29 May 2001, Press Release

LOOTING IN EUROPE

Illicit trafficking in cultural property

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) has published Looting in Europe,
the fourth volume in the "One Hundred Missing Objects" series.

European countries are not spared the theft and looting of cultural
heritage. Religious objects in particular are the main targets of
traffickers. Looting in Europe is devoted to the looting that affects
religious heritage. Crucifixes, church furniture, gold and silver plate,
paintings and other items full of historical and spiritual significance are
torn from their original contexts to feed the illicit traffic in cultural
property and end up adorning the interiors of private houses.

The book describes the situation in four countries: France, Hungary, Italy
and the Czech Republic. Unfortunately these countries are not the only
victims of the illegal traffic in religious objects, but they are
representative of a situation that is widespread in Europe.

In spite of strict national legislation and specialised police departments,
the looting continues and the figures speak for themselves. In Italy, more
than 88,000 objects were stolen from religious institutions between 1980 and
1999. In France, there were 160 cases of theft in the 1990s. In Hungary,
according to information supplied by police on thefts from churches, there
were 53 cases of legal proceedings in 1997, 79 in 1998, and 87 in 1999.
Lastly, in the Czech Republic, between 30,000 and 40,000 objects are
believed to have been stolen from religious institutions since 1986.

The list of stolen objects in Looting in Europe is by no means exhaustive.
It does, however, provide a broad picture of all the different types of
items stolen in these countries, ranging from old master paintings or
monumental sculptures to ex-votos and candlesticks. As a source of
information and a document for raising awareness, the book is widely
distributed, to museums, customs authorities, police forces, art dealers and
auction houses throughout the world.

The previous volumes in the "One Hundred Missing Objects" series focused
successively on Cambodia, Africa and Latin America. These earlier editions
have enabled objects to be returned to their countries of origin, and have
especially drawn the public's attention to the issue of illicit traffic in
cultural property.

Stolen Objects from the Czech Republic Returned

A few weeks after the launch and the dissemination of Looting in Europe in
the Czech Republic, 2 objects published in this book were identified and
returned.  Stolen in 1998, a late 17th century sculpture of the Evangelist
Mark , published on p. 103 of the book, was returned by the Dorotheum
auction house on 3 April 2001 to the Czech Republic. A Virgin and Child
sculpture, stolen in 1992 and published on page 97, was also returned on 25
May 2001 by a Czech antique dealer.

These restitutions are very encouraging. However they must serve as a
reminder to potential buyers that they should exercise the greatest
vigilance with regard to other similar objects that are offered on the
market.

By buying such items, people contribute to the destruction of a country's
heritage, and they run the risk of becoming partners in illicit trade.
------------------------------------------------------



Looting in Europe has been published thanks to information from the
following bodies, who have actively contributed to the book:
the Architecture and Heritage Department in France,
the Cultural Heritage Directorate in Hungary,
the Carabinieri Unit for the Protection of Artistic Heritage in Italy, and
the Department of Moveable Heritage, Museums and Galleries in the Czech
Republic.

The publication has received financial support from: the Florence Gould
Foundation, the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, and UNESCO.
----------------------------------------

29 May 2001


PROJECT DESCRIPTION

LOOTING IN EUROPE

One Hundred Missing Objects. Looting in Europe. - Cent objets disparus.
Pillage en Europe.
Publication of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), 128 pages,
illustrations - ISBN : 92-9012-045-5
Texts English/French. Object descriptions: English/Hungarian,
English/Italian, English/Czech, English /French
DISTRIBUTION

Looting in Europe is widely distributed to police and customs authorities,
museums, art dealers and auction houses as well as other organisations
combating the illicit traffic in cultural property. The book can be
requested from the ICOM Secretariat at the following address:
	ICOM - maison de l'UNESCO, 1, rue Miollis, 75732 Paris cedex 15 -
France
	Tel. +33 (0) 1.47.34.05.00 - Fax +33 (0) 1.43.06.78.62
	Email <[log in to unmask]>    http://www.icom.org


THE "ONE HUNDRED MISSING OBJECTS" SERIES

This series presents a selection of objects that have been stolen from
public collections or looted from archaeological sites. Excerpts from the
laws of the countries concerned are also given to remind readers of the
illicit nature of any export of these objects. The publications also serve
to make known the institutions which, alongside ICOM take action and
implement ways of fighting the illicit traffic in cultural property. This
richly illustrated of the book helps raise awareness and inform the public,
as well as its role of enabling verifications of objects.. Each issue
contains extracts on acquisitions from ICOM's Code of Professional Ethics.

Looting in Angkor / Pillage à Angkor
ICOM, in collab. with / en collab. avec l'Ecole française d'Extrême-Orient.
2e éd. Paris : ICOM, EFEO, 1997. 127 p., ill., photographs. ISBN
92-9012-034-4.

Looting in Africa / Pillage en Afrique
Updated reprint / Réimpression mise à jour.
Paris : ICOM, 1997. IV-143 p., ill., photographs. ISBN 92-9012-036-3.

Looting in Latin America / Pillage en Amérique latine / Saqueo en América
Latina
Paris : ICOM, 1997. 143 p., ill., photographs. ISBN 92-9012-041-X.


THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF MUSEUMS (ICOM)

ICOM is an international non governemental organisation (NGO). Created in
1946, ICOM is dedicated to the development of museums and the museum
profession, and operates globally for the preservation of cultural heritage.
Committed to the promotion and facilitation of professional cooperation,
ICOM groups 16,000 members in 140 countries providing a worldwide network
for museum professionals of all disciplines and specialisations.

As a non-profit organisation, ICOM is financed primarily by membership fees
and supported by various governmental and other bodies. It carries out part
of UNESCO's programme for museums. Based in Paris (France), the ICOM
Headquarters houses both the ICOM Secretariat and the UNESCO-ICOM Museum
Information Centre.

ICOM's activities respond to the challenges and needs of the museum
profession and are focused on the following themes: professional cooperation
and exchange, training of personnel, advancement of professional standards,
elaboration and promotion of professional ethics, preservation of heritage
and combating the illicit traffic in cultural property



Contact: Valérie Jullien
Tel. +33 (0) 1.45.68.28.36
Fax. + 33 (0) 1.43.06.78.62
Email : [log in to unmask]
ICOM - Maison de l'UNESCO,
1 rue Miollis, 75732 Paris cedex 15,
France - http://www.icom.org

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