The fate of a rare 18th-century violin has reopened debate over Germany’s efforts to return property looted from Jews by the Nazis.
The violin, made in 1706 by Giuseppe Guarneri, the Italian master, is said by its owners, a Nuremberg musical foundation, to be an “instrument of understanding”.
Yet a government commission has taken the unusual step of publicly shaming the foundation after it refused to pay compensation to the descendants of the violin’s Jewish former owner.
The Franz Hofmann und Sophie Hagemann Foundation claims information has come to light that suggests the violin was not looted. The affair has exposed the toothlessness of the German authorities to force private owners to return property or pay restitution.