Münchner Stadtmuseum’s acquisition policy in the period 1933–1945

In September 2011, the Münchner Stadtmuseum launched a research project focused on systematically examining both the provenance of items acquired between 1933 and 1945 and also the museum’s acquisition policy during this period. Based on entries in the inventories, approximately 20,000 art objects came into the collection holdings of Munich’s Historisches Museum between 1933 and 1945—the term of office of museum director Konrad Schießl (1889–1970) and his colleague Max Heiß (1904–1971). These acquisitions were in the form of purchases, donations and exchanges. Of these objects, 2,500 were initially selected for a systematic origin check. The information on their origin in the museum’s inventories was classed as problematic with regard to possible confiscation as a result of Nazi persecution.

To summarize, the Münchner Stadtmuseum was able to shed light on one of the first chapters of its own history through this research project and clarify the previously unclear vested rights of various collection objects. However, due to the above described abundance of art objects to be examined and the time-consuming research associated with this, it was not feasible to clarify the origin of all 2,500 objects classified as “problematic” at the start.

Restitutions already made: Emma Budge collection, 2012

The Münchner Stadtmuseum has restituted a total of eight artifacts from the Emma Budge collection. The masterpieces handed over to the lawyer representing the community of heirs consist of a bronze bust of Prince Elector Max Emanuel of Bavaria, an ivory figurine of a knife grinder (early 18th century), an ivory tankard with gilt detailing (17th century), two chalice veils (17th century), a tabernacle curtain, one small oval tablecloth and one chasuble. By returning these artifacts, the Stadtmuseum is complying with the 1998 Washington Principles and the 1999 Joint Declaration of the German government, the German states and the leading municipal associations to trace and return cultural goods confiscated as a result of Nazi persecution, particularly those belonging to Jewish owners.

The works of art listed above were acquired by the Münchner Stadtmuseum in October 1937 from the Berlin art dealer Paul Graupe at an auction of the estate of Emma Budge (February 17, 1852–February 14, 1937). The Jewish collector had amassed what was probably one of the finest collections of art and handcrafts in Hamburg between 1903 and 1937. Following her death, the Nazi authorities seized the entire collection and brought it to Berlin in August 1937. This extensive private collection was sold at two auctions held at Paul Graupe’s Berlin auction house on October 4–6 and December 6–7, 1937. Instead of being handed over to Emma Budge’s heirs, the proceeds of the auction were paid into blocked accounts where they remained “in safekeeping” for the Third Reich.

Numerous German museums were among the buyers. Apart from the Münchner Stadtmuseum, these included Landesmuseum Schwerin which acquired a Böttger stoneware statuette; this has also been returned to the heirs of Emma Budge. Hamburg’s Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe made a compensation payment to the heirs for two silver goblets acquired in Berlin in 1937. The Focke-Museum in Bremen restituted a sculpture and a cushion bearing a coat of arms to the heirs. However, most of the items in the Emma Budge art collection auctioned at the end of 1937 in Berlin are still missing to this day.

(c) Münchener Stadtmuseum