Collecting "Tribal Art"—Sacred or Secular?. Issue 3 (17th December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Paterson, Robert K.
• Is Part Of: International journal of cultural property. Volume 21:Issue 3(2014)
• Page Start: 305
• Page End: 318
• Publication Date: 2014-12-17
• Subjects: Cultural property -- Protection -- Periodicals; Cultural property -- Protection -- Law and legislation -- Periodicals; Cultural property -- Protection (International law) -- Periodicals; Cultural policy -- Periodicals; 341.7677
• DOI: 10.1017/S0940739114000150
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0940-7391

Abstract

Abstract: This article explores the history of collecting and dealing in non-Western cultural objects—primarily from the Pacific Islands—from the earliest explorers to the modern auction houses. It considers international and domestic laws relating to indigenous cultural material that might be seen as religious or sacred in character and concludes that while these rules clearly influence both private and institutional practices they fall short of legally impacting the functioning of otherwise lawful markets.