiquity/antiquitésIllicit excavation/fouille illiciteProcedural issue/limites procéduralesPeru/Pérou2016/08/03 16:35:00 GMT+1PageBélier Malien – France, Jacques Chirac et Mali
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/belier-malien-2013-france-jacques-chirac-et-mali
En novembre 1996, le Président de la République Française Jacques Chirac reçoit en cadeau un quadrupède en terre cuite aux formes massives et stylisées. L’objet, qui provenait d’un site pillé au Mali, sera restitué sous forme de don après négociations en janvier 1998.No publisherMaliOwnership/propriétéDonationNegotiation/négociationPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Symbolic gesture/geste symboliqueIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteFranceAntiquity/antiquitésIllicit excavation/fouille illiciteJacques ChiracAd hoc facilitator/facilitateur ad hocDiplomatic channel/voie diplomatique2015/12/14 14:35:00 GMT+1PageParrot Lady Sculpture – Canada and India
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/parrot-lady-sculpture-2013-canada-and-india
“Parrot Lady” is a 800 year old sandstone sculpture from a Khajuraho temple in India. It was returned by Canada to India in 2015 in accordance with the 1970 UNESCO Convention.No publisherCanadaIllicit exportation/exportation illicitePost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970India/IndeNegotiation/négociationEnforcement of foreign law/applicabilité du droit public étrangerDiplomatic channel/voie diplomatiqueUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionIllicit importation/importation illiciteSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelAntiquity/antiquités2015/10/07 10:35:00 GMT+1PageLebanese Archives – Lebanon and University of Geneva
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/lebanese-archives-2013-lebanon-and-university-of-geneva
In 2010, the University of Geneva sent to Lebanon the archives concerning the excavations conducted at Byblos, an archaeological site located in the northern part of Beirut, by the French archaeologist Maurice Dunand. The University had acquired the archives from Dunand in 1984.No publisherSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelMaurice DunandLebanon/LibanConditional restitution/restitution sous conditionDue diligenceIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteArchivesPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Ownership/propriétéUniversity of GenevaNegotiation/négociation2015/08/10 09:10:00 GMT+1PageHopi Masks – Hopi Tribe v. Néret-Minet and Estimations & Ventes aux Enchères
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/hopi-masks-2013-hopi-tribe-v-neret-minet-and-estimations-ventes-aux-encheres
Between 2013 and 2014, dozens of Hopi’s sacred objects were sold at auctions in Paris despite strong protests and legal actions launched by the Hopi tribe. These actions were unsuccessful because French judicial authorities denied legal standing to the Hopis and considered that the sales did not violate French law.No publisherRequest denied/rejet de la demandeNéret-Minet, Tessier and SarrouIndigenous object/objet autochtoneIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteHopi TribeSale/venteJudicial claim/action en justiceInalienability/inaliénabilitéEnforcement of foreign law/applicabilité du droit public étrangerEstimations & Ventes aux EnchèresDiplomatic channel/voie diplomatiqueDonationPre 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution pre 1970Ownership/propriétéRepurchase/rachatProcedural issue/limites procéduralesJudicial decision/décision judiciaire2015/08/07 11:35:00 GMT+1PageMatisse Painting – Jeanneret v. Vichey
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/matisse-painting-2013-jeanneret-v-vichey
A painting by Henri Matisse was unlawfully exported from Italy to New York because its owner, Anna Vichey, never acquired the mandatory export license in 1970. The painting was then sold to a Swiss art dealer named Marie Jeanneret and delivered to Geneva, Switzerland. After discovering the cloud on the title of the painting, Mme. Jeanneret was unable to sell the painting. No publisherIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteAnna and Luben VicheyArtwork/oeuvre d’artJudicial claim/action en justiceBreach of contract/violation du contratMarie Louis JeanneretItaly/Italie2015/02/17 18:15:00 GMT+1PageDancing Shiva Statue – India and National Gallery of Australia
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/dancing-shiva-statue-2013-india-and-national-gallery-of-australia
In 2006, New York art dealer Subhash Kapoor arranged the theft and illegal exportation of a 900-year old bronze statue of the Dancing Shiva from a small temple in Southern India. In 2008, the National Gallery of Australia bought the statue for AUD$5.6 million.No publisherSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970DeaccessionNegotiation/négociationSubhash KapoorIndia/IndeAntiquity/antiquitésDue diligenceUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionOwnership/propriétéIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteCriminal offence/infraction pénaleDiplomatic channel/voie diplomatiqueNational Gallery of Australia2015/02/16 18:55:00 GMT+1PageManuscrit du Marquis de Sade – Héritier Nordmann et héritier de Noailles et Gérard Lhéritier
