1109 5th Ave at 92nd St
New York, NY 10128
212.423.3200
info@thejm.org
In October of 2000, the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) and the Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets in the United States (PCHA) agreed upon a standard procedure for presenting provenance information on Nazi-era objects to the public.
In compliance with the AAM criteria, the Jewish Museum is researching the provenance, or history of ownership for paintings and Judaica that fall within the following criteria:
This site will be updated in installments as new information is discovered and documentation and images are digitized. Currently, the information presented on this website includes paintings and Judaica with gaps in provenance as well as paintings and Judaica with complete provenance. As always, the Museum's archival collection records are open to serious researchers by appointment. For any information or queries about this Provenance Research Project list, please see Contact Information.
We hope that this material will be helpful in the identification and restitution of works of art that may have been misappropriated during the Nazi era. The Museum also welcomes any provenance related information that the users of this site may be able to provide.
As the works are identified, they are physically examined for markings that would be helpful in determining provenance. The documentation of these works are verified using the following methods:
When no signature appears on the work, primary resources are used to identify the maker. If a definitive answer is unavailable the artist/maker is referred to as “Unknown.”
Primary titles and known original language or alternate titles are listed.
Whenever possible, the execution date of the painting is taken directly from the physical work. If the date does not appear in the artist's hand on the work, the artist's life dates along with an examination of his body of work are used to determine an approximate date. An execution date determined in this manner will appear in parentheses. Example: (1946)
Physical examination determined this criteria.
Dimensions listed on this web-site refer to unframed measurements posted as height followed by width.
Owners are listed in chronological order with the earliest known owner first. The owner's name is followed by their place of residence and the date(s) of ownership are enclosed in parentheses. Example: John Doe, New York, N.Y. (1930-d.1970)
Possible owners are prefaced by a question mark. Imprecise information is enclosed in brackets. Direct transfers between owners is noted with a semi-colon. If a direct transfer did not occur or the type of transfer is unknown, the owners are separated by a period.
If you have any questions or information to provide on the listed works, please contact: provenance@thejm.org
Collections Manager
Provenance Research Project
The Jewish Museum
1109 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10128
Inscription
Verso "To James N. Rosenberg / with much appreciation / M Castel / New York 2/11/53." [no longer visible since re-lined]
Acquisition
Gift of James N. Rosenberg
Provenance
the artist. James N. Rosenberg, New York, NY, until 1961; donated to TJM
Date Made
1953
Signed
Yes
Marks
None
Inscription
None
Acquisition
Gift of Jula Isenburger in memory of Eric Isenburger
Provenance
the artist; Jula Isenburger, the artist's widow, New York, NY (until 1998)
Date Made
c. 1943
Signed
Yes
Marks
"Catalogue #124" verso, TL of top stretcher in marker "WaLKowiTZ by Eric Isenburger 1945" verso, top stretcher in marker "TR 5520" verso, BL white tag and string, in pencil
Inscription
Verso of canvas, TR in blue crayon: "g" Verso, left stretcher in pencil: "Empire" Verso, top stretcher in pencil: "POMEGRANATES"
Acquisition
Gift of Ambassador and Mrs. Benson E.L. Timmons III
Provenance
?.Mrs. Benson Timmons, Southampton, NY (about 1946-until 1981)
Date Made
1942
Signed
Yes
Marks
HAYES STORAGE / ROOF WAREHOUSE EXPERT PACKERS OF ART/ 5-7 EAST 61ST. NEW YORK,N.Y. / 46" verso, top stretcher partial label "CENTRALE" two ink stamps inside of a circle, verso of canvas TR and right stretcher Label "32173" verso of frame, TL "...CEN..." stamp inside a circle, verso of frame, TR
Acquisition
Gift of the Estate of Greta Perlman
Provenance
charms made by unknown artists and bracelet assembled by Greta Perlman in Theresienstadt ghetto-camp, likely until 1944; hidden at Theresienstadt; recovered by Perlman, after May 1945; estate of Greta Perlman donated via Reruns Antique Shop, New York, to the Jewish Museum, 1975
Date Made
1941–44
Inscription
None
Acquisition
Purchase: Gift of John and Helga Klein in honor of Mason Klein
Provenance
the artist; the artist's eldest daughter, Lisette Blumenfeld Georges; [Deborah Bell Photographs, New York, by December 2004 until 2005]; sold to TJM
Date Made
1937
Signed
Yes
Marks
"FROM THE ESTATE OF ERWIN BLUMENFELD" wet-stamp, verso, LC, in ink
Inscription
Verso, center in crayon: " 35648" (underlined) Verso, right stretcher in crayon: "35648"
Acquisition
Gift of Blanche and Romie Shapiro
Provenance
?.Blanche and Romie Shapiro, New York, NY (until 1981)
Date Made
late 1940s
Signed
Yes
Marks
"a HEYDENRYK frame / THE HOUSE OF HEYDENRYK / 141 WEST 54TH STREET / NEW YORK 19, N.Y." verso of frame TC, label in print
Inscription
Etched on back "MUTTERTAG [Mother's Day] / TEREZÍN 9.V.1943"
Acquisition
Gift of the Family of M. Ehrlich
Provenance
?Manfred Ehrlich, given to his mother Karoline (sp?) Ehrlich, in Terezín, 1943. Francis M. Horowitz, New York (passed down to her through her sister-in-law); donated to TJM, 2008.
