The illicit market of cultural goods: a heritage in perpetual danger

Ing. Marta La Falce

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The thesis deals with the protection of cultural heritage, both at the internationally and the national level, looking at Italy in particular. I talk about the various attempts made to ensure preservation through use of different International Conventions in Europe and how globalization has led the European Union to open up and consider intercultural exchange as a peace solution where differences, prejudices and barriers are nullified. In the second chapter I try to understand the role that cultural goods play considering their value both from the cultural point of view and from the economic point of view; both the licit and the illicit market consider them as objects that can be evaluated, consequently I will also talk about the different roles played by the numerous actors that intervene in this market in order to commercialize this type of goods. I address the problem of the use of works of art outside the official circuits, the consequences of theft, illegal excavation and counterfeiting and how illegal exports and imports have become a common practice. One of the most damaging consequences for the market is the increase in the uncertainty of the exchange where it is often extremely difficult to verify the origin of an object, also even if the theft of art objects in itself involves an illegitimate transfer of ownership and its value remains unchanged, this does not imply that the works themselves are not damaged in fact, for example, sometimes the large sculptures are divided into section to facilitate transport. In the third chapter, I talk about how this devastation is being combated and how the artistic and cultural heritage is being defended and preserved through the work carried out by the various institutions and police forces of the different countries operating in the sector, with particular reference to Italy and the Carabinieri Command - Cultural Heritage Protection, describing the operational activities carried out and finally reporting some of their recovery actions.

Abstract:

The thesis deals with the protection of cultural heritage, both at the internationally and the national level, looking at Italy in particular. I talk about the various attempts made to ensure preservation through use of different International Conventions in Europe and how globalization has led the European Union to open up and consider intercultural exchange as a peace solution where differences, prejudices and barriers are nullified. In the second chapter I try to understand the role that cultural goods play considering their value both from the cultural point of view and from the economic point of view; both the licit and the illicit market consider them as objects that can be evaluated, consequently I will also talk about the different roles played by the numerous actors that intervene in this market in order to commercialize this type of goods. I address the problem of the use of works of art outside the official circuits, the consequences of theft, illegal excavation and counterfeiting and how illegal exports and imports have become a common practice. One of the most damaging consequences for the market is the increase in the uncertainty of the exchange where it is often extremely difficult to verify the origin of an object, also even if the theft of art objects in itself involves an illegitimate transfer of ownership and its value remains unchanged, this does not imply that the works themselves are not damaged in fact, for example, sometimes the large sculptures are divided into section to facilitate transport. In the third chapter, I talk about how this devastation is being combated and how the artistic and cultural heritage is being defended and preserved through the work carried out by the various institutions and police forces of the different countries operating in the sector, with particular reference to Italy and the Carabinieri Command - Cultural Heritage Protection, describing the operational activities carried out and finally reporting some of their recovery actions.

Keywords

Cultural heritage, C.C. T.P.C., conservation, art market, counterfeit, protection, preservation, contrast, theft and smuggling.

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 2. 4. 2019

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 16. 4. 2019
• Supervisor: doc. Ing. František Svoboda, Ph.D.
• Reader: Mgr. Simona Škarabelová, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Economics and Administration

Master programme / field:
Economic Policy and Administration / Public Economics and Administration (Eng.)