United States v. Downing

6 Ct. Cust. 545, 1916 CCPA LEXIS 21
CourtCourt of Customs and Patent Appeals
DecidedFebruary 21, 1916
DocketNo 1591
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 6 Ct. Cust. 545 (United States v. Downing) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Customs and Patent Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Downing, 6 Ct. Cust. 545, 1916 CCPA LEXIS 21 (ccpa 1916).

Opinion

Barber, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court:

As stated in the opinion of the Board of General Appraisers the entire. importation here in question is described in the invoice as follows:

Stone round temple “ Palladio ” of the seventeenth century.
Stone ring.
Iron dome in three parts for the temple.
Round marble table.

At the beginning of the hearing before the board all claims upon the last three mentioned items or parts of the temple were abandoned, the reason for which, as stated by importers here, was that their expert witness was of opinion that the stone ring, the iron dome, and round marble table were new parts, and the record seems to support the statement.

The merchandise was assessed by the collector under paragraph 98 of the tariff act of 1913, which is as follows:

98. Marble, breccia, onyx, alabaster, and jet, wholly or partly manufactured into monuments, benches, vases, and other articles, or of which these substances [547]*547•or either of them is the component material of chief value, and all articles composed wholly or in chief value of agate, rock crystal, or other semiprecious stones, except such as are cut into shapes and forms fitting them expressly for use in the construction of jewelry, not specially provided for in this section, 45 per centum ad valorem.

The protest claimed free entry under paragraph- 652, as well' as under paragraph 656. The board denied free entry, but sustained another alternative claim in the protest that the merchandise was dutiable under paragraph 376, which is here quoted:

876. Works of art, including paintings in oil or water colors, pastels, pen and ink drawings, or copies, replicas, or reproductions of any of the same, statuary, sculptures, or copies, replicas, or reproductions thereof, and etchings and engravings, not specially provided for in this section, 15 per centum ad valorem.

The Government only appeals, hence the precise issue is whether the merchandise is dutiable as assessed or as held by the board.

Considered as an entirety the importation is a round temple, the dimensions of which are not shown. It is represented by photographic exhibits and is probably intended to be set up in a yard or .garden. It does not appear to be designed to serve any special utilitarian purpose and is claimed to be devoted to and designed for artistic purposes. By Exhibit 5 the general appearance and circular form is shown. The main structure seems to be composed of marble or stone resting upon a foundation and surmounted by a dome. The board assumed, and we judge correctly, that the stone ring which was mentioned in the invoice and which consists of several pieces was in whole or in part of this foundation; that the dome was a grille work of iron; and that the marble table, if designed in connection with the temple, was appropriate to be placed inside. With the foundation stones, the dome, and the table we are not concerned, except so far as they are involved in the question of entirety, hereinafter referred to.

Exhibit 1 represents eight pedestals of rectangular shape, each of which supports one column represented by Exhibit 2. Exhibit 3 is a representation of one of the pieces resting upon and supported by the columns, of which pieces there are a sufficient number to constitute a stone cornice or frieze, which in turn supports the iron dome. Exhibit 4 represents seven pedestals or supports upon which rest the respective parts of a marble bench which extends around the temple between the pedestals except at the entrance. This bench is referred to by the board as a low balustrade with extended slabs forming seats. Each of the pedestals is of ornamental appearance, with heraldic devices or designs cut or carved upon the sides; the columns are circular, with various ornamental designs cut or carved thereon; the pieces which constitute the cornice or frieze are also somewhat elaborately ornamented and so are the pedestals or supports of the seats ■or bench.

[548]*548The issue therefore is as to the classification of the articles represented by these four exhibits last mentioned, all of which are of marble and, as appears, are embellished or ornamented with more or less elaborately cut or carved representations of various kinds upon the surfaces thereof. Tor convenience these will be collectively hereinafter referred to as the temple.

The Government contends that the board erred in that it did not assess the whole importation as an entirety, which claim we do not find it necessary to consider; also that the temple, if considered as an entirety, is not a work of art within the contemplation of paragraph 316, and in this connection urges that to be a work of art thereunder the temple must be a sculpture, as that' term is properly defined.

