[CPProt.net] world's biggest art collector, Sheikh Saud Al-Thani, has been accused of abusing the system governing the export of art works from Britain

[Museum Security and Cultural Property Protection (Ton Cremers)]

Sheikh accused of art export 'abuse'
By Chris Hastings, Arts Correspondent
(Filed: 01/01/2006)

The world's biggest art collector, Sheikh Saud Al-Thani, has been accused of
abusing the system governing the export of art works from Britain.

The Government's export reviewing committee is re-examining procedures
because of the sheikh's recent activities, according to a report in this
week's Art Newspaper.

The controversy centres on the sheikh's plans for four items with a combined
value of £10.4 million.

They are the Mantuan Roundel (£7,080,000), the Clive of India Flask
(pictured, £2,973,000), the Clive of India huqqa (£97,000) and an album of
water colours of Calcutta by James Baillie Fraser (£254,000).

Last year agents acting for Sheikh Saud applied for export licences for the
objects.

However, he unexpectedly cancelled the planned exports, while retaining
ownership of the pieces, after institutions including the British Museum,
the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Trust, announced they would
try to match the asking price under the system that gives them the right to
buy pieces they want kept in Britain.

This was criticised in the reviewing committee's annual report published
last month, although it does not name Sheikh Saud.

The committee said: "We cannot overstate our concern about the practice of
some applicants for export licences indicating that they will accept a
matching offer 
 and subsequently changing their mind.

"This put those raising the money to very great trouble and effort, which
are entirely wasted. We do not consider this practice runs with the grain of
the Waverley system [of export controls], and we are considering whether to
recommend changes in the procedures."

Sheikh Saud could not be reached for comment yesterday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/