New-York tribune., 1909-10-08
HOLDING UP PAINTINGS
DEMAND DUTY ON THEM
INSPITE OF NEW LAW.
fTth 4Uenue Dealers Forced to
Pay on Million Dollars Worth
Because of Red Tape"

Paintings valued at more than S1O0aOOO and
more than twenty years old have been held nm
recently for payment Of duties by Fifth avenue
art dealers. despite the tarin act providing for
the free entry of works of art. in existence more
than twenty years prior to the date of importa-
ton.
1t was said yesterday that another million
dollars worth of paintings entitled to free duty
under the new Law were on their way here from
Europe and that the importers Of this collection
were likely TO undergo a similar experience.
T. j. Blakeslee. Fifth avenue art dealer.
after consultation with other dealers said last
night:
THE intention of the law was to admit paint
ings of over twenty years of age into the country
free of any tariff or tax Os any kind But in
drawing the various afidavits which are neces-
sary the law has been practically made inopera-
tive, as it stands at the present moment
The government demands not only the name
of the artist and the subject but the place
where the picture was painted. the date of pro-
duction, and the month even, which is simply
ridiculous 1t is impossible to give the month
and in many cases even the year. when Sir
Joshua Reynolds, for instance painted his
pictures.
"The difficulty Of ascertaining even the year
in which a picture was painted, especially an
are fortunate indeed. If we know within twenty
five years when many of the important pictures
painted.
Many valuable pictures have not been brought
10 New York lately. owing to the fact that the
ruling of the Treasury Department seems to
make the tariff law imperative because of this
data requirement. One is fortunate in most
cases if he can come within twenty-five years OF
the date of the execution Of a picture painted
from $50 to 300 years ago.
Undoubtedly there will be a ruling of the
Treasury Department that will make possible
the admission of all works of art that are un-
questionaby more than twenty years old. but
for the moment it is impossible for the dealer TO
get his imported paintings except by paying the
old duty, which he does, under protest.
Art dealers generally are paying from 15 TO
20 per cent duty to release their pictures
quickly. hoping later to procure from each seller
an affidavit, with convincing proof. that the
picture sold was more than twenty years old
Il have several hundred thousand dollars
worth of paintings now in the Custom House, or
which will arrive there in a few days. which are
affected. Of course, by this action Of the Treas
ury Department. 1 understand that the Scott
& Fowles Company, of Fifth avenue, has i'm
ported paintings valued at $4,000 which are
affected by this ruling Of the Treasury Depart
ment
"A novel feature also is that never befors
have official papers with reference to the i'm
portation of paintings been sent to Washington
for final judgment
MY brokers' Hensel. Bruckman & LOrbacher
inform me that in their judgment the duty I
have been paying will be refunded by the gov
ernment after the production of the great mass
M evidence required. Meanwhile, however. art
dealers paying duty the same as before the
tariff was revised
Among the pictures imported by Mr.. BlakesAee
which are coming 10 this country or have re-
Gently arrived and which duty has been paid
are a Rubens Diana and Her Nymphs" from
Lord AshburtOns collection. valued at 500 600
a Gainsborough. Portrait of a Lady" and por-
traits by Copley, Hoppner. Holbein and Sir
Joshua Reynolds