A series of 56 “Devi Mahatmya” paintings, around 200 years old, are under an export bar. (The Independent)
These depict the Divine Mother in Hinduism, with scenes ranging from worship to battles, using gold and silver paint. (The Independent)
One painting in the set shows Vishnu and Shiva pleading after being defeated — this particular scene is said to be unique in the UK. (Yahoo News UK)
Why the Export Was Blocked
The UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) imposed the export bar after advice from the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA). (The Independent)
The reason: the committee judged that this series is of outstanding significance. (The Independent)
A DCMS spokesperson said there are no comparable series in the UK, so it’s important to keep them here for research and public benefit. (Yahoo News UK)
Culture Minister Baroness Twycross emphasized the uniqueness and cultural importance of the series. (The Independent)
Value & Cultural Importance
The collection is valued at about £280,000. (British Brief)
According to RCEWA, the paintings shed light on artistic workshop practices, devotional uses, and social history during the colonial era. (The Independent)
They are considered “jewel-like” in their craftsmanship and narrative depth. (inkl)
Export Process & Legal Framework
These paintings are subject to the Waverley criteria, which is used to decide whether an object should be kept in the UK. (GOV.UK)
The export bar gives UK galleries or institutions time to raise funds to purchase the works so they remain in the country. (The Independent)
There is a formal process: once a “serious intention to raise funds” is declared, the deferral period may be extended. (GOV.UK)
Analysis & Commentary
Cultural Preservation
By blocking the export, the UK is actively preserving a rare and culturally rich series of Hindu art, which helps maintain diversity in the national collection.
This is especially significant given the paintings’ “near-complete” status, meaning they’re not just fragments — they form a cohesive narrative.
Academic & Research Value
These works are historically and artistically valuable: they provide insight into religious practices, colonial-era workshop methods, and social history.
Keeping them in the UK allows scholars, historians, and the public to study and appreciate them more deeply.
Market Dynamics & Risk
The value (£280,000) is relatively modest for important historic art, suggesting the decision is more about cultural value than preventing a mega‑sale.
There’s a risk that the UK institutions may not be able to raise the money, which could lead to losing the work later — but the export bar gives a critical window for fundraising.
Community and Identity
For the UK’s Hindu community (and South Asian diaspora), such a collection has particular significance. Keeping it in the country enhances cultural representation.
It may become a point of pride and a resource for cultural education, interfaith dialogue, and museum programming.
Policy Implications
This case underscores the importance of export controls and the Waverley criteria as tools for cultural heritage protection.
It also raises the question of whether the UK’s current processes are sufficient — some argue (e.g., via public consultation) for strengthening or extending export bars. (The Independent)
The government is reviewing how to make the system more effective. For example, it’s looking into a digital licensing system. (GOV.UK)
Good question. Here are some case studies plus expert-style commentary (“comments”) about the UK’s decision to block the export of the 200-year-old Devi Mahatmya paintings.
Case Studies
Case Study 1: The Devi Mahatmya Series Export Bar
What happened: The UK government (DCMS) placed an export bar on a series of 56 Hindu paintings from the Devi Mahatmya narrative. (GOV.UK)
Significance: These paintings are judged to be “near‑complete” and very rare; there are no comparable sets in the UK. (GOV.UK)
Age & Style: The works date to around 1810 (~200 years old) and use gold and silver paint to depict scenes of worship, courtly life, and cosmic battle. (GOV.UK)
Unique Scene: One painting shows Vishnu and Shiva defeated, appealing for help — a scene believed to be unique within this series. (The Independent)
Cultural Link: The series is linked to the Punjab region; the UK government highlights the significance of that heritage in the context of the UK’s Hindu community. (British Brief)
Deferral Period: The export licence decision is being deferred. As per the government release, there’s a first deferral period ending 20 February 2026, and a second possible period of three months if a UK institution expresses serious intent to buy. (GOV.UK)
Value: The series is valued at £280,000. (British Brief)
Reason for Retention: The Reviewing Committee (RCEWA) says the paintings are important for art history, devotional practices, and representation of divine female power. (GOV.UK)
Expert Commentary & Analysis
Cultural Preservation & Representation
This decision underscores the UK’s commitment to preserving non-Western religious art that might otherwise be sold off.
For the Hindu community in the UK (over a million people, according to the DCMS), retaining these works is also culturally and spiritually significant. (The Independent)
The narrative of the Divine Mother (Devi) is especially powerful — the paintings represent stories of divine power, femininity, and moral struggle. (The Independent)
Academic & Historical Value
Experts point out that this series gives insight into workshop practices in the early 19th-century Pahari (Himalayan foothills) art tradition. (GOV.UK)
The paintings may have been used in devotional settings (weddings, recitations, family gatherings), making them not just decorative, but historically and socially important. (The Independent)
Retaining them in the UK will allow deeper research into colonial-era collecting, provenance, and how such works moved between India and the UK. (The Independent)
National Treasures & Export Policy
The export bar is based on the Waverley criteria, which is how RCEWA assesses whether an artwork is of “outstanding significance.” (GOV.UK)
By delaying export, the UK gives its institutions a chance to raise money to buy the paintings — balancing the owner’s rights with public interest. (GOV.UK)
The process reflects how cultural heritage policy in the UK works: it’s not always about preventing sales, but sometimes giving time for public institutions to keep culturally significant works in the country.
Symbolic Importance
The Devi Mahatmya series is more than art — it tells a deeply meaningful religious story. Its retention sends a message about the value placed on divine female narratives within cultural heritage.
Politically, this case may help broaden public understanding and appreciation of non‑European art traditions, integrating them into the national story of cultural treasures.
Risk & Challenges
Funding Risk: UK galleries or institutions need to raise enough money by the deferral deadline — failure could result in the paintings being lost abroad later.
Provenance Complexity: There may be unresolved questions about how the artworks came into private hands, especially given colonial-era movement of art.
Public Access vs Private Ownership: Even if a UK institution acquires the works, ensuring they’re displayed or made accessible will be important; otherwise, they might remain “locked away.”
