The ten good practices

The first practice is to verify provenance: who owned the work, since when, under what conditions. The second is to require a certificate of authenticity or provenance. The third is to keep invoices and deeds. The fourth is to consult BIOP before any purchase.

These four actions greatly reduce the risk of acquiring a stolen or forged item. They take little time compared with the cost of a forced restitution.

The fifth practice is to declare exports and comply with the licences required by States. The sixth is to insure and document works: photographs, measurements, condition, history.

A well-documented item is easier to recover if stolen and simpler to sell afterwards, because its provenance is established.

The seventh practice calls for returning in good faith an item recognized as stolen or illicitly exported, relying on mediation if necessary. The eighth is to cooperate with the authorities in charge of the investigation.

This attitude protects the collector's reputation and often opens the way to a fair settlement, with compensation where good faith is established.

The ninth practice is to train your teams: curators, registrars, assistants, brokers. The tenth is to report any anomaly: suspect document, abnormally advantageous offer, unknown seller.

Reporting is done through the dedicated page. Training can draw on the courses of the Academy.

The Charter does not replace the advice of a lawyer when the situation is complex: inheritance, an item of ancient origin, a work from excavations. It gives principles, not ready-made solutions.

It presupposes good faith. It does not protect a buyer who wilfully ignores obvious warning signs.