Product classification
HS code for Antique painting: 9701.21
Paintings, drawings and pastels, executed entirely by hand, other than drawings of heading no. 4906, of an age exceeding 100 years.
Classification of antique painting under HS 9701.21
HS code 970121 is designated for "Paintings, drawings and pastels; executed entirely by hand, other than drawings of heading no. 4906, of an age exceeding 100 years." This classification specifically targets original artworks created by hand that have surpassed a century in age. The key criteria for inclusion under this code are the manual execution of the artwork and its historical age. This distinguishes genuine antique hand-executed art from reproductions, prints, or more contemporary pieces. The "executed entirely by hand" clause ensures that mechanically produced or printed items, even if old, are excluded. The age requirement of "exceeding 100 years" is a definitive threshold for classifying an artwork as antique within the Harmonized System, reflecting its historical and cultural significance.
- Covers
- Original oil paintings exceeding 100 years in age
- Hand-drawn charcoal or graphite drawings over 100 years old
- Watercolor paintings executed by hand and over 100 years old
- Pastel artworks created entirely by hand and exceeding 100 years of age
- Mixed media artworks, predominantly painting or drawing, that are hand-executed and over 100 years old
- Also under 9701.21
- A 19th-century Impressionist oil painting
- a Baroque era charcoal drawing
- a Victorian pastel portrait
- an early 20th-century Cubist drawing
- a Dutch Golden Age landscape painting
Codes often confused with 9701.21
Common mistake. Common misclassifications for antique paintings often involve other subheadings within Chapter 97 or related chapters. HS 970110 covers "Paintings, drawings and pastels; executed entirely by hand, other than drawings of heading no. 4906, of an age not exceeding 100 years." This code is for hand-executed artworks that are less than 100 years old, making the age criterion the primary differentiator. HS 970200, for "Original engravings, prints and lithographs," is often confused, but these are printed forms of art, not hand-executed paintings or drawings. Similarly, HS 970300 for "Original sculptures and statuary" applies to three-dimensional art forms. Misclassification can also occur with reproductions or copies of antique paintings, which would typically fall under different headings, such as Chapter 49 for printed matter or Chapter 97 for antiques if they meet specific criteria as collectors' pieces.
Top exporters and importers of HS 970121 (the code used for antique painting), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 970121 (the code used for antique painting) in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 29% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 39% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 970121, not only antique painting.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $1.8B 29% of world exports
- 2 Hong Kong $1.7B 27% of world exports
- 3 Switzerland $1.2B 19% of world exports
World total: $6.2B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $2.2B 39% of world imports
- 2 Hong Kong $1.6B 29% of world imports
- 3 United Kingdom $293M 5.2% of world imports
World total: $5.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Brazil NCM code for antique painting
Brazil classifies antique painting under NCM 9701.21.00: HS 9701.21 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about antique painting
What is the HS code for Antique painting?
The HS code for Antique painting is 970121 (Paintings, drawings and pastels; executed entirely by hand, other than drawings of heading no. 4906, of an age exceeding 100 years). The HS code for an antique painting, defined as an artwork executed entirely by hand and exceeding 100 years in age, is 970121.
How do I classify Antique painting for customs?
Antique painting is classified under HS code 970121 — Paintings, drawings and pastels; executed entirely by hand, other than drawings of heading no. 4906, of an age exceeding 100 years. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
How is "antique" defined for paintings under HS codes?
Under the Harmonized System, for paintings, drawings, and pastels executed entirely by hand, "antique" is specifically defined by an age criterion: the artwork must be "of an age exceeding 100 years" to be classified under HS 970121.
Which countries are the top exporters of antique painting (HS 970121)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 970121 (the code used for antique painting) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($1.8B, 29% of world exports), Hong Kong ($1.7B) and Switzerland ($1.2B). World exports came to about $6.2B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of antique painting (HS 970121)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 970121 (the code used for antique painting) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($2.2B, 39% of world imports), Hong Kong ($1.6B) and the United Kingdom ($293M). World imports came to about $5.6B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Is the HS code for Antique painting the same in all countries?
The base HS code 970121 for Antique painting is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.
What is the NCM code for antique painting in Brazil?
In Brazil, antique painting (HS 970121) is classified under NCM 9701.21.00.