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World Marketplace News

NYT SERVICE – Caretakers around the city of New York through a city TUNIS (AFP) – The head of Tunisia’s
program called the Historic House Trust (a partnership of the Department National Heritage Institute urged authorities
of Parks and Recreation and several nonprofit groups) may have the Tuesday to block the sale of royal artefacts at
strangest work-from-home assignments in the city since the an auction in France, saying they were spirit-
Coronavirus lock- ed out of the country. More than 100 objects
down began in “of huge historical value were taken out of the
March. There are country without any official authorization in
just 22 resident care- the second half of March, in the midst of the
takers (and, in some (coronavirus) lockdown,” Faouzi Mahfoudh
instances, their said. “They don't belong to any state museum.
families) living free It’s private property,” the head of the National
of charge to protect Heritage Institute told AFP. Among the 114
and maintain some objects are ceremonial apparel from the start
of the city’s oldest of the 20th century, religious manuscripts, poetry books and official
and most cherished correspondence, and an ancient Koran from the early 1700s. The
properties (like the National Heritage Institute is also planning on submitting an official com-
King Manor Museum plaint to the state prosecutor, he said.
in Queens, right), all
of which are now closed to the public because of the coronavirus. Scattered
across the five boroughs—some deep in the wilderness, others hidden in ARTFIX DAILY – TEFAF, The European
plain sight—they are adjusting to life without busloads of school children, Fine Art Fair, closed early this March due
or exuberant tour guides, or much social interaction at all. With museums to the pandemic. A Dutch 16th-century
not expected to reopen until the fourth and final phase of the City’s painting by Bartholomeus Spranger titled
plan, the caretakers are settling in for what could be months in limbo. Body of Christ Supported by Angels was
sold early on at the Fair by Dutch dealer
and collector Bob Haboldt, but when the
DALLAS MORNING pandemic took hold of Europe, the sale
NEWS – Dallas’ was canceled. Haboldt then decided to
Heritage Auctions is donate the painting “in memory of the
more than doubling its victims of COVID-19, not only those who
headquarters with a died but also those who suffered,” he told
move to a business cam- AP, and to inspire others in the arts. He
pus near the DFW chose the Rijksmuseum for its large audi-
International Airport. ence. General Director Taco Dibbits, who had viewed and admired the
The more than 40-year- painting during TEFAF, told the AP the museum had been losing about
old auction house has one million euros per day during its shutdown. Dibbits said: “That in
moved 450 employees a time where there’s so much uncertainty, also for the art market and
from its current location the dealers — that a dealer decides to donate a work when he doesn’t
in Dallas’ Oak Lawn know where his future is going, I think that’s something very special.”
district and elsewhere to a
new building on Airport Freeway at the south end of DFW Airport. The
160,000-square-foot office and industrial campus will combine PARIS – Love letters between the ill-fated French queen Marie-
Heritage Auction operations now housed in three locations. The new Antoinette and her lover, which contain key passeges rendered illegible
campus will be almost the size of three football fields. There will be an by censor marks, have been deciphered using new techniques, according
8,000-square-foot gallery space for exhibitions and events. to the the French
National Archives. At
the time, the queen and
NEW YORK, NY – King Louis XVI were
Currently, museums are living under surveillance
not receiving revenue from in the Parisian Tuileries
admissions or retail sales. palace and had just
New York’s Metropolitan failed to escape their
Museum of Art alone is house arrest. Much of
projecting a budget short- the lovers’ correspon-
fall of at least $150 million dence had already been
this year. Institutions of brought to light, but
learning across the U.S. are redacted lines remained illegible. Until now. “The principal conclusion
facing reduced tuition of the REX project is less about sensational revelations on the relation-
income. These institutions hold works of art and other collections that, if ship between Marie-Antoinette and Fersen, and more about the
diaccessioned, could make up for part of that shortfall. In a significant expression of feelings of hope, worry, confidence and terror, in a par-
policy shift, the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) recently ticular context of forced separation and imprisonment,” said the
approved a series of resolutions that include lifting restrictions on statement from the Archives.
deaccessioning. Even contemplating those options, however, comes with
challenges. Many institutions have never conducted proper collections
assessments because of the time, cost, and expertise involved. To assist SOMERSETLIVE, UK – A team of British money experts from
organizations to quickly respond to this opportunity, ARTBnk is providing NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have researched and revealed seven of the easiest
free accounts to qualifying not-for-profit institutions impacted by the items to start collecting, that are most likely to increase in value as years go
economic effects of COVID-19. ARTBnk uses Artificial Intelligence, by. 1. Vintage handbags; 2. Childhood toys (Vintage); 3. Contemporary
image recognition, and repeat sales regression analysis to allow them to art; 4. Books and comic books (First Editions and First Superhero
quickly assess the value of their collections and make informed decisions. appearances only); 5. Stamps (mint condition only).

6 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles