There are more ways to get in trouble buying and selling art and antiquities today than ever before. Buyers who fail to do their due diligence may face financial, legal, and reputational damage no matter their intentions.
Take the case of Shelby White, a trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art whose name hangs on the Greek and Roman galleries. In August 2023, the Manhattan District Attorney announced the return of 42 antiquities to Italy at the conclusion of their investigation into stolen antiquities in her collection.
At the very least, it is a lesson for every collector that relying on advice of so-called “trusted intermediaries,” with an incentive to make a sale, may no longer be enough to safeguard your investment. For Worth Magazine, Allen D. Applbaum and Naphtali Rivkin share insights on how buyers can protect their investment—and ultimately, their reputation—as regulation and risk continue to evolve in the art market.
