(1) This section applies to the following objects, that is, any pictures, prints, books, manuscripts, works of art, jewellery, scientific collections or other things not held for the purposes of trading -

(a) which, on a claim being made to the Commissioners, appear to them to be of national, scientific, historic or artistic interest,

(b) which are kept permanently in the State except for such temporary absences outside the State as are approved by the Commissioners, and

(c) in respect of which reasonable facilities for viewing are allowed to members of the public or to recognised bodies or to associations of persons.

(2)

(a) Any object to which this section applies and which, at the date of the gift or at the date of inheritance, and at the valuation date, is comprised in a gift or an inheritance taken by a person is exempt from tax in relation to that gift or inheritance, and the value of that gift or inheritance is not taken into account in computing tax on any gift or inheritance taken by that person unless the exemption ceases to apply under subsection (3) or (4).