Date Made
1943 (date of inscription)
Signed
Yes
Marks
None
Inscription
Verso, stretcher, UL edge, in crayon: "Santa Denunziata" [in artist's hand?]
Acquisition
Purchase: Leslie and Roslyn Goldstein Fund
Provenance
the artist; his relation, Elisabeth Hofer. [Gallery Pfundt, Berlin, Germany (until 2004); sold to TJM]
Date Made
1941
Signed
Yes
Marks
Label "359" verso, stretcher, LL and LR edge Label "Andre Chenue+Fils / Transports Internationaux / 5, rue de la Terrasse / 75017 Paris / 924-03-11, Telex 660149 / Madame Hofer / Berlin" verso, stretcher, UC edge "Schlien / Kunst Pedition / Heidestrabe 2 / 1000 Berlin 21 / Tel: 030-3943018 / Leihgeber / Elisabeth Hofer / Berlin 31 / Kunstler / Leihgabe / Karl Hofer / Santa Denunziata / Leihnehmer / ordre de la liberation / Paris / Ansstellung" verso, stretcher, LC edge Partially torn label "359" verso, stretcher, UC
Inscription
None
Acquisition
Purchase: Milton and Miriam Handler and Rehr-Fizdale Acquisition Funds and Gift of Harry J. Colish, by exchange
Provenance
the artist (c. 1942). [Adelson Galleries Inc., New York; sold to Private Collector, Boston]; Private Collector, Boston; [DC Moore Gallery, New York by 2004; sold to TJM]
Date Made
c. 1940
Signed
Yes
Marks
Label "Adelson Galleries, Inc. / Jack Levine/In The Service / Oil on canvas / 20x15 inches / AG 225 / The Mark Hotel 25 East 77th Street Third Floor New York, NY 10021 / Tel (212) 439-6800 Fax (212) 459-6870" on verso, UC, edge of frame Label "DC Moore/Gallery/724 Fifth Avenue/New York, NY 10019/Tel 212-247-2111/Jack Levine/In the Service/Oil on canvas/20x15 inches/LEV 0057*" on verso, UC, edge of frame "Jack Levine In the Service / by ? [illegible] oil" verso, UR, edge of stretcher, in ink Label "113/s.278" verso, UR corner, edge of stretcher, in ink "Cohen" verso, UR, edge of frame, in graphite "AG 225" verso, LR, edge of frame, in graphite "20 Anco?/Glendale, LI" verso, center, left edge of stretcher, stamped
Inscription
Hebrew: "A token of affection from the synagogue Kahilath Jakob, Vienna, the first of Adar [5]695 [=1935]."
Acquisition
Gift of Dr. Harry G. Friedman (?)
