Provenances
Provenance research gained significant attention in Switzerland following World War II when efforts were made to identify and return looted artworks to their rightful owners. The establishment of organizations like the Art Loss Register and the creation of databases for stolen art further emphasized the growing importance of provenance research on an international scale.
The Swiss legal framework provides guidelines and regulations to ensure the lawful acquisition and sale of artworks. The Swiss legal framework provides guidelines and regulations to ensure the lawful acquisition and sale of artworks. The Swiss Federal Act on the International Transfer of Cultural Property (2005) addresses issues related to stolen or illegally exported cultural property. Additionally, Switzerland participates in international agreements and initiatives aimed at promoting ethical practices in the art market, mainly the UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970). These agreements encourage cooperation between countries, museums, and private collectors to resolve provenance-related disputes and return looted or misappropriated artworks.
Art dealers, as intermediaries between buyers and sellers, have a responsibility in ensuring the authenticity and ethical provenance of artworks they handle. They verify, rely and participate in the provenance research to establish the legitimacy and historical background of artworks, providing their clients with accurate information about an artwork’s origin, ownership, and exhibition history.
Challenges arise in provenance research when artworks have incomplete or undocumented histories. Provenance researchers face the difficult task of tracing the ownership of artworks that may have been stolen, looted, or unlawfully acquired. The historical complexities and gaps in documentation can make it challenging to establish a clear and comprehensive provenance.
Ethical concerns also come into play, as art dealers are required to exercise due diligence in ensuring the liability of an artwork’s provenance and authenticity, avoiding the trade of stolen or looted art. Ethical concerns also encompass issues of transparency, fair pricing, and the responsible acquisition of cultural heritage, particularly when dealing with artworks from other countries.
Links:
https://kunstmarktschweiz.ch/dossiers/
https://www.bak.admin.ch/bak/de/home/kulturerbe/kulturguetertransfer
