Centre du droit de l'art
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr
Canon Tables – Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America and J. Paul Getty Museum
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/canon-tables-2013-western-prelacy-of-the-armenian-apostolic-church-of-america-and-j-paul-getty-museum
The Canon Tables of the Zeyt’un Gospels were illegally separated from the manuscript sometime between 1915-1923. Having discovered that the Tables had been stolen and were held at the J. Paul Getty Museum in California, the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church engaged in a legal battle with the Getty regarding the restitution of the Tables. After five years, the two sides reached a settlement in 2015.No publisherEx gratia payment/versement à titre gracieuxSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelSymbolic gesture/geste symboliqueMediation/médiationArtwork/oeuvre d’artPre 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution pre 1970Ownership/propriétéDonationJ. Paul Getty MuseumJudicial claim/action en justiceWestern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of AmericaStatute of limitation/prescription2016/10/14 11:55:00 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+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+1PageQuedlinburg Treasures – Quedlinburg Church and Meador Heirs
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/quedlinburg-treasures-2013-quedlinburg-church-and-meador-heirs
After the withdrawal of US troops from the medieval town of Quedlinburg in Nazi Germany, the “Quedlinburg Treasures” were found to be missing. This theft was perpetrated by US soldier Joe T. Meador. After his death, the manuscripts passed on to his brother and sister who attempted to sell them. Some manuscripts were purchased by West German entities, whereas the Church of Quedlinburg purchased the rest of the treasures pursuant to a settlement agreement with the Meador Heirs.No publisherJudicial decision/décision judiciaireCriminal offence/infraction pénaleJoe T. MeadorArtwork/oeuvre d’artGermany/AllemagneConditional restitution/restitution sous conditionJudicial claim/action en justiceSpoils of war/butins de guerreStatute of limitation/prescriptionNegotiation/négociationUnited States/États-UnisOwnership/propriétéSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelQuedlinburg Church2016/05/18 10:40:00 GMT+1PageLe Grand Pont – Weinmann Heirs and Yale University Art Gallery
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/le-grand-pont-2013-weinmann-heirs-and-yale-university-art-gallery
The painting “Le Grand Pont”, by Gustave Courbet, was owned by Josephine Weinmann and her family, but after they were forced to flee Germany from Nazi persecution, the painting was purchased by Herbert Schaefer, a Nazi militant. When Schaefer later loaned the painting to the Yale University Art Gallery, Weinmann’s heirs sued for its return. No publisherOwnership/propriétéLoan/prêtArtwork/oeuvre d’artJosephine WeinmannNegotiation/négociationYale UniversityNazi looted art/spoliations naziesMax SilberbergSymbolic gesture/geste symboliqueDonationDue diligenceSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelProcedural issue/limites procédurales2015/10/27 14:45:00 GMT+1PageYoung Couple in a Landscape – Feldmann Heirs and British Museum
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/young-couple-in-a-landscape-2013-feldmann-heirs-and-british-museum
Czech-Jewish Arthur Feldmann’s collection of drawings, including “Young Couple in a Landscape”, was illegally seized and liquidated by the Gestapo in 1939. The painting was later acquired by the collector Edmund Schilling in the 1960s, who donated it to the British Museum in 1997. Uri Peled, Feldmann’s grandson, made a claim to the drawing a few years later.No publisherDeaccessionSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelArtwork/oeuvre d’artEx gratia payment/versement à titre gracieuxDue diligenceArthur FeldmannNegotiation/négociationNazi looted art/spoliations naziesOwnership/propriétéBritish Museum2015/10/07 12:05:00 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+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+1PageSt. Agatha Statue – St. Martin’s Church and Private Person
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/st-agatha-statue-2013-st-martin2019s-church-and-private-person
In November 2012, Sotheby’s offered at auction a meter-tall statue of St. Agatha, by the Dutch sculptor Jan van Steffieswert (1465-1530). It was stolen in 1976 from St. Martin’s Church, in Gronsveld, the Netherlands.No publisherCriminal offence/infraction pénaleSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelArtwork/oeuvre d’artSymbolic gesture/geste symboliquePrivate person/personne privéeDue diligenceMediation/médiationRepurchase/rachatSt. Martin’s ChurchPost 1970 restitution claims/demandes de restitution post 1970Ownership/propriété2015/02/09 11:15:00 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+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+1PageNature morte au tableau de Picasso – Héritiers Schlesinger et Phillips
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/nature-morte-au-tableau-de-picasso-2013-heritiers-schlesinger-et-phillips
En 1925, Ernst Schlesinger lègue à Johanna Meyer-Udewald l’usufruit d’une toile de Picasso (« Nature morte au tableau »). De confession juive, Johanna Meyer-Udewald est faite prisonnière par les Nazis et la toile passe par diverses mains avant d’arriver dans celles de Duncan C. Phillips, qui l’acquiert sans connaître son histoire.No publisherOwnership/propriétéLegacy/legsArtwork/oeuvre d’artDue diligenceMediation/médiationSale/venteErnst SchlesingerNazi looted art/spoliations naziesDuncan C. PhillipsSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelNegotiation/négociation2014/03/10 10:55:00 GMT+1PageBuste d’un jeune garçon – Héritiers Gentili di Giuseppe et Art Institute de Chicago
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/buste-d2019un-jeune-garcon-2013-heritiers-gentili-di-giuseppe-et-art-institute-de-chicago
En 1999, les héritiers de l’important collectionneur d’art de confession juive Federico Gentili di Giuseppe ont contacté l’Art Institute de Chicago afin d’obtenir la restitution d’un buste de Francesco Mochi (« Buste d’un jeune garçon »). Ce buste avait été vendu en France lors d’une vente par la suite annulée par les juges français car constitutive de spoliation.No publisherJudicial decision/décision judiciaireSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelArtwork/oeuvre d’artSymbolic gesture/geste symboliqueDue diligenceJudicial claim/action en justiceRepurchase/rachatDonationStatute of limitation/prescriptionNegotiation/négociationFederico Gentili di GiuseppeNazi looted art/spoliations naziesOwnership/propriétéArt Institute de Chicago2014/03/07 16:30:00 GMT+1Page14 Artworks – Malewicz Heirs and City of Amsterdam
https://plone.unige.ch/art-adr/cases-affaires/14-paintings-2013-malewicz-heirs-and-city-of-amsterdam
In 2003, 14 artworks by the Russian artist Kazimir Malewicz were exported to the United States by the Stedelijk Museum of Amsterdam to be part of a temporary exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Menil Collection in Houston. Shortly before the end of the loans, the heirs of Malewicz brought an action against the City of Amsterdam seeking to recover the value of the artworks or, in the alternative, the artworks themselves.No publisherCity of AmsterdamNegotiation/négociationNetherlands/Pays-BasJudicial claim/action en justiceKazimir MalewiczSpoils of war/butins de guerreConditional restitution/restitution sous conditionArtwork/oeuvre d’artSettlement agreement/accord transactionnelAnti-seizure legislation/garantie de restitutionStedelijk MuseumState immunity/immunité des EtatsJudicial decision/décision judiciaireOwnership/propriétéUnited States/États-Unis2013/12/17 12:35:00 GMT+1Page