On September 7, 2021, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, applying New York state law, dismissed a case brought by the Republic of Turkey against Christie’s and a New York art collector for the recovery of an ancient Anatolian marble idol known as the “Guennol Stargazer.” The Turkish government claimed ownership over the idol pursuant to a 1906 Ottoman-era decree which declared government ownership over all antiquities then situated in Turkey. The court found, however, that, given the unknown provenance of the idol prior to its appearance in New York in 1961, the Turkish government had not met its burden of establishing an ownership right based on the idol having been present in Turkey while the decree was in force. The court further held that, due to its delay in bringing its claim despite being on notice, Turkey was in any event barred from recovery under the doctrine of laches.