In passing upon the importers’ alternative claims of free entry under paragraph 656 the Board of General Appraisers found that the antiquity necessary for free entry thereunder had not been shown.

As the consideration of the issues requires more or less reference to paragraph 652, we here insert the same':

652. Original paintings in oil, mineral, water, or oilier colors, pastels, original drawings and sketches in pen and ink or pencil and water colors, artists’ proof etchings unbound, and engravings and wood cuts unbound, original sculptures or statuary, including not move than two replicas or reproductions of the same; but the terms “ sculpture ” and “ statuary ” as used in this paragraph shall he understood to include professional productions df sculptors only, whether in round or in relief, in bronze, marble, stone, terra cotta, ivory, wood, or metal, or whether cut, carved, or otherwise wought by band from the solid block or mass of marble, stone, or alabaster, or from metal, or cast in bronze or other metal or substance, or from wax or plaster, made as the professional productions of sculptors 'only; and the words “ painting ” and “ sculpture ” and “ statuary ” as used in this paragraph shall not be understood to include any articles of utility, nor such as are made wholly or in part by stenciling or any other mechanical process; * * *.

Touching the claim for free entry under this paragraph the hoard said:

The law as found in paragraph 652 provides for the free importation of “ original sculptures.” It further provides, however, that the term “ sculpture ” as used in the paragraph shall be understood to include professional productions of sculptors only. Testimony that this production was by a professional sculptor, or that it is an original, was not furnished by the importer. Hence we conclude that the case has not been brought within the purview of paragraph 652.

From the judgment of the board that the temple was not entitled to free entry under either of these paragraphs the importers took no appeal. There is therefore no claim here that it is an original sculpture or the professional production of a sculptor only.

After so far disposing of the importers’ claims the board proceeded to discuss the question of whether the temple could be classified under paragraph 376 as a work of art. It was their opinion that if of sufficient excellence it might be so classified, and as a witness for [549]

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Schott Optical Glass, Inc. v. United States
678 F. Supp. 882 (Court of International Trade, 1987)
Schott Optical Glass, Inc. v. United States
468 F. Supp. 1318 (U.S. Customs Court, 1979)
Elder v. United States
65 Cust. Ct. 521 (U.S. Customs Court, 1970)
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. v. United States
49 C.C.P.A. 129 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1962)
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. v. United States
46 Cust. Ct. 207 (U.S. Customs Court, 1961)
Sliberman v. United States
44 Cust. Ct. 197 (U.S. Customs Court, 1960)
Ebeling & Reuss Co. v. United States
40 Cust. Ct. 387 (U.S. Customs Court, 1958)
F. Lunning, Inc. v. United States
39 Cust. Ct. 271 (U.S. Customs Court, 1957)
Ward Eggleston Galleries v. United States
34 Cust. Ct. 19 (U.S. Customs Court, 1955)
Gregory v. United States
32 Cust. Ct. 228 (U.S. Customs Court, 1954)
Wm. S. Pitcairn Corp. v. United States
39 C.C.P.A. 15 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1951)
Wm. S. Pitcairn Corp. v. United States
25 Cust. Ct. 145 (U.S. Customs Court, 1950)
Thannhauser v. United States
14 Cust. Ct. 62 (U.S. Customs Court, 1945)
States v. States
22 C.C.P.A. 1 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1934)
United States v. Columbo Co.
21 C.C.P.A. 177 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1933)
Alexander & Oviatt v. United States
21 C.C.P.A. 97 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1933)
United States v. Wanamaker
19 C.C.P.A. 229 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1931)
Cassard Romano Co. v. United States
19 C.C.P.A. 191 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1931)
United States v. Hensel
18 C.C.P.A. 297 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1930)
Frei Art Glass Co. v. United
15 Ct. Cust. 132 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1927)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
6 Ct. Cust. 545, 1916 CCPA LEXIS 21, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-downing-ccpa-1916.