Five national treasures to remain in UK following export bars

This article was first published by Museums Association.

Five “national treasures” collectively worth £8m were purchased by UK museums in the last financial year after being denied export licences by the UK Government.  

Arts Council England’s (ACE) annual report of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest, published this week, outlines the 16 cases that it considered for export bars during the 12-month period.

Of these, committee ruled that 15 should be considered “national treasures” because they meet the Waverley criteria (see box below) and recommended that the secretary of state defer their export licenses to allow time for a British buyer to raise funds to purchase the work.

The objects acquired include 38 original drawings of flowers at Kew by Simon Taylor, acquired by Mount Stuart Trust for £17,640, and a walrus ivory carving of Deposition from the Cross, acquired by the V&A for £2m.