Centre du droit de l'art
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr
La Bergère – Meyer Heirs and Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/la-bergere-2013-meyer-heirs-and-fred-jones-jr-museum-of-art
Raoul Meyer’s art collection, which included Camille Pissarro’s painting “La bergère rentrant des moutons”, was looted by Nazi troops during the occupation of France in early 1940s. Decades later, Meyer’s daughter and heir, Léone Meyer, discovered the painting at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma, and initiated a lawsuit in the United States seeking its return. After a three-year litigation, the two sides reached a settlement in 2016. The latter was denounced by Ms. Meyer. Eventually, the lawsuit was dropped and ownership of the painting was transferred to the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. No publisherJudicial decision/décision judiciaireSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelRaoul MeyerArtwork/oeuvre d’artSymbolic gesture/geste symboliqueFred Jones Jr. Museum of Art at the University of OklahomaConditional restitution/restitution sous conditionDue diligenceJudicial claim/action en justiceDonationProcedural issue/limites procéduralesCultural cooperation/coopération culturelleNazi looted art/spoliations naziesOwnership/propriétéShared custody/co-possessionLoan/prêt2017/01/16 12:55:00 GMT+1PageKhmer Statue – Cambodia and Sotheby’s and the United States
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/khmer-statue-2013-cambodia-and-sotheby2019s-and-the-united-states
In March 2011, Sotheby’s offered at auction in New York a Khmer statue. The statue was pulled out of the sale as a result of Cambodia’s request for its restitution. Cambodia claimed that it was illegally removed from the site Koh Ker during the 1970s and should be returned to them. No publisherOwnership/propriétéCambodia/CambodgeJudicial claim/action en justiceRuspoli Di Poggia SuasaNegotiation/négociationUnited States/États-UnisSotheby'sArchaeological object/objet archéologiqueUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionCriminal offence/infraction pénaleSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelAd hoc facilitator/facilitateur ad hocPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 19702014/06/30 16:35:00 GMT+1PageKennewick Man – Bonnichsen v. United States
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/kennewick-man-2013-bonnichsen-v-united-states
The skeleton of a 9,000 year old man was discovered on Federal territory near the city of Kennewick, Washington. Authorities decided to grant the request of five American Indian tribes, and transferred the remains to those tribes for burial. Several scientists, including Robson Bonnichsen, opposed the return and filed suit in the District Court of Oregon. Finding that evidence was not sufficient to link the remains to any present-day American Indian tribe, the District Court vacated the authority’s decision and ordered further examination of the remains. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the order on appeal.No publisherRequest denied/rejet de la demandeOwnership/propriétéPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Judicial claim/action en justicePrivate person/personne privéeJudicial decision/décision judiciaireUnited States/États-UnisHuman remains/restes humains2013/07/29 13:35:00 GMT+1PageKanakaria Mosaics – Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus and Cyprus v. Goldberg
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/kanakaria-mosaics-2013-autocephalous-greek-orthodox-church-of-cyprus-and-cyprus-v-goldberg
Four mosaics were stolen from the Cypriot Church of the Panagia Kanakaria in Lythrankomi, following the Turkish military intervention in Cyprus of 1974. Afterwards, they were purchased by an American art dealer, Peg Goldberg. In 1989, the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus traced the mosaics to Indiana and filed a judicial claim to obtain restitution.No publisherOwnership/propriétéCyprus/ChypreJudicial claim/action en justiceDue diligenceStatute of limitation/prescriptionJudicial decision/décision judiciairePost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of CyprusAntiquity/antiquitésUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionGoldbergChoice of law/droit applicable2013/04/25 16:10:00 GMT+1PageKa Nefer Nefer Mask – United States v. Mask of Ka Nefer Nefer
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/ka-nefer-nefer-mask-2013-united-states-v-mask-of-ka-nefer-nefer
