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About
Methodology
List of Works

Nazi-Era Provenance Research Project

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:

Acquired after 1932
Created before 1946
Which may have changed hands between 1932–1946
Which may have been in continental Europe during those years

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.

Online Resource Directory

Methodology

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:

Artist / Maker

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.”

Title

Primary titles and known original language or alternate titles are listed.

Execution Date

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)

Medium

Physical examination determined this criteria.

Dimensions

Dimensions listed on this web-site refer to unframed measurements posted as height followed by width.

How to Read Provenance Information

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.

Questions & More information

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

Nazi-Era Provenance List of Works

Moritz Daniel Oppenheim

The Conclusion of the Sabbath (Sabbath-Ausgang)

Oil on canvas

25 1/4 × 21 7/8 in. (64.1 × 55.6 cm)

1999-93

Not On View
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Inscription
None
Acquisition
Gift of the Oscar and Regina Gruss Charitable and Educational Foundation, Inc.
Provenance
the artist's family (after 1866; sold to Hermann Cramer); Hermann Cramer, Frankfurt, Germany (until d. 1919); his wife, Hedwig Cramer, Frankfurt, Germany (1919-d. 1934); her son, Sally H. Cramer, Hamburg, Germany, later London, England (1934-d. 1952); his son, Robert Cramer (1952); [sale, ?London, England, about 1952]?.Oscar Gruss, New York, NY (until 1999)
Date Made
1866
Signed
Yes
Marks
Label: "the israel museum, jerusalem, israel/artist Moritz Oppenheim/title The Conclusion of the Sabbath, 1866/acq. no./donor/fund lent by the Collection/Oscar Gruss, New York/Exhibition: Moritz Oppenheim: The first/Jewish Painter.Sept.83-Jan.84" verso TL top stretcher Label: "Framed For/Order #/ Member/AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CUSTOM FRAME MAKERS INC NEW YORK (logo)/ APF MANUFACTURING INC./Shop: 315 East 91 Street New York 28/Showrooms: 231 East 60 Street New York 22/1228 Second Ave. New York 21/Artist/Title/Size Medium" verso BR right stretcher Label: "New York/Gruss Collection/MGB6/942/03/012" verso TL of frame "E" [reversed] verso LC of frame in marker "T" verso BL of frame in red paint "I" [Roman numeral] verso BC of frame in marker "II" [Roman numeral] verso RC in marker

Edouard Brandon

Interior of the Portuguese Synagogue of Amsterdam

Oil on panel

8 1/8 × 15 7/8 in. (20.7 × 40.4 cm)

F 4056

Not On View
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Inscription
None
Acquisition
Gift of Dr. Harry G. Friedman
Provenance
?.Dr. Harry G. Friedman, New York, NY (until 1956)
Date Made
between 1866-97
Signed
Yes
Marks
Labels [torn] "25" and "NY(?) 58 F4" verso panel center

Moritz Daniel Oppenheim

The Return of the Volunteer (Die Rückkehr des Freiwilligen)

Oil on canvas

22 5/8 × 27 5/8 in. (57.4 × 70.1 cm)

1999-95

Not On View
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Inscription
None
Acquisition
Gift of the Oscar and Regina Gruss Charitable and Educational Foundation, Inc.
Provenance
the artist's family (after 1866; sold to Hermann Cramer); Hermann Cramer, Frankfurt, Germany (until d. 1919); his wife, Hedwig Cramer, Frankfurt, Germany (1919-d. 1934); her son, Sally H. Cramer, Hamburg, Germany, later London, England (1934-d. 1952); his son, Robert Cramer (1952); [sale, ?London, England, about 1952]?.Oscar Gruss, New York, NY (until 1999)
Date Made
c. 1868
Signed
Yes
Marks
Label "L1986-6/FROM REGINA GRUSS" verso TL top stretcher Label: "...r's Return.../(Volunt...home from/the wars of liberation) / Title of Work Die Rueckkehr des Freiwilligen" and "XVII" [circled] verso TC top stretcher Label "952" verso TR bottom stretcher

Jean Louis Ernest Meissonier

Gentleman in His Study

Oil on panel

8 1/4 × 5 1/4 in. (21 × 13.3 cm)

JM 67-59

Not On View
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Inscription
None
Acquisition
Gift of Georges E. Seligmann
Provenance
?. Georges E. Seligmann, New York, NY (until 1959)
Date Made
1856
Signed
Yes
Marks
None

