Archaeological Criminality – Masters of Deceit Rhodes Forum 2013

Dialogue of CivilizationsProfessor Paul A. Yule, Heidelberg University

4.10.2013

Tell Jokha, Südirak © Carabinieri T.P.C. Italia

Prohear,Cambodia, Iron Age cemetery

Looted Artefacts auctioned for PriceSotheby’s sold the Guennol Lion, fromIran, 5000 BP for a record price of US$57.2 Million

http://archaeoporn.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/looted-object-sold-for-record-price/ http://artmuseumjournal.com/guennol_lioness.aspx

height: 8 cm

Sensational US$69m record for Chinese work of art at a small auction house in Ruislip/UK

http://www.antiquestradegazette.com/news/2010/nov/15/sensational-%C2%A343m-record-for-chinese-work-of-art-in-ruislip/

Record Prices for Art Sold PrivatelyExchange rates are based on the bank selling

rate for the day of the sale. 1.$140m - Jackson Pollock's 1948 drip painting No 5. Sold by David Geffen to Mexican financier David Martinez in a private deal brokered by Sotheby's in November 2006.

2. $135m - Gustav Klimt's 1907 Adele Bloch-Bauer I. Sold by Marian Altman to cosmetics magnate Ronald Lauder, founder of the Neue Galerie in New York, for $135m (£77m) in a private deal brokered by Christie's in June 2006.

3. $80m - Jasper Johns' False Start. Sold by David Geffen to Kenneth C. Griffin in October 2006.

http://www.antiquestradegazette.com/essential-info/top-ten-prices/

selected recent titles on art theft

2005 2006 2008 2013

2009 2009 2006 2009

selected recent titles on art theft

2006 2013 2004 2012

201020002006

Number of hits in Google regarding criminality in art and archaeology

1 art smuggling 233.000.0002 art theft 101.000.0003 art tax evasion 9.100.0004 art organized crime 8.290.0005 art forgery 7.550.0006 art money laundering 5.550.0007 art smuggle legislation 5.180.0008 internet art criminality 5.040.000

9 illicit art trade 4.690.00010 art criminality 2.550.00011 illegal excavation 2.030.00012 taliban art smuggling 1.340.000

13 art dealer lobbying 588.00014 antiquities smuggling 457.000

Source: Arts Economics (2012) with data from Artnet and ASI (artnet.com) copyright 2013

How large is the commercial art market?

Source: artsation.com 2013

$60

$40

$20

$0

Sales in the Global Art M arket 1990-2011billion U SD

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

$27.2

$9.7$14.3

$19.9

$65.8

$39.4

$64.1

source: UNESCO, THE FIGHT AGAINST THE ILLICIT TRAFFICKING OF CULTURAL OBJECTS THE 1970 CONVENTION: PAST AND FUTURE15.03.2011

Source: UN international Crime estimate for 2010

G. Norm

an 19

90

House o

f Com

m ons 20

02

billion USD/year160140120100806040200

C. Fo

rrest 2010

UNESCO

2011

M . An

ton 20

11

cocain

weapons

100806040200

heroin

forgery

cyber crim

e

billion USD/yearVolume of stolen/smuggled antiquities in relation to other crimes

High-end art is one of the most manipulated markets in the worldA. Schrager, 11 July 2013

Tombaroli Capo Zona (cordata) dealer

classical triangular or row deal

collector, museum

Watson, Todeschini, Die Medici Verschwörung, 2006

Tombaroli Capo Zona (cordata) dealer

mirage affiliates,clandestine affiliates, colluding colleagues,auction houses

classical triangular or row deal

collector, museum

Tombaroli Capo Zona (cordata) dealer

mirage affiliates,clandestine affiliates, colluding colleagues,auction houses

no contact allowed!!

collector, museum

classical triangular or row deal

Thank you very much!

paul.yule@t-online.de

University of Heidelberg