Heinrich Rothberger Explained

Heinrich Rothberger was born September 13, 1868 in Vienna and died 20 January 20, 1953 in Montreal, Canada. He was a Viennese textile manufacturer, department store owner and collector of porcelain.^[1]

Early years and family

Rothberger took over his father's textile company Jacob Rothberger and department store on Stephansplatz in Vienna together with his brothers Moritz and Alfred. He was married to Ella, née Burchardt (1878–1964), and they had two sons Jakob Johann, called Hans (1899–1987), and Friedrich, called Fritz (1902–2000).

Art collection

Rotherberger's art collection, especially of ceramics, was famous and many of the objects are now in museums.^{[2] [3] [4]}

Nazi persecution

After the annexation of Austria in 1938, the Rothberger family were persecuted as Jews. They were arrested and the collections and other property seized.^[5] Forced sales took place on 18 and 19 November 1938 at the Hans W. Lange auction house.^[6]

Restitution claims

In 2008 the UK Spoliation Advisory Panel recommended restituting porcelain from the British Museum and Fitzwilliam Museum to the Rothberger heirs.^[7] Fourteen objects confiscated from Heinrich Rothberger by the Nazis were identified in the MAK collections^[8] The Münchner Stadtmuseum agreed to restitute a porcelain box after research proved it had been transferred due to Nazi persecution. ^{[9] [10]}

Many of the restituted objects were sold at Bonhams.^{[11] [12]}

See also

Emma Budge

Hermine Feist-Wollheim

The Holocaust in Austria

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rothberger, Heinrich Lexikon Provenienzforschung . 2023-12-15 . www.lexikon-provenienzforschung.org . en.
2. Web site: Victory of Beauty over Envy . 2024-01-22 . art.nelson-atkins.org . en.
3. Web site: Imperial Porcelain Manufactory Standing Woman Austrian, Vienna . 2024-01-22 . The Metropolitan Museum of Art . en.
4. Web site: Augustus III, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland . 2024-01-22 . Saint Louis Art Museum . en-US.
5. Web site: Pick of the week: Jumbo price from Rothberger collection Antiques Trade Gazette . 2024-01-22 . www.antiquestradegazette.com.
6. Web site: Rothberger . 2024-11-20 . Münchner Stadtmuseum . en-US.
7. Web site: REPORT OF THE SPOLIATION ADVISORY PANEL IN RESPECT OF PIECES OF PORCELAIN NOW IN THE POSSESSION OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON AND THE FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM, CAMBRIDGE .
8. Web site: Network of European Restitution Committees on Nazi-looted Art . Newsletter October 2021 _ Number 11 . civs.gouv.fr.
9. Web site: Rothberger . 2024-01-22 . Münchner Stadtmuseum . en-US.
10. Web site: Der Beirat gemäß § 3 des Bundesgesetzes über die Rückgabe von Kunstgegenständen aus den Österreichischen Bundesmuseen und Sammlungen, BGBl. I Nr. 181/1998 i.d.F. BGBl. I Nr. 117/2009, (Kunstrückgabegesetz), hat in seiner Sitzung vom 8. Oktober 2013 einstimmig folgenden .
11. Web site: Bonhams : Rothberger Collection 100% Sold at Bonhams Fine Ceramics Sale in London . 2024-01-22 . www.bonhams.com.
12. Web site: Bonhams : Viennese Porcelain Once Stolen by the Nazis at Bonhams Ceramics Sale . 2024-01-22 . www.bonhams.com.