Ernest Kathelin

Morning Prayers

Oil on canvas

14 3/16 × 23 15/16 in. (36.1 × 60.8 cm)

F 3697

Not On View
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Inscription
None
Acquisition
Gift of Dr. Harry G. Friedman
Provenance
?.Dr. Harry G. Friedman, New York, NY (before 1965)
Date Made
second half 19th century
Signed
Yes
Marks
Label: "Dahesh Museum / 601 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10017 / TEL 212-759-0606/ LENDER: The Jewish Museum / Ernest Kathelin / Morning Prayers / Oil on canvas, 14 1/2 x 24 inches (37 x 61 cm) F 3697 / Telling Tales II: Religious Images in 19th-Century / Academic Art, October 15, 2001-January 26, 2002" printed BB UR "IIBB12 and Ernest" verso canvas UL in ink "16 x 2_" verso frame LC in red pencil

Moritz Daniel Oppenheim

The Rabbi's Blessing (Der Segen des Rabbi)

Oil on canvas

23 × 18 3/4 in. (58.4 × 47.6 cm)

1999-91

Not On View
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Inscription
Verso BR of frame in red crayon: "J" Verso TR of frame in pencil: "IV" Verso right side of frame etched in wood: "P 231...x4..." [the letter "P" is circled]
Acquisition
Gift of the Oscar and Regina Gruss Charitable and Educational Foundation, Inc.
Provenance
the artist's family (after 1866; sold to Hermann Cramer); Hermann Cramer, Frankfurt, Germany (until d. 1919); his wife, Hedwig Cramer, Frankfurt, Germany (1919-d. 1934); her son, Sally H. Cramer, Hamburg, Germany, later London, England (1934-d. 1952); his son, Robert Cramer (1952); [sale, ?London, England, about 1952]?.Oscar Gruss, New York, NY (before 1999)
Date Made
1866
Signed
Yes
Marks
None

Joseph Seidl

Hanukkah Lamp

Silver: hand-worked and spun

3 5/8 × 9 3/16 × 1 7/8 in. (9.2 × 23.3 × 4.8 cm)

U 9195

On View
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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, 1952
Date Made
c. 1875–1910
Marks
Hallmarks: Dog's head in elongated hexagonal field, "3" on left, "A" on right = Vienna (Neuwirth, Waltraud. LEXIKON WIENER GOLD- UND SILBERSCHMIEDE UND IHRE PUNZEN, 1867-1922. Vienna: Dr. Waltraud Neuwirth, 1976, pl. 7:10.) "A" in octagonal field (Neuwirth, Waltraud. LEXIKON WIENER GOLD- UND SILBERSCHMIEDE UND IHRE PUNZEN, 1867-1922. Vienna: Dr. Waltraud Neuwirth, 1976, pl. 6:12.) Maker's mark: "JS" with serifs in rectangular field with two notches in middle of longer sides (Neuwirth, Waltraud. LEXIKON WIENER GOLD- UND SILBERSCHMIEDE UND IHRE PUNZEN, 1867-1922. Vienna: Dr. Waltraud Neuwirth, 1976, 1338.)

C.L. Lewin

Mrs. Julius Katzenberg

Oil on canvas

36 1/4 × 29 1/4 in. (92.1 × 74.3 cm)

1986-235

Not On View
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Inscription
None
Acquisition
Purchase: Gift of Daniel F. Friedenberg and the Joshua Lowenfish Bequest Fund
Provenance
?.Joel M. Woldman (by 1984); his brother, Murry B. Woldman, Alexandria, Va. (until 1986)
Date Made
1857
Signed
Yes
Marks
"4578 B GoLd BROWN PhIL FELD/ 4578B GoLd BROWN Paid RECD" verso of frame, along left side in pen

J M ?

Alms Container

Silver: repoussé, engraved, cast

7 1/2 × 5 1/2 × 3 3/4 in. (19.1 × 14 × 9.5 cm)

F 2400

Not On View
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Inscription
Engraved in Hebrew in heart across two lines: "[Society for the Welfare of Youth]"
Acquisition
Gift of Dr. Harry G. Friedman
Date Made
1855
Marks
Makers Mark: with serifs, "J(M, N, K, or R?)" within a rounded rectangle/oval. Located on left side of interior of cover. Beehive stamp with "A 8 5 1 5": assay mark for Vienna, 1855. "387" sticker on underside of object and lid.

