Evidence of Nazi-looted art in smaller museums

Scientists have found individual indications of Nazi-looted art in smaller museums in Saxony. The Dresden State Art Collections (SKD) announced that suspicions had arisen in two of the six institutions investigated so far. The collections were subjected to so-called initial checks.

The Wilsdruff Local History Museum, the municipal museums in Großenhain, the Döbeln City Museum, Mylau Castle, the Neuberin Museum in Reichenbach and the Werdau City and Steam Engine Museum were investigated. A provenance research team from SKD supported the museums. The research is being funded by the German Lost Art Foundation.

Hebrew writings and company sign

Among other things, two fragments of Hebrew writings were found at Mylau Castle Museum, which are believed to be looted items from Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. An in-depth research project is planned for this.

A critical object was found in the Werdau Town and Steam Engine Museum. It is the company sign of the department store of the Jewish Ringer family, which was destroyed during the November pogroms in 1938. The sign is one of the few surviving testimonies to the family. Contact has since been made with descendants.