Spoliation of works of art during the Holocaust and World War II period
NMDC recognises and deplores the wrongful taking of works of art that constituted one of the many horrors of the Holocaust and World War II. NMDC is committed to working with other institutions and organisations both within the UK and internationally to increase awareness and understanding of the facts surrounding the spoliation of works of art by the Nazis and others during the Holocaust and World War II period.
Museums across the UK have undertaken detailed research of their collections to identify objects with uncertain provenance between 1933-1945. Details of these objects are published in a fully searchable database, which can be found at www.culturalpropertyadvice.gov.uk
In publishing this information, we aim to advertise as widely as possible the details of specific works of art, the whereabouts and ownership of which cannot with confidence by specified for the years 1933-1945. It should be noted that the inclusion of a work of art in these lists does not in itself indicate any suspicious circumstances, but simply that some provenance information is missing or uncertain. We hope that anyone with relevant information will come forward. The relevant contact details can be found in each institution's report.
Background
In June 1998 the National Museum Directors' Conference (NMDC) established a working group to examine the issues surrounding the spoliation of art during the Holocaust and World War II period and draw up a Statement of Principles and proposed actions for member institutions. The Statement was finalised and adopted by the NMDC in November 1998 and presented to the Washington Conference on Holocaust Assets in December 1998. Its recommendations included a proposal that each national museum, gallery or library should draw up an action plan setting out their planned approach to research into the issue of provenance. A similar statement was issued by the Museums & Galleries Commission (now Museums, Libraries and Archives Council) in April 1999, as guidance for non-national museums and galleries and a group of university and local authority museums subsequently began to consider what provenance research they might undertake.
An external advisory committee, chaired by Sir David Neuberger was established to review progress and advises on the actions necessary to fulfil the statement of principles.
In 2007, the provenance research reports and database were transferred to the new Cultural Property Advice website.
Acknowledgements
The NMDC is very grateful to all the members of the Advisory Committee for their advice on the work being undertaken; to Anne Webber of the Commission for Looted Art in Europe for her assistance with and advice on the production of this report; to Lord Janner and the staff of the Holocaust Educational Trust for their advice and support to the NMDC.
The NMDC is also very grateful to The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council for the grants it has provided which have enabled the engagement of an expert researcher to assist with and coordinate the provenance research of the non-national museums.
Reports
Reports on research undertaken in museums (including contact details for each museum).Many of the museums have also provided a list of works of art in their collection that have uncertain provenance from 1933 -1945
Search Spoliation Lists
Search the database of works of art with uncertain provenance during the period 1933-45. This is now managed by Cultural Property Advice.
Statement of Principles
Statement of Principles for UK Museums' Provenance Research for the Period 1933-1945
Press Releases
Providing a summary of updates of this website and notification of claims from 2001-2006.
Illicit trade - loan agreements
NMDC members have agreed that national museums should make reasonable efforts to ensure that they are not lending to exhibitions containing objects without satisfactory provenance. For further details see the Cultural Property Advice website.