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/manuscrit-du-marquis-de-sade-2013-heritier-nordmann-et-heritier-de-noailles-et-gerard-lheritier
Les « Cent Vingt Journées de Sodome » du Marquis de Sade avait été dérobé à la famille de Nouailles puis acquis par un collectionneur suisse – Gérard Nordmann – qui a toujours refusé de la rendre. C’est grâce à un accord entre l’héritier des Nouailles et l’héritier Nordmann que le manuscrit a pu retourner en France, où il a été classé trésor national en 2017.No publisherJudicial decision/décision judiciaireCriminal offence/infraction pénaleArtwork/oeuvre d’artDue diligenceIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteJudicial claim/action en justiceFinancial compensation/indemnisationNegotiation/négociationPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Sale/venteSettlement agreement/accord transactionnel2014/08/27 16:40:00 GMT+1PagePre-Columbian Archaeological Objects – United States v. McClain
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/pre-columbian-archaeological-objects-2013-united-states-v-mcclain
This case affirmed the conviction of several dealers who conspired to sell archaeological objects removed from Mexico in violation of the National Stolen Property Act (NSPA). Under the NSPA, it is a crime to deal in property that has been “stolen, unlawfully converted or taken, knowing the same to be stolen”.No publisherCriminal offence/infraction pénaleMcClainMexico/MexiqueEnforcement of foreign law/applicabilité du droit public étrangerIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteArchaeological object/objet archéologiqueJudicial decision/décision judiciaireUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionUnited States/États-UnisPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Ownership/propriété2014/07/17 17:20:00 GMT+1Page14 Archaeological Objects – Italy and Cleveland Museum of Art
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/14-antiquities-2013-italy-and-cleveland-museum-of-art
On 19 November 2008, the Italian Ministry for Cultural Assets and Activities and the Cleveland Museum of Art signed an agreement concerning 14 archaeological objects in the museum’s collection. This agreement provides for the return to Italy of the artworks in exchange for loans of “a similar number of works of equal aesthetic and historical significance”.No publisherOwnership/propriétéIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelConditional restitution/restitution sous conditionCultural cooperation/coopération culturelleNegotiation/négociationDiplomatic channel/voie diplomatiqueArchaeological object/objet archéologiqueLoan/prêtDue diligenceIllicit excavation/fouille illiciteItaly/ItalieCleveland Museum of ArtProcedural issue/limites procéduralesPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 19702013/07/11 13:35:00 GMT+1PageTroy Gold – Turkey and the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/troy-gold-2013-turkey-and-the-university-of-pennsylvania-museum-of-archaeology-and-anthropology
In September 2012, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology decided to loan indefinitely to Turkey a collection of antique jewelry that the Museum had acquired in 1966. The collection was probably illicitly excavated in Troy, a city in Northwest Turkey. In return, Turkey agreed to provide the Museum important loans and further collaboration in the field of archaeology.No publisherSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelIllicit excavation/fouille illiciteIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteArchaeological object/objet archéologiquePre 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution pre 1970Negotiation/négociationCultural cooperation/coopération culturelleUniversity of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and AnthropologyOwnership/propriétéTurkey/TurquieLoan/prêt2013/05/14 11:50:00 GMT+1PageOrpheus Mosaic – Turkey and Dallas Museum of Art
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/orpheus-mosaic-2013-turkey-and-dallas-museum-of-art
In December 2012, the Dallas Museum of Art returned to Turkey a fragment of a Roman mosaic. In addition, the parties concluded a comprehensive art exchange program.No publisherUnconstrained initiative/initiative spontanéeSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelIllicit excavation/fouille illiciteConditional restitution/restitution sous conditionIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteArchaeological object/objet archéologiqueDallas Museum of ArtNegotiation/négociationCultural cooperation/coopération culturellePost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Ownership/propriétéTurkey/Turquie2013/05/11 17:30:00 GMT+1Page