On July 28, 2014, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the request of the United States Government to take further legal action regarding the St. Louis Art Museum’s ownership of the 3200 year old Egyptian Ka Nefer Nefer funerary mask. No publisherOwnership/propriétéSt. Louis Art MuseumJudicial decision/décision judiciaireJudicial claim/action en justiceCriminal offence/infraction pénaleNegotiation/négociationRequest denied/rejet de la demandeArchaeological object/objet archéologiqueIllicit importation/importation illiciteUnited States/États-UnisEgypt/EgypteProcedural issue/limites procéduralesPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 19702015/07/17 11:45:00 GMT+1PageJiroft Collection – Iran v. Barakat Galleries
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/jiroft-collection-2013-iran-v-barakat-galleries
The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran sued the London-based Barakat Galleries seeking the restitution of a collection of eighteen carved jars, bowls and cups which had been illicitly excavated in the Jiroft region, in Southeast Iran, and subsequently exported abroad. The Court of Appeal, overruling the trial court decision, held that the relevant laws of Iran were sufficiently clear to vest ownership title and an immediate right of possession of the relics in the Iranian State.No publisherOwnership/propriétéIllicit exportation/exportation illiciteJudicial decision/décision judiciaireIranUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionEnforcement of foreign law/applicabilité du droit public étrangerArchaeological object/objet archéologiqueThe Barakat Galleries Ltd.Choice of law/droit applicableJudicial claim/action en justiceIllicit excavation/fouille illiciteProcedural issue/limites procéduralesPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 19702013/02/19 12:10:00 GMT+1PageJardin à Auvers – Agent judiciare du Trésor c. Walter
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/jardin-a-auvers-2013-agent-judiciare-du-tresor-c-walter
Dans son arrêt du 20 février 1996, la Cour de Cassation de la France a condamné l’Etat français à indemniser le propriétaire d’un tableau dont l’exportation avait été refusée pour cause de classement d’office. No publisherAgent judiciaire du TrésorOwnership/propriétéJudicial claim/action en justiceFinancial compensation/indemnisationJacques WalterArtwork/oeuvre d’artFranceJudicial decision/décision judiciaireExpropriation2013/05/15 11:50:00 GMT+1PageInakayal Human Remains – Argentina, Museo de La Plata and Tehuelche People
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/inakayal-human-remains-2013-argentina-museo-de-la-plata-and-tehuelche-people
Inakayal was a leader of the Tehuelche people, a native tribe of Patagonia (Argentina). In 1884, he was captured by the Argentinian army. After his death in 1888 his remains became part of the collection of the Museo de La Plata.No publisherOwnership/propriétéHuman remains/restes humainsDeaccessionUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionTehuelche PeopleDiplomatic channel/voie diplomatiquePost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Argentina/ArgentineMuseo de La Plata2013/04/25 09:45:00 GMT+1PageIcklingham Bronzes – John Browning and Leon Levy and Shelby White
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/icklingham-bronzes-2013-john-browning-and-leon-levy-and-shelby-white
A group of antiquities known as the “Icklingham Bronzes” were illicitly excavated from the farm of John Browning sometime in the early 1980s. By 1989 they were on sale in New York. John Browning formally demanded the restitution of the Bronzes from Leon Levy and Shelby White, the good faith purchasers, but the request was rejected.No publisherLeon LevyOwnership/propriétéIllicit exportation/exportation illicitePost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Shelby WhiteJudicial claim/action en justiceNegotiation/négociationArchaeological object/objet archéologiqueDonationDue diligenceJohn BrowningIllicit excavation/fouille illiciteAriadne GalleriesSettlement agreement/accord transactionnel2013/02/18 18:50:00 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+1PageGuelph Treasure – Alan Philipp, Gerald G. Stiebel and Jed R. Leiber v. Germany and Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/case-guelph-treasure-2013-alan-philipp-gerald-g-stiebel-and-jed-r-leiber-v-germany-and-prussian-cultural-heritage-foundation-1
