Provenance Research at the Jewish Museum Berlin
Tracing the Origins of our Collection Objects
The plunder and destruction of Jewish cultural artifacts, and other cultural objects owned by Jews, was an integral part of the National Socialist government policy to obliterate Jewish life and culture.
From 1933 to 1945, art and cultural property were stolen or confiscated from Jewish owners, in an unprecedented manner, and were often destroyed. After the Second World War, the Allies discovered many stolen objects and restituted them to their former owners, yet countless art objects and cultural artifacts remained missing, ownerless, or still in the possession of those who had claimed them illegally.
A Systematic Investigation of our Holdings
Even after 1945, stolen objects made their way into the collections of many museums worldwide by way of acquisitions and gifts. The collection of the Jewish Museum Berlin is no exception. In the past, we have therefore conducted targeted investigations into specific groups of holdings in our collection. In 2023, we established a dedicated position for provenance research and are broadening our investigation to the remaining collection. We are attempting to identify stolen objects by reconstructing their history, as far as possible, during the period from 1933 to 1945, and through researching previous ownership.
Provenance Research in the Painting and Sculpture Collections
Provenance research at the Jewish Museum Berlin began in April 2015 with an investigation of the painting and sculpture collections. One of the outcomes of this two-year project was the determination of the provenance of an oil study study Das Gastmahl der Familie Mosse (The Mosse Family Banquet, 1899) by the artist Anton von Werner. In December 2016, the work was restituted to the heirs of the legitimate owner. Further research findings are being published online in our German object database.
Anton von Werner’s oil study Das Gastmahl der Familie Mosse (The Mosse Family Banquet); Photo: Jewish Museum Berlin, Jens Ziehe
Provenance Research in the Judaica Collection
A further two-year project began in May 2017, investigating the provenance of Jewish ceremonial objects, such as Torah ornaments, Hanukkah lamps, and ritual textiles. One particular focus is the Judaica collection assembled by Zvi Sofer , a cantor and scholar of Jewish folklore who was active in post-war Münster. The object group was acquired in 1981 for the Jewish Department of the Berlin Museum and is now in the holdings of the Jewish Museum Berlin.
Many thanks are due to the relatives of Zvi Sofer, who granted access to his private estate and supported the project from the very beginning.
Images from the Zvi Sofer Estate
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Zvi Sofer in front of the Torah Ark (Aron ha-Kodesh)
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Spice containers from Zvi Sofer’s collection
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Zvi Sofer presenting a large Hanukkah lamp from his collection
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Large Hanukkah lamp from the Zvi Sofer collection; Jewish Museum Berlin, accession KGM 81/165/0, Purchased with funds provided by Stiftung DKLB, photo: Jens Ziehe. More on this object in our collections online (in German)
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Various Hanukkah lamps from Zvi Sofer’s collection
Zvi Sofer in front of the Torah Ark (Aron ha-Kodesh) with nine adorned Torah scrolls at the synagogue of the Münster Jewish community in Westphalia, 1970s; bequest of Zwi Sofer
Spice containers from Zvi Sofer’s collection at the exhibition Jüdischer Alltag, Jüdischer Festtag (Jewish Day-to-Day, Jewish Holiday), which was shown in Lübeck, Duisburg, and Hanover
The photograph was taken in 1975 at one of the exhibition’s three locations; bequest of Zwi Sofer
Zvi Sofer presenting a large Hanukkah lamp from his collection; photo location uncertain, taken in Lübeck, Duisburg, or Hanover in 1975; bequest of Zwi Sofer
Large Hanukkah lamp from the Zvi Sofer collection, now in the collection of the Jewish Museum Berlin; Jewish Museum Berlin, accession KGM 81/165/0, Purchased with funds provided by Stiftung DKLB, photo: Jens Ziehe. More on this object in our collections online (in German)
Research Findings
We will publish the findings of our research on this website – for already published results, please refer to the link boxes at the bottom of this page.
Should we discover stolen objects in our collections, we will make every effort to identify potential heirs and to reach a just and fair solution with them.
Contribution in Museumsjournal
Augustin, Anna-Carolin: “Von Tora-Schmuck, Chanukka-Leuchtern und rituellen Textilien. Auf der Spur verschlungener Judaica-Biografien”, in: Museumsjournal Berlin & Potsdam 1 (2019), S. 26–27 (to the magazine on the publisher’s homepage).
Download (PDF / 49.87 KB / in German / not accessible)Contribution in Provenienz & Forschung
Friedlander, Michal/Augustin, Anna-Carolin: “Provenienzforschung zu Judaica am Jüdischen Museum Berlin”, in: Deutsches Zentrum Kulturgutverluste (Hg.): Provenienz & Forschung 2 (2018), S. 13–19 (to the magazine on the publisher’s homepage).
Download (PDF / 132.19 KB / in German / not accessible)With the kind support of
Contact
For general questions about provenance research, please contact:
Elisabeth Weber
Provenance research
T +49 (0)30 259 93 491
e.weber@jmberlin.de
For questions regarding the Judaica provenance project, please contact:
Michal S. Friedlander
Curator of Judaica and Applied Arts
T +49 (0)30 259 93 511
m.friedlander@jmberlin.de
For questions on provenance research for the painting and sculpture collection, please contact:
Inka Bertz
Curator of Art
T +49 (0)30 259 93 414
i.bertz@jmberlin.de
