Museums must return exhibits to Jewish relatives

The Rijksmuseum and the Amsterdam Museum must return valuable exhibits to relatives of German Jewess Emma Budge, the Restitutions Committee said. decided. According to the Committee, it is sufficiently plausible that his heirs lost their property involuntarily after his death.

These are four 17th century silver salt cellars made by the goldsmith Johannes Lutma. Shortly after the owner’s death in 1937, they were auctioned off against his wishes in Berlin, he writes. AT5/NH news.

“After the Nazis came to power in Germany, Budge had a series of wills drawn up regarding the destination and sale of her art collection. The Jewish executors she appointed were unable to implement them after her death,” the Restitutions Committee ruled.

The four salt cellars ended up in 1960 through various owners at the Amsterdam auction house Frederik Muller, where the municipality of Amsterdam bought them. Some were sold to the state for the Rijksmuseum. The Amsterdam Museum has taken over the management of the other pair from the municipality.

The Kunstmuseum Den Haag will also return two pieces from Budge’s estate. It’s a cup screw and a scale.

The restitution committee has been investigating restitution requests since 2001. Two years ago, an evaluation committee advised being more generous with the return of art looted by the Nazis. This advice led, among other things, to the return of a Kandinsky painting to the heirs.