Unknown

Hanukkah Lamp

Copper alloy: cast, silver-plated, appliqué, and repoussé

12 × 13 3/8 × 3 1/2 in. (30.5 × 34 × 8.9 cm)

F 1922

On View
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Acquisition
Gift of Dr. Harry G. Friedman
Provenance
?Purchased by Dr. Harry G. Friedman from F. Gorevic & Son, New York; donated to the Jewish Museum, 1947
Date Made
second half 19th century or 1940s

Moritz Daniel Oppenheim

The Wedding (Die Trauung)

Oil on canvas

26 × 21 3/8 in. (66 × 54.4 cm)

1999-87

Not On View
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Inscription
None
Acquisition
Gift of the Oscar and Regina Gruss Charitable and Educational Foundation, Inc.
Provenance
the artist's family (after 1866; sold to Hermann Cramer); Hermann Cramer, Frankfurt, Germany (until d. 1919); his wife, Hedwig Cramer, Frankfurt, Germany (1919-d. 1934); her son, Sally H. Cramer, Hamburg, Germany, later London, England (1934-d. 1952); his son, Robert Cramer (1952); [sale, ?London, England, about 1952]?.Oscar Gruss, New York, NY (until 1999)
Date Made
1866
Signed
Yes
Marks
None

Moritz Daniel Oppenheim

Ushering in the Sabbath (Sabbath-Anfang)

Oil on paper on board

17 15/16 × 14 1/8 in. (45.6 × 35.9 cm)

1999-90

Not On View
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Inscription
None
Acquisition
Gift of the Oscar and Regina Gruss Charitable and Educational Foundation, Inc.
Provenance
the artist's family (after 1866; sold to Hermann Cramer); Hermann Cramer, Frankfurt, Germany (until d. 1919); his wife, Hedwig Cramer, Frankfurt, Germany (1919-d. 1934); her son, Sally H. Cramer, Hamburg, Germany, later London, England (1934-d. 1952); his son, Robert Cramer (1952); [sale, ?London, England, about 1952]?.Oscar Gruss, New York, NY (until 1999)
Date Made
1865
Signed
Yes
Marks
Label "OLLENDORFF FINE ARTS/FINEART PACKERS AND SHIPPERS/NEW YORK SAN FRANCISCO/LOT No. 9160A Piece No.5" verso TR on backing board in print Label "the israel museum, jerusalem,israel / artist moritz oppenheim / title ushering in the Sabbath, 1865 / acq. no. / donor / fund lent by the Collection Oscar Gruss, New York / Exhibition: Moritz Oppenheim. The First Jewish Painter. Sept.83-Jan.84" verso TL in print and pen

C.L. Lewin

Reverend Julius Katzenberg

Oil on canvas

35 3/4 × 29 in. (90.8 × 73.7 cm)

1986-234

Not On View
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Inscription
None
Acquisition
Purchase: Gift of Daniel F. Friedenberg and the Joshua Lowenfish Bequest Fund
Provenance
?.Joel M. Woldman (by 1984); his brother, Murry B. Woldman, Alexandria, Va. (until 1986)
Date Made
1857
Signed
Yes
Marks
"4578 A GoLd BROWN PhIL FELD/ 4578 A GoLd BROWN PhIL FELD" verso of frame, along right side in pen

Isidor Kaufmann

Portrait of Juliette Kaufmann

Oil on canvas

16 1/16 × 13 9/16 in. (40.8 × 34.4 cm)

2010-6

Not On View
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Inscription
None
Acquisition
Bequest of Helen Kaufmann
Provenance
the artist; Edward Kaufmann, New York, NY; Helen Kaufmann, New York, NY, (until d. 2004)
Date Made
before 1918
Signed
Yes
Marks
None

Friedenreich

Eva Meyer Jacoby

Oil on canvas

10 13/16 × 9 3/4 in. (27.4 × 24.8 cm)

JM 24-78

Not On View
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Inscription
Verso, down length of left stretcher in marker: "Portrait of my Great-Grandmother / Eva Jacoby nee Meyer. / lived in Lychen in / der Mark, Prussia / ..m Jacoby 1974" Verso, TC of frame in pencil: "173 Jacoby" [inverted]
Acquisition
Gift of Hans Jacoby
Provenance
?the sitter. His great-grandson Hans Jacoby, Miami Beach, Fl. (until 1978)
Date Made
1850
Signed
Yes
Marks
"Der Pot der Stodt Magdeburg / Abiellung..." verso, TR of right stretcher, stamp "B(e)" verso, TR of stretcher, in blue pen " MA..." [in rectangle] verso, TL of frame red stamp

