Robertson on Library Security and Disaster Planning

39

State of the art

Risks to valuable artworks and their owners

Abstract

Artworks are fragile, and most disappear over time. The major risks to art include war, fire, floods, and theft. Artworks can contain inherent vice, which is a weakness or series of weaknesses arising from the materials used to produce various works. Thieves have a number of technologies for stealing artworks from galleries. But with good security, proper handling, and luck, artworks can survive for millennia.

Keywords

Artworks

Risks

Risk management

Neglect

Fire

Floods

Fraud

Inherent vice

Galleries

Storage

Owning and dealing in art involves risks including fire, flood, and fraud. What are the best ways to protect treasures and investments?

Sadly, most art disappears ...