[Online Seminar] Greater China Legal History Seminar Series “Collectors and Collections of Chinese Art and Antiquities: Problems with Gifts, Trusts and Legacies” by Prof. Steven Gallagher

Readers may be interested in this seminar from the Department of Law at the City University of Hong Kong on 2 April. It’s online, so you don’t have to attend physically, and I’m told that the video will be uploaded later. Registration required and the details are below.

This seminar discusses the issues in forming and passing on collections, in particular of Chinese art and antiquities. The seminar will consider the problems that collectors face with regard to authenticity, provenance and title in acquiring art and antiquities for their collection. The seminar will then discuss the issues that arise when a collection has been formed- should the collector keep it, sell it, destroy it or pass it on? The seminar explores the issues that may arise for donees of collections of art and antiquities, particularly to public institutions, museums and galleries. These may be offered important works and collections subject to restrictions they may eventually wish to avoid or even find repugnant and possibly illegal. The seminar considers the law which may affect collecting and disposing of collections, and some well-known and less well known cases involving fakes, theft, looting, trafficking, family disputes, disreputable dealers, collectors, donors, auctioneers, academics, museum founders, museum officials, and deluded collectors.

Source: The Faculty of Law of the Chinese University of Hong Kong