State Immunity and Cultural Objects on Loan

This study examines whether there is any rule of (customary) international law stipulating that cultural objects belonging to foreign States that are on loan for temporary exhibition are immune from seizure, or whether such a rule is emerging. Cultural objects have been on the move for a long time. Yet there has been no comprehensive survey to date of the current state of affairs with regard to immunity from seizure of foreign cultural objects belonging to foreign States that are on loan for temporary exhibition. This study fills that gap by examining whether there is any rule of (customary) international law stipulating that such cultural objects are immune from seizure, or whether such a rule is emerging. It also examines relevant State practice and the reasons behind it. This volume thus provides greater clarity and legal certainty in the field of lending cultural State property and should be of use both to States and to cultural institutions.