Crucifix returned to heirs of Jewish art collector
The German Lost Art Foundation (Deutsches Zentrum Kulturgutverluste) has handed over a crucifix confiscated during the Nazi era to the descendants of a Jewish art collector. An anonymous sender sent the bronze figure, which is barely 20 centimetres high, to the foundation by post at the end of August, explained director Gilbert Lupfer at the handover on Tuesday in Magdeburg. The object once belonged to the German-Jewish entrepreneur Ottmar Strauss (1878-1941). The lawyer for Strauss' heirs, Imke Gielen, accepted the artwork on Tuesday on behalf of her clients who live in the USA.
According to the center, Strauss was a successful entrepreneur from Cologne and the owner of a large collection of antiques - especially religious art from the Middle Ages. After the National Socialists came to power, he was forced to emigrate from Germany in 1936 due to his persecution as a Jew. In order to pay for his escape and compulsory levies such as the so-called Reich Flight Tax, he sold his collection beforehand - including the crucifix that has now reappeared.
Once again, the importance of the Center's Lost Art Database in "correcting Nazi art theft, at least in individual cases" has been demonstrated, explained Lupfer. The Christ figure had been listed there as a wanted work of art since 2006. Around 2000 other objects from Strauss' collection are also being sought. More than 50 have already been restituted.
Since 2015, the German Lost Art Center in Magdeburg has been the central point of contact for questions relating to unlawfully confiscated cultural assets in Germany. The Lost Art Database is intended to document cultural assets that were seized from Jewish owners in particular under the Nazis - or for which such a loss cannot be ruled out. Former owners or their heirs are to be brought together with current owners and supported in finding a fair solution regarding the whereabouts of the works.
The crucifix, being a significant piece from Ottmar Strauss' extensive Middle Ages religious art collection, holds historical and cultural value as a testament to Art from that era. The return of the crucifix, which was once a prized possession of the persecuted Jewish entrepreneur, contributes to rectifying the historical injustice caused by Nazi art theft.
Source: www.dpa.com
