How should an advisor approach a scenario where a client wants to purchase a work that may be looted or looted-suspected?

• A. Conduct provenance due diligence, consult experts, consider risk of legal or reputational harm; advise restricted offers or avoidance if evidence suggests illicit trade or repatriation risk.
• B. Buy regardless of provenance and resolve issues later with the board.
• C. Assume legitimacy if the work is from a well-known artist.
• D. Ignore provenance concerns if the price is attractive.

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that provenance due diligence and ethical risk assessment must guide any decision about acquiring a work with potential looting concerns. A thoughtful advisor starts by tracing the work’s ownership history, identifying gaps in the chain of title, and looking for red flags that might indicate illicit origin or improper repatriation claims. This involves consulting experts in authentication and provenance, reviewing scholarly resources or registries, and involving legal counsel to understand any pending claims, restitution requirements, or sanctions.

If credible evidence points to looted origins or significant repatriation risk, the prudent course is to adjust the offer terms, impose restrictions, or avoid the purchase altogether. This protects the client from legal exposure, reputational harm, and potential restitution actions, and it demonstrates a commitment to ethical standards and due diligence.

Options that skip this process—buying without provenance checks, assuming legitimacy based on fame, or ignoring provenance for a favorable price—ignore real-world risks and can lead to serious legal and ethical consequences. Focusing on rigorous provenance research and expert guidance aligns the acquisition with professional standards and long-term trust.