U.S. imports of Antique Paintings, Drawings & Pastels (Over 100 Years Old) (HS 970121) totaled $122.0M in August 2026, imported from 90 countries.
Importers of Antique Paintings, Drawings & Pastels (Over 100 Years Old) paid $14K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 0.01% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Antique Paintings, Drawings & Pastels (Over 100 Years Old) imports of $122.0M in August 2026 ran 28% below the year-to-date monthly average of $169.4M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataAge exceeding 100 years is the defining classification criterion that places paintings, drawings, and pastels under 9701210000 rather than the contemporary-art subheading. France, Italy, and the United Kingdom are the leading sources of these works entering the US market, consistent with their deep holdings of Old Master and 19th-century material. Importers and dealers should be aware that US Customs requires credible provenance documentation to substantiate the claimed age, and that certain cultural property laws — including the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act — may restrict or require permits for works originating from countries with bilateral agreements with the United States.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
404 import shipments a month
CBP expects credible evidence of age, which may include auction records, exhibition histories, scholarly attributions, certificates from recognized appraisers, or export documentation from the country of origin. The burden of proof rests with the importer; insufficient documentation can result in reclassification to the under-100-years subheading or detention pending further review.
Yes. Duty treatment and admissibility are separate issues. Works covered by a bilateral cultural property agreement between the US and the source country may require an export certificate from that country's cultural authority. Works subject to CITES (if they incorporate protected materials such as ivory) face additional permit requirements regardless of age or duty status.
Trade Directory
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Subheading 2 of 6 in heading 9701
Subheading 970121 · $122.0M of $491.7M
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9701210000 | Paintings, Drawings and Pastels, Over 100 Years | $122.0M | 0.01% | 0.10% | $14K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 9701210000 | Paintings, Drawings and Pastels, Over 100 Years | $59.5M |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
ImportsExports
Imports
$122.0MYoY · free account
Exports
$59.5MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $2.2B of Antique Paintings, Drawings & Pastels (Over 100 Years Old) and exported $1.8B.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Italy and France together supply 86% of it.
customs district
entry
rate provision · imports
99.9% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 0.01% of imports for consumption.