For 20 years, an advisory commission has been tasked with clarifying cases of Nazi-looted art. This has proven difficult without restitution legislation.
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.
Musical Foundation refuses to pay compensation to heirs of Jewish former owner
26 January 2021 • 6:08pm
The fate of a rare and precious 18th century violin has reopened debate over modern Germany’s efforts to return property looted from its Jewish owners by the Nazis.
The violin, made in 1706 by the Italian master Guarneri, is promoted by its current owners, a Nuremberg musical foundation, as an “instrument of understanding”.
But a German government commission last week took the highly unusual step of publicly shaming the foundation after it refused to pay compensation to the heirs of the violin’s Jewish former owner.