Rembrandt's 'The Night Watch' Original Painting from China
This iconic 17th-century oil painting on canvas, executed entirely by hand by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1642, depicts a militia company in dramatic light and shadow. It qualifies under HTS 9701.21.00.00 as a painting over 100 years old, hand-executed, and not a mass-produced reproduction or hand-decorated manufactured article.
Duty Rate — China → United States
7.5%
Rate breakdown
9903.88.157.5%Except as provided in headings 9903.88.39, 9903.88.42, 9903.88.44, 9903.88.47, 9903.88.49, 9903.88.51, 9903.88.53, 9903.88.55, 9903.88.57, 9903.88.65, 9903.88.66, 9903.88.67, 9903.88.68, or 9903.88.69, articles the product of China, as provided for in U.S. note 20(r) to this subchapter and as provided for in the subheadings enumerated in U.S. note 20(s)
9903.05.860%Universal product exemption (U.S. note 52(b))
Import Tips
• Obtain a certificate of authenticity from a recognized art expert or auction house verifying age exceeding 100 years and hand-execution
• Comply with cultural property export/import laws (e.g
• UNESCO conventions) and provide provenance documentation to avoid seizures
• Declare with detailed condition reports; common pitfall is misclassifying restored pieces as original without disclosure