A collection of medieval ecclesiastical art is claimed by the heirs of three Jewish dealers, who allege that the collection was sold under duress during the Nazi era. After an unsuccessful conciliation in front of Germany’s Advisory Commission, the claim is being litigated before the courts of the United States. On 3 February 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favour of Germany on the interpretation of the expropriation exception in the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.No publisherJudicial decision/décision judiciaireOngoing dispute/litige en coursGermany/AllemagneConciliationArtwork/oeuvre d’artState immunity/immunité des EtatsExpropriationInstitutional facilitator/facilitateur institutionnelGerald G. StiebelJudicial claim/action en justiceAlan PhilippJed R. LeiberJurisdiction/conflit de jurisdictionState responsibility/responsabilité internationale des EtatsPrussian Cultural Heritage FoundationNazi looted art/spoliations naziesOwnership/propriétéNegotiation/négociation2021/06/28 10:20:00 GMT+1PageGreat Zimbabwe Bird – Zimbabwe and Prussia Cultural Heritage Foundation, Germany
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/great-zimbabwe-bird-2013-zimbabwe-and-prussia-cultural-heritage-foundation-germany
The lower half of a stone bird discovered in Zimbabwe under dubious circumstances was bought by the Museum für Völkerkunde in Berlin around 1907. During the Second World War, the stone was removed by the Russian Army. After the fall of the Soviet Union, it was returned to the Museum für Völkerkunde in Berlin. In 2000, the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation – which managed the collection of this museum – under the pressure of the German federal government finally returned the fragment of the stone bird to Zimbabwe under the terms of a permanent loan.No publisherColonialism/colonialismeNegotiation/négociationAd hoc facilitator/facilitateur ad hocZimbabweOwnership/propriétéGermany/AllemagnePrussia Cultural Heritage FoundationIndigenous object/objet autochtoneDiplomatic channel/voie diplomatiqueIllicit excavation/fouille illiciteLoan/prêt2013/04/05 11:50:00 GMT+1PageGravures Dja Dja Wurrung – Musée de Melbourne c. Dja Dja Wurrung
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/gravures-dja-dja-wurrung-2013-musee-de-melbourne-c-dja-dja-wurrung
Au printemps 2004, le Musée de Melbourne organise une exposition d’œuvres sur écorces aborigènes. Parmi les biens présentés figurent deux anciennes gravures sur écorces prêtées par le British Museum et les Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. La tribu australienne Dja Dja Wurrung bloque le retour de ces objets en Angleterre. Après des négociations et une médiation infructueuses avec les représentants Dja Dja Wurrung, le Musée de Melbourne intente une action judiciaire.No publisherMediation/médiationDja Dja WurrungDeaccessionJudicial claim/action en justiceRequest denied/rejet de la demandeBreach of contract/violation du contratPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Judicial decision/décision judiciaireOwnership/propriétéMelbourne Museum/Musée de MelbourneNegotiation/négociationColonialism/colonialisme2017/11/16 12:50:00 GMT+1PageFresques de Casenoves – Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de la Ville de Genève et la France
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/fresques-de-casenoves-2013-musee-d2019art-et-d2019histoire-de-la-ville-de-geneve-et-ministere-de-la-culture-francais
Le 1er juillet 1997, le Musée d’art et d’histoire de la Ville de Genève et l'Etat français, representé par son Ministère de la culture, ont signé un accord portant sur le prêt de deux fragments des fresques de Casenoves (Christ en Majesté et Adoration des Mages). Le 19 mars 2003, le Conseil administratif de la Ville de Genève a décidé de transformer ce prêt en donation.
No publisherOwnership/propriétéNegotiation/négociationDonationJudicial claim/action en justiceArtwork/oeuvre d’artLoan/prêtPre 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution pre 1970Abegg Foundation/Fondation AbeggSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelFranceJudicial decision/décision judiciaireMusée d'Art et d'Histoire de GenèveJurisdiction/conflit de jurisdictionInalienability/inaliénabilité2013/02/20 11:55:00 GMT+1PageFive Schiele Watercolors – Leopold Museum and Eva Zirkl
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/five-schiele-watercolors-leopold-museum-and-eva-zirkl
Karl Mayländer, a Jewish businessman and art collector, was deported from Austria to occupied Poland and later killed in the Holocaust. Before leaving, he left his art collection to his partner who later sold it. Five Schiele watercolors from his collection came into the possession of the Leopold Museum. Negotiations between the museum and Eva Zirkl, Mayländer’s heir, concluded with the return of two of the five watercolors to Zirkl.No publisherArtwork/oeuvre d’artSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelNegotiation/négociationAd hoc facilitator/facilitateur ad hocLeopold MuseumEva ZirklUnconditional restitution/restitution sans conditionOwnership/propriétéKarl MayländerNazi looted art/spoliations naziesProcedural issue/limites procédurales2016/07/27 13:55:00 GMT+1Page