Art Nouveau Treasures and Porcelain Seized by Kyiv Customs Now Join State Reserves

Kyiv Customs Transfers Seized Rare Items to Museums

According to Главком: State reserves in Ukraine have received a rare Art Nouveau box and collectible porcelain that were illegally attempted to be shipped abroad via postal service. These artifacts were intercepted by customs officers in Kyiv during inspections and later confiscated by court order. The transfer was authorized by the Expert and Stock Council under Ukraine's Ministry of Culture, which ensured their inclusion in the state portion of the Museum Fund of Ukraine.

Details of the Transferred Artifacts

Among the items, a decorative box stands out for its craftsmanship. It was produced at the Warsaw factory of Vincent Norblin during the Art Nouveau period and is made of verit, a patented pewter alloy with a silver base. The box retains its original factory stamp and model number and has been handed over to the National Historical and Cultural Reserve 'Hetman’s Capital.'

Additionally, the Regional Art Museum of the Cherkasy Regional Council, a municipal institution, received two porcelain sculptures:

• The first, a figurine called Swineherd, was created in the 1930s at the Horodnytsia Porcelain Factory based on a model by Halyna Petrashevych.
• The second figurine, Tea Party, was produced between 1967 and 1976 at the Kyiv Experimental Ceramic and Art Factory (KECAF), with the model designed by Oksana Zhnykrup.

Beyond these items, Kyiv customs also prevented the export of a 1918 100-hryvnia banknote of the Ukrainian People's Republic to Australia. During inspections, over 200 coins from the 16th to 18th centuries were discovered, all carrying significant historical and cultural value. Separately, officers at the Lviv customs checkpoint Shehyni-Medyka seized undeclared German coins and a 1942 edition book by Benito Mussolini. A Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibus traveling from Poland to Ukraine was used in this attempt to illegally transport the items.

This event highlights the critical importance of preserving Ukraine’s cultural heritage and the efforts of customs authorities to combat the illegal smuggling of valuable artifacts. The intercepted objects not only hold immense historical significance but also reveal the activity of criminal schemes seeking to exploit Ukrainian cultural assets. The transfer of these artifacts to state museums underscores the need for their protection and public access, fostering educational initiatives and the country's cultural development.

In a similar vein, the State Property Fund has recently taken control of over 1,500 sanctioned assets, which include a notable collection of antique weapons. This move highlights the ongoing efforts of Ukrainian authorities to reclaim and protect valuable cultural property. For more information on this significant development, see the full article on the seized assets.