Explore: Customs Laws

2Brancusi Vs. United States, the Historic Trial, 1928

By Margit Rowell and André Paleologue

When Marcel Duchamp arrived in New York in October 1926 with a consignment of Brancusi sculptures for a one-man exhibition of the sculptor's work, a series of events began which resulted in a new definition of art in America. The American Customs authorities denied Brancusi's sculptures the duty-free entry which normally applied to works of art, on the grounds that the works did not appear to be sculpture. Duchamp appealed on Brancusi's behalf, and the resulting trial, Brancusi vs. United States, became famous as the moment at which the legal definition ora work of art changed to embrace the modern. The trial focussed around the 1923 work, Bird in Space. Slender, tapered and bronze in color, with a mirror-like surface, to the authorities it appeared to be some kind of industrial object, certainly not one with the characteristics of art: Q: Why do you regard Exhibit I as not a work of art? A: It is too abstract and a misuse of the form of sculpture... I don't think it has the sense of beauty. Q: ... If it had been given a head to it would that have aroused that sense of beauty in you to designate it as art? Now, for the first time, the complete minutes of the trial are available -- reprinted from the original transcript preserved in the Museum of Modern Art Library, New York.

3The Tokyo Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations

By General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (Organization)

When Marcel Duchamp arrived in New York in October 1926 with a consignment of Brancusi sculptures for a one-man exhibition of the sculptor's work, a series of events began which resulted in a new definition of art in America. The American Customs authorities denied Brancusi's sculptures the duty-free entry which normally applied to works of art, on the grounds that the works did not appear to be sculpture. Duchamp appealed on Brancusi's behalf, and the resulting trial, Brancusi vs. United States, became famous as the moment at which the legal definition ora work of art changed to embrace the modern. The trial focussed around the 1923 work, Bird in Space. Slender, tapered and bronze in color, with a mirror-like surface, to the authorities it appeared to be some kind of industrial object, certainly not one with the characteristics of art: Q: Why do you regard Exhibit I as not a work of art? A: It is too abstract and a misuse of the form of sculpture... I don't think it has the sense of beauty. Q: ... If it had been given a head to it would that have aroused that sense of beauty in you to designate it as art? Now, for the first time, the complete minutes of the trial are available -- reprinted from the original transcript preserved in the Museum of Modern Art Library, New York.

4Novisima recopilacion de leyes y disposiciones gubernativas relativas al Ministerio de Hacienda

By Carlos Rios Gonzalez

When Marcel Duchamp arrived in New York in October 1926 with a consignment of Brancusi sculptures for a one-man exhibition of the sculptor's work, a series of events began which resulted in a new definition of art in America. The American Customs authorities denied Brancusi's sculptures the duty-free entry which normally applied to works of art, on the grounds that the works did not appear to be sculpture. Duchamp appealed on Brancusi's behalf, and the resulting trial, Brancusi vs. United States, became famous as the moment at which the legal definition ora work of art changed to embrace the modern. The trial focussed around the 1923 work, Bird in Space. Slender, tapered and bronze in color, with a mirror-like surface, to the authorities it appeared to be some kind of industrial object, certainly not one with the characteristics of art: Q: Why do you regard Exhibit I as not a work of art? A: It is too abstract and a misuse of the form of sculpture... I don't think it has the sense of beauty. Q: ... If it had been given a head to it would that have aroused that sense of beauty in you to designate it as art? Now, for the first time, the complete minutes of the trial are available -- reprinted from the original transcript preserved in the Museum of Modern Art Library, New York.

“Novisima recopilacion de leyes y disposiciones gubernativas relativas al Ministerio de Hacienda” Metadata:

• Title: ➤  Novisima recopilacion de leyes y disposiciones gubernativas relativas al Ministerio de Hacienda
• Author: Carlos Rios Gonzalez
• Language: ➤  Spanish; Castilian - español, castellano
• Number of Pages: 560
• Genres: Customs laws

Edition Identifiers:

• Google Books ID: _AxNrIOAZI8C

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• Public Domain: Yes
• Availability Status: Fully available
• Availability Status for country: US.
• Available Formats: Text is not avialbe, image copy is available.
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5Législation douanière

By Turkey

When Marcel Duchamp arrived in New York in October 1926 with a consignment of Brancusi sculptures for a one-man exhibition of the sculptor's work, a series of events began which resulted in a new definition of art in America. The American Customs authorities denied Brancusi's sculptures the duty-free entry which normally applied to works of art, on the grounds that the works did not appear to be sculpture. Duchamp appealed on Brancusi's behalf, and the resulting trial, Brancusi vs. United States, became famous as the moment at which the legal definition ora work of art changed to embrace the modern. The trial focussed around the 1923 work, Bird in Space. Slender, tapered and bronze in color, with a mirror-like surface, to the authorities it appeared to be some kind of industrial object, certainly not one with the characteristics of art: Q: Why do you regard Exhibit I as not a work of art? A: It is too abstract and a misuse of the form of sculpture... I don't think it has the sense of beauty. Q: ... If it had been given a head to it would that have aroused that sense of beauty in you to designate it as art? Now, for the first time, the complete minutes of the trial are available -- reprinted from the original transcript preserved in the Museum of Modern Art Library, New York.

