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Haaretz conducts an investigation into the L. A. Mayer Museum of Islamic Art's planned sale of 268 items via Sotheby's.
A few comments . . . https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.MAGAZINE-from-a-tax-haven-to-sotheby-s-inside-the-battle-at-the-museum-of-islamic-art-1.9299701
A few comments . . . https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.MAGAZINE-from-a-tax-haven-to-sotheby-s-inside-the-battle-at-the-museum-of-islamic-art-1.9299701
For more on the planned sale, how it has been reported, and on reaction (especially from scholars), see this thread: https://twitter.com/MichaelDPress/status/1304841731117023232
As for the current Haaretz article:
The headline itself is very misleading.
It implies the museum itself might be part of a tax fraud scheme when the article itself only says that the founder's will was filed on Jersey (called a "tax haven"), w/no further claims about taxes.
The headline itself is very misleading.
It implies the museum itself might be part of a tax fraud scheme when the article itself only says that the founder's will was filed on Jersey (called a "tax haven"), w/no further claims about taxes.
The investigation raises several questions but provides few clear answers.
In particular, who really owns the items offered for sale (& the museum's items generally)? The museum or the Hermann de Stern Foundation?
In particular, who really owns the items offered for sale (& the museum's items generally)? The museum or the Hermann de Stern Foundation?
The delay in the sale is at least in part to allow the foundation to provide documents proving its ownership to the Israeli authorities.
Haaretz shows that all the museum's assets were transferred to the foundation years ago -- but asks if it done legally.
Haaretz shows that all the museum's assets were transferred to the foundation years ago -- but asks if it done legally.
The article also discusses section 26 of Israel's 1978 antiquities law, about the obligation of museums to inform the IAA of plans to sell or transfer items -- which of course @mokersel already raised last month.
https://twitter.com/mokersel/status/1320778319420223489
https://twitter.com/mokersel/status/1320778319420223489
Haaretz notes that the IAA was notified in June and gave its approval in July.
The museum's actions here (despite the IAA's and Culture Ministry's later protestations) appear to follow the law, but Haaretz asks whether the IAA was negligent.
The museum's actions here (despite the IAA's and Culture Ministry's later protestations) appear to follow the law, but Haaretz asks whether the IAA was negligent.
