Lot 202: Fitz Gibbon, Kate, ed. Who Owns the Past? Cultural Policy, Cultural Property, and the Law. New Brunswick, New Jersey and London: Rutgers University Press, 2005. Fine.

Fitz Gibbon, Kate, ed. Who Owns the Past? Cultural Policy, Cultural Property, and the Law. New Brunswick, New Jersey and London: Rutgers University Press, 2005. xx + 362 pp., text illus. Hardbound with pictorial dust jacket. Fine. From the cover: "Public and private institutions in the United States have long been the home to a variety of art works, antiquities, and ethnological materials. For years, these collections have served as important archives that allow present and future generations to enjoy, appreciate, and value the art of all cultures. The past decade, however, has seen major changes in law and public policy and an active, ongoing debate over legal and ethical issues affecting the ownership of art and other cultural property.

Contributors to Who Owns the Past? include legal scholars, museum professionals, anthropologists, archaeologists, and collectors. In clear, non-technical language, they provide a comprehensive overview of the development of cultural property law and practices, as well as recent case law affecting the ability of museums and private collectors to own art from other countries. Topics covered include rights to property, ethical ownership, the public responsibilities of museums, threats to art from war, pillage, and development, and international cooperation to preserve collections in the developing world.

Engaging all perspectives on this debate, Who Owns the Past? challenges all who care about the arts to work together toward policies that consider traditional American interests in securing cultural resources and respect international concerns over loss of heritage.

Kate Fitz Gibbon is a specialist in Asian art and world heritage issues. From 2000 to 2003 she served on the Cultural Property Advisory Committee to the President.

Donated by: Peter Tompa, Washington, D.C.

• Offered By: VAuctions
• Lot #: 202
• Listing #: 198062
• Closed: Sunday, August 17, 2008 8:21:00 PM CT
• Estimate: $25