Active alerts

An alert includes a title, a photograph where one exists, a technical description (technique, dimensions, distinguishing marks), the date of disappearance and the country concerned. A reference number allows it to be cited unambiguously.

Distinguishing features are the most useful part: an inscription on the back, an old restoration, a collection label. They help recognize the object even when the photograph is old.

The list can be filtered by alert type, by country of disappearance and by object category: painting, sculpture, archaeology, manuscripts, decorative arts. A keyword search complements these filters.

To check a specific object, start with a search by category and period, then compare the distinguishing features. Avoid relying on the photograph alone.

Do not contact the presumed holder and do not take any personal action. Note the circumstances of the encounter, keep any photographs you may have taken and contact the Protection Directorate.

The Organization passes the information to the authorities of the country concerned. This channel protects the safety of individuals and the evidentiary value of the material gathered.

Alerts are validated by the Protection Directorate before publication. They are regularly reviewed: an alert whose documents are no longer justified is withdrawn, and a recovered work is closed with the date noted.

Information received after publication, for example a new photograph, may be added to the record at the request of the person who made the report.

Alerts do not disclose the owner's address or the security measures of their home. Only elements useful for identifying the object are published.

The contacts shown are those of the Protection Directorate and the authorities concerned, never those of private individuals, unless they have expressly agreed.