Provenance
Per inscription, made as a token of affection from the synagogue Kahilath Jakob, Vienna, the first of Adar [5]695 [=1935]. The synagogue [a small prayer room located at Judengasse 11 in Vienna] was one of a few of the sixty-odd Jewish houses of worship in Vienna to survive the war. Possibly acquired by Harry G. Friedman between 1939-1941 and donated to the Jewish Museum, 1952
Date Made
1935 (date of inscription)
Marks
Hallmarks: Pelican-like bird, head facing left, "W" to its left and "A" to its right, in hexagonal field (Neuwirth, Waltraud. LEXIKON WIENER GOLD- UND SILBERSCHMIEDE UND IHRE PUNZEN, 1867-1922. Vienna: Dr. Waltraud Neuwirth, 1976, pl. 8:4.) "800" in rectangular field Maker's mark: "JxH" in rectangular field New mark identification (from a CD - see object file)
Inscription
None
Acquisition
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Z. Steinhaus
Provenance
?the artists. Richard Z. Steinhaus and Joan Goodman Steinhaus (née Joan Blinder), Dobbs Ferry, NY (until 1979)
Date Made
1945
Signed
Yes
Marks
"U7076" verso, TR in red marker "REVERSE" [inverted] on verso, TR in black crayon " P...54 55 0017" verso, BR in red crayon
Inscription
Verso, TC in pencil: "22..."
Acquisition
Gift of the Estate of Greta Perlman
Date Made
1943
Signed
Yes
Marks
"ABO" recto BR, embossed
Inscription
None
Acquisition
Purchase: Gift of Carol A. Ross
Provenance
the artist; sold to actress Gizi Bajor (Budapest, 1893-1951); her grandson, until 1995; sold to Janos Gat; sold to the Jewish Museum, 1998
Date Made
1941
Signed
Yes
Marks
Label "Chestnut cooking / 45. / Jancsek" [in Hungarian] verso, frame, UL "Jantsek" verso, UC in ink Label "1100 Madison Avenue /Janos Gat Gallery / New York, NY 10028 / 212-327-0441 / fax-212-327-0442" verso, center "From the estate of Istvan Farkas" [in Hungarian] verso, UR, stamped "The stamp is an official / authentic stamp with signature [maybe notarized?]" [in Hungarian, general translation] verso, UR, handwritten in ink "KIVITEL? / ENGEDELYEZV / M.N.G" verso, LR stamped
Inscription
Verso BR, in pencil: "87 1/2"
Acquisition
Gift of Guido Schoenberger
Provenance
?the artist. Guido Schoenberger (until 1964)
Date Made
c. 1940
Signed
Yes
Marks
none
Inscription
Verso, LR in paint: "Le fils du Rabin / et sa fille / Mariage à la Synagogue"
Acquisition
Purchase: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Joffe, by exchange
Provenance
?.Christie's London, December 4, 1984, Lot #447; sold to anonymous. Sotheby's Tel-Aviv, May 17 & 18, 1985, Lot #110; sold to TJM
Date Made
1935
Signed
Yes
Marks
Label "THE UPTOWN GALLERY/ FINE/ CONSERVATION/ FRAMING/ 1194 MADISON AVENUE NEW YORK, N.Y. 10028/ (212) 722-3677" BB, LC "5/95" verso frame, in pencil, LC "3156A Gold Rub HEAVY UPTOWN 13(?)" verso frame, in ink, CR "Lot 447 / 4 [illegible numbers]" verso canvas, UR, in chalk "TOILES AU COULEUES FINES / PAUL FOINET FILS / 21 Rue Bré a Paris" stamped on verso canvas, UL
Inscription
Center (in tablets) in paint, in Hebrew: The Ten Commandments (written out) LR (in tablets)in paint, in Hebrew: The Ten Commandments (written out) LC, in paint, in Hebrew: May God's name be blessed for all eternity
Acquisition
Gift of Donna and Carroll Janis
Provenance
the artist; [Sidney Janis, New York, by 1945]; his son, Carroll Janis, New York, by 1989), donated to TJM in 2006.