“Législation douanière” Metadata:

• Title: Législation douanière
• Author: Turkey
• Language: ➤  French - français, langue française
• Number of Pages: 142
• Genres: Customs laws

Edition Identifiers:

• Google Books ID: OgAyAAAAIAAJ

Free Online Preview

• Public Domain: Yes
• Availability Status: Fully available
• Availability Status for country: US.
• Available Formats: Text is not avialbe, image copy is available.
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6Der französisch-deutsche handelsvertrag und der zollvereins-tarif für die neue zollvereins-periode nach officiellen materialen

By Prussia (Kingdom)

When Marcel Duchamp arrived in New York in October 1926 with a consignment of Brancusi sculptures for a one-man exhibition of the sculptor's work, a series of events began which resulted in a new definition of art in America. The American Customs authorities denied Brancusi's sculptures the duty-free entry which normally applied to works of art, on the grounds that the works did not appear to be sculpture. Duchamp appealed on Brancusi's behalf, and the resulting trial, Brancusi vs. United States, became famous as the moment at which the legal definition ora work of art changed to embrace the modern. The trial focussed around the 1923 work, Bird in Space. Slender, tapered and bronze in color, with a mirror-like surface, to the authorities it appeared to be some kind of industrial object, certainly not one with the characteristics of art: Q: Why do you regard Exhibit I as not a work of art? A: It is too abstract and a misuse of the form of sculpture... I don't think it has the sense of beauty. Q: ... If it had been given a head to it would that have aroused that sense of beauty in you to designate it as art? Now, for the first time, the complete minutes of the trial are available -- reprinted from the original transcript preserved in the Museum of Modern Art Library, New York.

“Der französisch-deutsche handelsvertrag und der zollvereins-tarif für die neue zollvereins-periode nach officiellen materialen” Metadata:

• Title: ➤  Der französisch-deutsche handelsvertrag und der zollvereins-tarif für die neue zollvereins-periode nach officiellen materialen
• Author: Prussia (Kingdom)
• Language: German - Deutsch
• Number of Pages: 182
• Genres: Customs laws

Edition Identifiers:

• Google Books ID: sgVAAAAAYAAJ

Free Online Preview

• Public Domain: Yes
• Availability Status: Fully available
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• Available Formats: Text is not avialbe, image copy is available.
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7Zollwesen, 1837-1845

By Karl Vogt

When Marcel Duchamp arrived in New York in October 1926 with a consignment of Brancusi sculptures for a one-man exhibition of the sculptor's work, a series of events began which resulted in a new definition of art in America. The American Customs authorities denied Brancusi's sculptures the duty-free entry which normally applied to works of art, on the grounds that the works did not appear to be sculpture. Duchamp appealed on Brancusi's behalf, and the resulting trial, Brancusi vs. United States, became famous as the moment at which the legal definition ora work of art changed to embrace the modern. The trial focussed around the 1923 work, Bird in Space. Slender, tapered and bronze in color, with a mirror-like surface, to the authorities it appeared to be some kind of industrial object, certainly not one with the characteristics of art: Q: Why do you regard Exhibit I as not a work of art? A: It is too abstract and a misuse of the form of sculpture... I don't think it has the sense of beauty. Q: ... If it had been given a head to it would that have aroused that sense of beauty in you to designate it as art? Now, for the first time, the complete minutes of the trial are available -- reprinted from the original transcript preserved in the Museum of Modern Art Library, New York.

When Marcel Duchamp arrived in New York in October 1926 with a consignment of Brancusi sculptures for a one-man exhibition of the sculptor's work, a series of events began which resulted in a new definition of art in America. The American Customs authorities denied Brancusi's sculptures the duty-free entry which normally applied to works of art, on the grounds that the works did not appear to be sculpture. Duchamp appealed on Brancusi's behalf, and the resulting trial, Brancusi vs. United States, became famous as the moment at which the legal definition ora work of art changed to embrace the modern. The trial focussed around the 1923 work, Bird in Space. Slender, tapered and bronze in color, with a mirror-like surface, to the authorities it appeared to be some kind of industrial object, certainly not one with the characteristics of art: Q: Why do you regard Exhibit I as not a work of art? A: It is too abstract and a misuse of the form of sculpture... I don't think it has the sense of beauty. Q: ... If it had been given a head to it would that have aroused that sense of beauty in you to designate it as art? Now, for the first time, the complete minutes of the trial are available -- reprinted from the original transcript preserved in the Museum of Modern Art Library, New York.

When Marcel Duchamp arrived in New York in October 1926 with a consignment of Brancusi sculptures for a one-man exhibition of the sculptor's work, a series of events began which resulted in a new definition of art in America. The American Customs authorities denied Brancusi's sculptures the duty-free entry which normally applied to works of art, on the grounds that the works did not appear to be sculpture. Duchamp appealed on Brancusi's behalf, and the resulting trial, Brancusi vs. United States, became famous as the moment at which the legal definition ora work of art changed to embrace the modern. The trial focussed around the 1923 work, Bird in Space. Slender, tapered and bronze in color, with a mirror-like surface, to the authorities it appeared to be some kind of industrial object, certainly not one with the characteristics of art: Q: Why do you regard Exhibit I as not a work of art? A: It is too abstract and a misuse of the form of sculpture... I don't think it has the sense of beauty. Q: ... If it had been given a head to it would that have aroused that sense of beauty in you to designate it as art? Now, for the first time, the complete minutes of the trial are available -- reprinted from the original transcript preserved in the Museum of Modern Art Library, New York.

10Report on the Annecy Tariff Negotiations

With Text of the Annecy Protocol of Terms of Accession to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, Annecy, 27th August, 1949

By General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (Organization).

SCOTT-GOV: From the John Holmes Library collection.