Isak WUNDERLICH

Between 1941 and ’43, the MAK bought from the Dorotheum auction house a number of silver art objects, including two candelabra. The only indication of their origin was a number on the invoice. In the Austrian State Archives, there is a card file in which a large section of the so-called § 14 deliveries are registered. These refer to objects of precious metal, pearls, and jewels which people persecuted as Jews by the Nazi regime valuables were forced to sell to state purchasing agencies for ludicrous prices. In September 2007, a joint project for the digitalization of this card file was completed by the Dorotheum and the Holocaust Victims’ Information and Support Center of the Vienna Jewish Community. Subsequently, the invoice number made it possible to identify Isak Wunderlich from Vienna as seller of the candelabra.

On March 19, 2010, Art Restitution Advisory Board recommended the restitution of the two candelabra to the heirs of Isak Wunderlich.

The restitution was effected on 23 January 2014.

Two candelabra

silver, Vienna, 1804 / restitution under way

Isak WUNDERLICH

PROVENANCE RESEARCH AND RESTITUTION AT THE MAK