14g. Restituted Nazi-looted property: The fortepiano of the “Teutonic Order”

During the National Socialist regime, there was a systematic looting of art collections, properties and securities, as well as everyday items and valuables, books, musical instruments, and sheet music prints. This was perpetrated not only by the Nazis themselves but also by individuals who, without party affiliation, were motivated by greed. In doing so, they exploited the plight of those people who were persecuted by the National Socialist regime, depriving them of their property and private belongings. The National Socialist authorities not only seized the assets of Jewish individuals but also those of associations and organisations that, unaffiliated with the National Socialism, were forcibly dissolved.

Picture of the 1810 Rosenberger fortepiano. Photo: Daniel Willinger.
Picture of the 1810 Rosenberger fortepiano. Photo: Daniel Willinger.

Thus, it happened that an 1810 Rosenberger fortepiano was confiscated from the Roman Catholic community of the “Teutonic Order”. This religious community, located in Bruntal, Moravian-Silesian region (German name: Freudenthal), was dissolved by the “overseer and liquidator” (“Stillhaltekommissar”) after the establishment of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia in March 1939, and its property was divided among the National Socialist authorities. This included this fortepiano, which came into the possession of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna in 1940 and subsequently to the mdw*  The provenance researcher Monika Löscher was able, through her extensive research, to document the paths of confiscation and acquisition. In collaboration with the Israelite Community of Vienna, the “Teutonic Order,” re-established after 1945, was able to establish itself as the rightful owner. The Art Restitution Advisory Board of the Commission for Provenance Research decided (in 2019) to restitute the fortepiano. This was finally implemented in the spring of 2023, with the instrument being made available to the mdw* on permanent loan from the “Teutonic Order”.