The auction sale of two 17th-century Dutch paintings that were stolen by the Nazis during World War II has been blocked in the United States . This was achieved by the Monuments Men and Women Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to raise global awareness of the importance of preserving cultural heritage by focusing in particular on identifying the thousands of works of art that went missing or were illegally taken during the conflict and have yet to reach their rightful owners.
In this case, thanks to some reports received through the Art Leads program, the foundation was able to stop the sale of two small 17th-century oil on copper paintings attributed to the Dutch master Ambrosius Bosschaert, which had ended up for sale at a Newark, Ohio, auction house, Apple Tree Auction Center. Research conducted by the foundation clearly indicated that these works were stolen during World War II and originally came from the collection of collector Adolphe Schloss. Both paintings bear German inventory numbers-one “S 16” (Schloss 16) and the other “S 17” (Schloss 17)-assigned in 1943 after the collection was seized.
Not wanting to run the risk of the paintings disappearing again, Monuments Men and Women Foundation founder Robert M. Edsel flew to Newark to meet with the owners of the Apple Tree Auction Center. He explained the provenance of the paintings and urged the withdrawal of both lots to ensure the return of the paintings to Schloss’ heirs. Obtaining favorable feedback. “This case is another example of how people of goodwill can work together to right the wrongs of World War II by returning stolen artworks to their rightful owners,” Edsel commented. “Within 48 hours of receiving this information, the foundation documented the provenance of the works confirming Schloss ownership, personally inspected the two paintings, obtained the cooperation of the auction house to remove them from sale, and contacted the Schloss heirs’ attorney. We look forward to completing this collaborative approach to resolving the issue and hope that they will soon be returned to the Schloss family.”
“I am proud of our team for their quick and meticulous work,” said Anna Bottinelli, president of the foundation. “The Monuments Men and Women Foundation receives reports of missing artwork every day, but our researchers are adept at identifying those opportunities that require us to drop everything and act immediately. Not surprisingly, these two paintings came to light in a small Midwestern auction house, but it could have happened anywhere. Hundreds of thousands of cultural property looted during World War II is still missing. Some are in the United States, hidden in attics, hanging on walls and crammed into boxes that have never been opened, passed down from generation to generation.”
The fate of Adolphe Schloss’ famous wartime collection is well documented. This private collection of old paintings was seized and dispersed during World War II through forced sales and legal maneuvers involving both French and German authorities. The Schloss works destined for Hitler’s planned museum in Linz, including the two Ohio paintings, were transferred to Munich and stored in the Führerbau, Hitler’s headquarters, before later being looted in the chaotic final days of the Third Reich when Allied forces entered the city. Now, a small part of that collection will return to its rightful owners.
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| US, stop sale of two paintings stolen by Nazis: they will return to heirs |
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