Date Made
1944
Signed
Yes
Marks
Label " The Jewish Museum/1109 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10028/Catalogue 117/L1984-2.21/Crate 9/Title: MOSES AND AARON/Lender: Sidney Janis Gallery, N.Y.C." verso, edge of frame, UR Gallery label "Sidney Janis Gallery/15 East 57 St. New York 22/ #8505 (in pen)/HIRSHFIELD #8505 Oil on Canvas/Moses & Aaron(underlined)/28x40 in./1944(in pencil)" verso, edge of frame, UR Label "Museum of American Folk Art/49 West 53 St. New York, N.Y. 10019/(212) 581-2474/title: Moses and Aaron(in ink)/artist: Morris Hirshfield(in ink) date: 1944(in ink)/medium: oil on canvas(in ink)/exhibition title: Reflections of Faith; Religious Folk Art in America(in ink)/dates: December 12, 1983-/January 21, 1984(in ink) cat.#/ Sidney Janis(signed in ink)" verso, BB, UL Label "Musuem Boymans van Beuningen Rotterdam/Musee National D'art Moderne Paris/Exhibition:Le Monde des Naifs-1964/Collection: Sidney Janis Gallery, New York/Artist: Morris Hirshfield/Title: Moses and Aaron, 1944/Cat. 77/Box." verso, edge of frame, LL Verso, LL edge of frame: round yellow sticker Verso, LL edge of frame: round red sticker Verso, UR edge of frame: round yellow sticker Verso, UR side of frame, in chalk "224" Verso, LR side of frame, in chalk "39(?) 7 77?JA?" Verso, LC side of frame, label "9" (underlined) Verso, LR bottom edge of frame, in graphite "Moses + Aaron"
Inscription
Inscised on center back: Hebrew inscription (translation per S. Braunstein: Hebrew date: [5]603 [sic—should be [5]703=1942/3] /and Ghetto Theresienstadt [spelled in Yiddish]/Hecht/Zadikow)
Acquisition
Purchase: The Abraham and Mildred Goldstein Memorial Fund
Provenance
Arnold Zadikow with the help of woodcarver Leopold Hecht, Theresienstadt camp ghetto, 1942; found at the camp site after WWII; Marianne Zadikow May, artist’s daughter and Lori Zadikow May, artist's grandaughter; sold to the Jewish Museum, 2018
Date Made
1942
Inscription
None
Acquisition
Gift of Bella and Sol Fishko
Provenance
the artist.? Edith Gregory Halpert (founder of Downtown Gallery, New York), by 1973. [?sold Sotheby Parke-Bernet 1973]. Bella and Sol Fishko, (Bella Fishko, founder of Forum Gallery, New York, until 1987)
Date Made
1941
Signed
Yes
Marks
"Est. OF E. G. HALPERT" estate stamp, on original backboard (?), removed by conservator and attached to new backboard, verso UC Label "W. S. Budworth & Son, Inc. / PACKERS & SHIPPERS OF WORKS OF ART / 424 West 52nd St., New York, NY / ESTABLISHED 1867" on original backboard (?), removed by conservator and attached to new backboard, verso UC Label "FORUM GALLERY, 1018 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10021 / Title: SABBATH / Artist: MAX WEBER / Medium: O/C Size: 21 x 28" / Date: 1941 FO # 11111G" on original backboard (?), removed by conservator and attached to new backboard, verso UC Business card "NICHOLAS PAVLIK / CONSERVATION FRAMING SERVICES / 32 UNION SQUARE EAST STUDIO 400 / NEW YORK NY 10003-3209 (212) 254-7518 / FAX (212) 995-9352 / BY APPOINTMENT / JOE DEZZI" on backboard, verso LL "DOWNTOWN TOP" in ink, on stretcher bar, verso CR
Inscription
On verso, upper right in ink: "6" [circled]
Acquisition
Gift of Hanno D. Mott
Provenance
the artist; Hanno D. Mott, c. 1970
Date Made
c. 1949
Signed
Yes
Marks
None
Inscription
None
Acquisition
Gift of John Weichsel and Judith Weichsel Carr
Provenance
?.John Weichsel and Judith Weichsel Carr, Albuquerque, N.Mex. (until 1992)
Date Made
c. 1945
Signed
Yes
Marks
"WEINTRAUB" verso canvas UC in crayon Label "Temporary displays from the museum collection The Mané-Katz Museum / 89 Panorama St., Tel. 83482 / Collection: The late Artist's works: painting, drawing / and sculpture as well as his/ collection of carpets furniture Judaica" verso frame LL