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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
Acquisition
Gift of Eli Wilner in honor of Robert Hurst
Provenance
?. Eli Wilner, New York (purchased in Morocco; by 2000, until 2003)
Date Made
19th century (?)
Inscription
The Tablets of the Law (the Decalogue) appear below the menorah.
Acquisition
Jewish Cultural Reconstruction
Provenance
?heirless object salvaged from post-Nazi Europe by the Jewish Cultural Reconstruction (JCR), the cultural arm of the Jewish Restitution Successor Organization (JSRO); transferred to the Jewish Museum, 1950s
Date Made
1800
Marks
Hallmarks: City: H. Seling, "Die Kunst der Augsberger Goldschmiedeì 1529-1868" (Munich, 1980) 284c (or b). Maker: Seling (op. cit.) 2455. Franz Anton Gutwein was active from 1759-1805.
Acquisition
The Rose and Benjamin Mintz Collection
Provenance
Rose and Benjamin Mintz Collection, Warsaw, to 1939; Rose and Benjamin Mintz Collection, New York, to 1947; Sold to The Jewish Museum by Rose Mintz, 1947; donated by to Statue of Liberty National Monument, 1962; [reported stolen from Statue of Liberty National Monument, May 12, 1980; auctioned at Christie's Amsterdam, lot 1260, May 26-27, 1992; purchased by Michael Ehrenthal of Moriah Artcraft, New York; returned to Christie's by Michael Ehrenthal, September 1992; Christie's returned it to Statue of Liberty National Monument]; donated to The Jewish Museum, 2003
Date Made
early 19th century
Marks
"4480/ STLI-23742" [old accession number] on back in marker Hallmark: Z flanked by 2 dots, hatching above and below in oval with vertical ends on back, proper lower right
Acquisition
Gift of Eli Wilner in honor of Robert Hurst
Provenance
?. Eli Wilner, New York (purchased in Morocco; by 2000, until 2003)
Date Made
19th-early 20th century
Inscription
Front, engraved monogram: JSA
Acquisition
Gift of Anne W. Dreyfous
Provenance
Joseph and Sally Andrews (from 1794-d. 1845). their descendent Anne W. Dreyfous, until 1978
Date Made
1791–94
Marks
Maker's mark: base, underside, center, stamped, "G. Schanck" in rectangular field; base, underside, UC, engraved: "21 oz. 7 dwt" Pseudo-hallmarks: base, underside LR, stamped, "M" in rectangular field with cut bottom corners and notch at top; base, underside LL, stamped, eagle with spread wings and shield shaped body in oval field
Inscription
None
Acquisition
Gift of Dr. Harry G. Friedman
Provenance
?. F. Gorevic, New York, until 1950; sold to Dr. Harry G. Friedman, 1950; donated to TJM
Date Made
19th century (?)
Signed
Yes
Marks
None
Inscription
In red paint in Hebrew, "Naftali, known as Hirsch, son of Yekutiel Segal, was born under a good sign on Monday, 25th Elul [5]561 [=1800]"
Acquisition
Gift of the Collection of Joseph and Fanya Gottesfeld-Heller
Provenance
?.Fanya Gottesfeld-Heller, New York (until 2010); donated to TJM
Date Made
1800
Signed
Yes
Marks
None
Acquisition
The Rose and Benjamin Mintz Collection
Provenance
Rose and Benjamin Mintz Collection, Warsaw, Poland; sent to the United States for consideration to be exhibited in the 1939 New York World’s Fair, but instead was exhibited in part at the Jewish Theological Seminary, 1939; sold by Rose Mintz to the Jewish Museum, 1947
Date Made
probably 19th century
Inscription
Translation of Hebrew inscription on crown: "Crown of Torah"
Acquisition
The Rose and Benjamin Mintz Collection
Provenance
Rose and Benjamin Mintz Collection, Warsaw, 1939; travelled to New York; sold to the Jewish Museum by Rose Mintz, 1947
Date Made
19th century
Marks
None.
Inscription
Verso of frame in graphite: "Hans Hofbanker Gans Hannove Zelle near Hannover"
Acquisition
Gift of Margot Wittkower
Provenance
?Fredche Gans, daughter of Isaac Jacob Gans (after 1798); her son, ?Jacob Ephraim Dufresne (before 1836); ?his daughter, Cecilie Ephraim Dufresne (after 1936-d. 1913); her grandson, Rudolf Wittkower (after 1913-d. 1975); his wife Margot Wittkower, New York, NY (until 1992)
Date Made
c. 1790
Signed
Yes
Marks
None
Acquisition
Gift of the Danzig Jewish Community
Provenance
?.Lesser Gieldzinski Collection; donated to the Synagogue and Jewish Community of Danzig, 1904; transferred to Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, 1939; accessioned by the Jewish Museum, 1954
Date Made
19th century
Marks
None.
Inscription
תקעו כתר מופר בכסת ליום חגו כי חק נימרת הו חמ פש נתנה יעקב יהיה ביום ה...יתקע בשופר גדול... In Hebrew: Psalms 81:4-5; Amos 3:6; Psalms 47:6; Isaiah 27:13.