Moritz Daniel Oppenheim

Sabbath Rest (Sabbath-Ruhe auf der Gasse)

Oil on canvas

20 3/8 × 24 in. (51.8 × 61 cm)

1999-86

Not On View
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Inscription
None
Acquisition
Gift of the Oscar and Regina Gruss Charitable and Educational Foundation, Inc.
Provenance
the artist's family (after 1866; sold to Hermann Cramer); Hermann Cramer, Frankfurt, Germany (until d. 1919); his wife, Hedwig Cramer, Frankfurt, Germany (1919-d. 1934); her son, Sally H. Cramer, Hamburg, Germany, later London, England (1934-d. 1952); his son, Robert Cramer (1952); [sale, ?London, England, about 1952]?. Oscar Gruss, New York, NY (until 1999)
Date Made
1866
Signed
Yes
Marks
"48" verso TL of frame etched in wood Label "FLOOR ROOM PIECE/Keating 597790 Patterns/Jewish life/Mr Mike Gruss 23" verso TL of backing board in print and pen

Joseph Reiner

Hanukkah Lamp

Silver: repoussé, pierced, and traced

7 7/8 × 11 1/8 × 3 in. (20 × 28.3 × 7.6 cm)

JM 224-68

Not On View
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Acquisition
Museum purchase
Provenance
?.Mr. and Mrs. Henry Farber, Queens, New York (before 1968); sold to TJM
Date Made
1858
Marks
Maker's mark: "REINER" with serifs in rectangular field Hallmark: Vienna: "A" above quartered circle containing "13" and flanked by "1858" within dome-shaped field

Moritz Daniel Oppenheim

Seder (The Passover Meal) (Der Oster-Abend)

Oil on paper on canvas

24 1/2 × 18 in. (62.2 × 45.7 cm)

1999-88

Not On View
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Inscription
Verso TC on canvas edge in pencil: "1999-88" Verso TC on canvas in pencil: "19" Verso left stretcher in pencil: "148t"(top) and "IV"(center) and "16"(bottom) Verso bottom stretcher in pencil: "74"
Acquisition
Gift of the Oscar and Regina Gruss Charitable and Educational Foundation, Inc.
Provenance
the artist's family (after 1866; sold to Hermann Cramer); Hermann Cramer, Frankfurt, Germany (until d. 1919); his wife, Hedwig Cramer, Frankfurt, Germany (1919-d. 1934); her son, Sally H. Cramer, Hamburg, Germany, later London, England (1934-d. 1952); his son, Robert Cramer (1952); [sale, ?London, England, about 1952]?.Oscar Gruss, New York, NY (until 1999)
Date Made
c. 1867
Signed
Yes
Marks
"4" verso BL of frame in marker

Frederick William Herring

Portrait of Gatz Kranse

Oil on canvas

27 × 21 5/8 in. (68.6 × 54.9 cm)

JM 79-61

Not On View
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Inscription
Verso BR, in paint: "Gatz Krause Aged 100 years / of Santomysl Prussia / Painted by / F.W. Herring / 1853."
Acquisition
Gift of Thea Klein
Provenance
?the sitter. His great-granddaughter, Thea Klein (until 1961)
Date Made
1853
Signed
Yes
Marks
"S.N. DODGE'S/ARTS & PAINTER'S / SUPPLY STORE / 189 Chatham co / of Oliver St / N YORK" verso TC, stamp "169/2865" verso, in blue chalk (?)

Unknown Artist/Maker

The Worshipper: Morning Prayers

Oil on leather

9 13/16 × 8 in. (24.9 × 20.3 cm)

D 288

Not On View
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Inscription
Verso in ink: "G...fynuk...Eduard Gieldzinski/... Wien" [Additional writing appears on the verso however the penmanship is difficult to decipher.] Attached to verso of frame, photocopy: "D92/D288/ Eduard Gieldzinski/in Wien/.../Sam...ng in d.../Synagoge/z/Danzig.-"
Acquisition
Gift of the Danzig Jewish Community
Provenance
?.Eduard Gieldzinski of Vienna; donated to the Danzig Synagogue, Jewish community of Danzig; transferred to Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, 1939; accessioned by the Jewish Museum, 1954
Date Made
late 19th century
Signed
Yes
Marks
None