Verified as of 28 September 2026.
A gap in provenance does not automatically make a work looted. Nor should it be ignored. Responsible acquisition means researching, keeping evidence and stopping the transaction when serious warning signs appear.
Warning signs
- provenance that starts recently with no explanation;
- changes of country or ownership during war or persecution;
- excavation or export without documents;
- a price that does not add up;
- a seller who blocks enquiries;
- contradictory documentation;
- an object in a sensitive category or from a country in conflict;
- a match in databases of lost or claimed items.
Before you buy
Identify the object, the owner, the seller's authority, the ownership history, imports, exports, publications and any claims. Consult specialists and relevant sources. Due diligence should be proportionate to the risk.
Importing into the EU
Regulation (EU) 2019/880 prohibits the introduction of cultural goods that left the country where they were created or discovered illicitly. For certain categories it requires a licence or an importer statement.
If a claim arises
- retain all documentation;
- do not alter or break up the file;
- check the identity of the claimant and the basis of the claim;
- inform the insurer and advisers where appropriate;
- avoid selling or moving the piece if that could prejudice the assessment;
- do not publicly admit or deny facts that have not been verified;
- look for a proportionate legal and ethical solution.
Restitution and other solutions
Restitution may result from a legal obligation, an agreement, mediation or an ethical decision. Other solutions include acknowledgement, compensation, loans, shared custody, access or joint research. They are not interchangeable and depend on the case.
Limitation periods and good faith
Do not apply general limitation periods without establishing the jurisdiction, the applicable law, the nature of the object and any special rules. Nor is good faith presumed in the same way in every legal system, and it does not replace due diligence.
Archive
Keep records of acquisitions, sales, enquiries, replies and decisions. Documenting what you researched and what could not be verified is part of due diligence.
On the open conversation
Restitution claims require individual historical and legal analysis. This guide cannot settle title, limitation or applicable law without studying the case.
If you spot an error, a broken link or a relevant change, write to me.