Acquisition
Gift of Dr. Harry G. Friedman
Provenance
Jacob Posen, New York; sold to Harry G. Friedman, New York; donated to the Jewish Museum, 1962
Date Made
19th-early 20th century
Acquisition
The Rose and Benjamin Mintz Collection
Provenance
Rose and Benjamin Mintz Collection, Warsaw, Poland; sent to the United States for consideration to be exhibited in the 1939 New York World’s Fair, but instead was exhibited in part at the Jewish Theological Seminary, 1939; sold by Rose Mintz to the Jewish Museum, 1947
Date Made
19th century
Acquisition
Gift of Arthur M. and Alice Chase in memory of Ida Chase (née Torchin) and her family
Provenance
?.Solomon and Fanny Torchin by the 1870s?; their daughter, Ida Chase (née Torchin) by the 1920s; her son and daughter in-law, Arthur M. and Alice Chase (until 2005)
Date Made
19th century
Marks
None
Acquisition
Gift of Dr. Harry G. Friedman
Provenance
?. Dr. Harry G. Friedman, until donated to TJM in 1962
Date Made
1774
Inscription
A – לנשמת הצ יוסף בהמ שמואל לנשמת הצ יוסף בהמ שמואל ושאת התורה אשר שם משה לםני בני ישראל תצלממקי B – לנשמת הכבודה כורשיד בת ניסן לשנמת הכבודה כורשיד בת ניסן יי מלך יי ימלוך לעולם ועד תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה קהלת יעקב
Acquisition
Gift of Dr. Harry G. Friedman
Provenance
?purchased from Ebrahim Rokhsar, New York; donated to TJM by Harry G. Friedman, 1961
Date Made
19th-20th century
Marks
84 L PERLMAN
Inscription
Verso of frame, along top in pencil: "John A. Ephraim / Naen 1813 gen. Dufresne / Vater d. Jean Dufr. u. der Frau Wittkower / 1857"
Acquisition
Gift of Margot Wittkower
Provenance
?Jacob Ephraim Dufresne (before 1836); ?his daughter,Cecilie Ephraim Dufresne (after 1936-d. 1913); her grandson, Rudolf Wittkower (after 1913-d. 1975); his wife Margot Wittkower, New York, NY (until 1992)
Date Made
early 19th century
Signed
Yes
Marks
None
Inscription
On column bases in Hebrew: "[Tziza daughter of Aaron, wife of Moses son of Hanokh]"; On pendants in Hebrew: "C[rown of] P[riesthood], C[rown of] R[oyalty]"
Acquisition
The Rose and Benjamin Mintz Collection
Date Made
early 19th century
Marks
None
Inscription
Center inscription at top in Hebrew: "Crown of Torah" On the tablets, an abbreviated version of the Ten Commandments; to either side in Hebrew: "Lieb/ Rachel"; the names of the donors. Below the tablets in Hebbrew the year "[5]555" = 1795 On the large mirror in Hebrew may possibly be read: "T[his was] d[onated] by the heirs of t[he] y[outh] Hayyim Leiser z.l. to the B[urial] S[ociety]" Below the small mirror in Hebrew: "Who am I that I should be able to gather my strength and willingly offer?" [variation of I Chr. 29:14] What did he see and sanctify? `...it is from Your hand, and all is Yours'"; I Chr. 29:16 = [5]546 = 1786."
Acquisition
Gift of the Danzig Jewish Community
Provenance
?.Lesser Gieldzinski Collection; donated to the Synagogue and Jewish Community of Danzig, 1904; transferred to Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, 1939; accessioned by the Jewish Museum, 1954
Date Made
1794/95
Inscription
Hebrew inscriptions: on lower circlet, middle register (each panel separately). Translations: "T[his was] d[onated by] Rabbi...Moses son of the late R[abbi] Isaac Menkes, man of glory, and his wife...Rachel daughter of the late Simon, on behalf of their sons, may they be worthy to r[aise them] to the Torah, to the m[arriage canopy] and to g[ood] d[eeds]. A[men], s[elah]. In the year, (chronogram from Exodus 17:11)=[5]525" (=1764/65) "And my mother...Zissel daughter of the late Rabbi Israel Isser." "May the Lord remember the soul of...my father...the late Simon son of the late Abraham, for I vow this on behalf of the remembrance of his (lit. her) soul and m[ay his] s[oul] be b[ound up] in the b[onds of] life. A[men], s[elah]." "Crown of Torah, and Crown of Priesthood, and Crown of Royalty." "May the Lord remember the soul of my mother...Yetta daughter of the late Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch, for I vow on behalf of the remembrance of her soul, and m[ay her] s[oul] be b[ound up] in the b[onds of] e[ternal life]. A[men] s[elah]." "And the Crown of a Good Name exceeds them all." (Ethics of the Fathers 4:17) "Aries. Completed on the e[ve] o[f] R[osh] Ha[shanah], [5]534" (=17 September 1773) This is followed by the eleven remaining months with their corresponding zodiac signs.
Acquisition
Gift of Dr. Harry G. Friedman
Provenance
likely in the collection of the Erstes Jüdisches Museum, Vienna, around 1928; following Nazi German annexation of Austria, 1938, the museum closed and its collection was distributed, mostly sent to the Museum für Völkerkunde, Naturhistorischen Museums, and other institutions in Vienna for use in a 1939 antisemitic exhibition; restituted to the Jewish Community of Vienna, early 1950s; unknown owner, Vienna; E. Pinkus, New York; purchased by Harry G. Friedman for the Jewish Museum, 1950s
Date Made
1764/65-73
Marks
Hallmarks: Rosenberg (3rd ed.) 7884, 7989 (on both circlets, staves and griffins, but not on dome or eagle)