Dish

Conclusion

It is not clear when and how the dish left the possession of the Jewish Gutmann family.

Explanation

Since 1968, eleven maiolica objects have been in Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen (first as a loan, since 1994 as a donation), which previously were in the collection of the German-Jewish banker Eugen Gutmann (1840-1925). After his death, the collection remained undivided and was held in joint ownership by his six children, amongst whom his son F.B.E. (Fritz) Gutmann, who managed the collection. Fritz Gutmann (who was granted Dutch nationality in 1924) resided with his family at the estate Huize Bosbeek near Heemstede, where he also amassed a sizeable art collection of his own. It is not known if these eleven objects were the property of the Gutmann heirs or of Fritz Gutmann, and when and how they changed ownership. In 1941 and 1942 Fritz Gutmann sold objects from the collection of Eugen Gutmann as well as his own collection to various German dealers, amongst whom Karl Haberstock and Julius Böhler, in order to finance his and his wife’s escape from the Netherlands. In 1943 Fritz Gutmann and his wife were arrested by the Nazi’s. They died in a concentration camp.

The eleven maiolica objects were donated to the museum as part of the collection of Mr. J.W. Frederiks (1889-1962). It is not known when and how Mr. Frederiks acquired the eleven maiolica objects.

Update 2018

This object is currently subject to a restitution claim, which the Municipality of Rotterdam has referred to the Restitutions Committee.

Update 2022

Following extensive research by the Restitutions Expertise Centre, commissioned by the Restitutions Committee, no definitive answer can be given regarding the provenance of the bowls between 1933 and 1955. It is unclear whether there was any involuntary loss of possession during that period. On the initiative of the Restitutions Committee, the heirs and the museum entered into discussions and reached an agreement: six majolica dishes will be returned to the family, and five will stay with the museum. This gives the story of the Gutmann family collection a prominent place in the narrative about these pieces in the museum collection along with the art-historical story of Italian majolica. The pieces are now on display at the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen. The condition of one of the bowls transferred to the Goodman family called for restoration, which was carefully conducted in the new art depot.

Reconstruction origin

? < > 1925-08-21 ?

Eugen Gutmann

White rectangular label on verso; Archive Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen collection Frederiks 632

? < > 1925-09-10

Bachstitz Gallery, The Hague. On consignment

RKD: Archive Bachstitz Gallery, inventory card no. 244

1925-09-10 < > ?

Heirs Eugen Gutmann or Fritz Gutmann

RKD: Archive Bachstitz Gallery, inventory card no. 244

? (before 1954-09-21) < > 1994

Mr. J.W. Frederiks (collection), The Hague

Archive Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen collection Frederiks 632; E. Haverkamp Begemann, B. de Neeve, Kunstschatten uit Nederlandse verzamelingen, Museum Boymans, Rotterdam 1955, no. 349

1994 < > present day

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen (donation collection Frederiks to the municipality of Rotterdam)

Archive Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen