Tsuktiben Jamir
The Ashmolean Museum is the world’s second university museum, as well as the oldest public museum in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1683 by rich antiquarian Elias Ashmole. In recent times, the museum has found itself in a dispute over the ownership of Augustus John’s works. Augustus John (1878-1961) was a Welsch painter, draughtsman, and etcher.
Three brothers who are the inheritors of a portion of their grandfather’s art collection are in litigation with the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, United Kingdom. The estate of Lieutenant Colonel Mahlon Christopher Sands (1908-2000), who inherited large art assets from his renowned collector uncle Morton Sands (1884-1959), is the source of the acrimonious, intricate, and protracted lawsuit. Ten artworks by Walter Sickert (1860–1942) were donated to the Ashmolean in 2001 by the trust created by Sands’ estate. Following their acceptance in lieu of tax in 2011, 30 additional pieces, including 16 of Sickert’s, were assigned to the Ashmolean. The institution now contains one of the finest collections of Sickert’s work available.
However, this is but the tip of the iceberg. A number of 81 pieces from the Sands estate are the focus of the dispute, most of which are by Augustus John. There are other pieces by Sir William Nicholson, L.S. Lowry, and some other minor works by Sickerts. The esteemed Camden Town Group consisted of a diverse array of artists, including Sickert, John, and several other talented individuals. Notably, among the members was Ethel Sands, a remarkable artist and social hostess, known for her association as Morton Sands’ sister.
The premise of the dispute now stands on the grounds that the museum maintains a decision has not yet been taken, despite the heirs’ claims that they were lent out and now want them back as the loan agreement has expired. The grandchildren assert that because the deadline for donating the artwork to various institutions has passed, they are now qualified to retrieve the 81 pieces of artwork.
Tarka Sands, one of the grandsons said, “The estate is essentially paralysed and has been for some time now due to the power of discretion issue and it is the Ashmolean’s hostile claim for more art it cannot properly display that is disrupting its winding up. Twenty years is clearly way and beyond what could be considered a reasonable time in which to settle matters.”
In 2015, London’s auction house Christie’s conducted an evaluation of the contested group, and their overall estimate was around £1 million at the time. Drawings by John are estimated to be the most valuable ones; one such artwork is Dorelia Reading (undated), which was valued at £120,000 at the time.
Courtesy: The Art Newspaper.
Alexander Sturgis, the museum’s director said in a statement, “Colonel Sands’s will made provision for these works to be distributed under a discretionary trust to the Ashmolean, to New College, Oxford (his old college), and to his grandsons after the death of his wife, Jean, who died in 2003. The final distribution of these 119 works is yet to be settled by the Trust and remains at the Trustees’ discretion.”
As of now, there brews a bitter animosity between the grandchildren, the old trustees, and the Ashmolean Museum. Following a settlement, the grandsons’ lawsuit against the old trustees resulted in their removal from office and the appointment of two new, discretionary trustees. The grandsons claim that the Ashmolean threatened to obtain an estoppel order in 2014, a legal phrase prohibiting someone from breaking their promise, but it was never implemented.
Alexander Sturges claims that during this period they have endeavoured to reach a reasonable solution and have maintained touch with Colonel Sands’ family and the Trust, but regrets that this situation has not yet been resolved. The Ashmolean Museum asserts that they are open to any further discussions regarding the issue.
