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Spoliation reports

This institution also provides a list of works with incomplete provenance during the period 1933-1945.

BIRMINGHAM MUSEUMS & ART GALLERY

Designated collections

Chamberlain Square
Birmingham
B3 3DH

CONTACT
Tessa Sidey, Curator, Prints and Drawings
Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3DH.
Tel: 0121 303 2839 fax 0121 303 1394

Spoliation of Works of Art During The Holocaust Period 1933-1945
30 January 2003

The Spoliation Action Plan has been developed in response to the need for museums throughout the UK to determine whether they hold any objects in their collections for which there is a gap in provenance for the period 1933-1945 and for which there could be evidence that the object could have been looted from its original owners during the Holocaust or World War II.

The earliest collections of Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery were formed in the mid 19th century prior to the building of the current Museum & Art Gallery in Chamberlain Square (1885, with additions in 1911-19) and the development of the branch museums - Aston Hall, Blakesley Hall, Sarehole Mill, Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, and Soho House. The City's motto "By the Gains of Industry we Promote Art" reflects the direction of early collecting which focussed on examples of applied art and fine art to improve and educate the people and manufacturers of the city. Alongside this collections of natural history were formed to provide evidence of the natural world and as the basis for scientific enquiry and research. The collections have subsequently developed a national and international profile, particularly for the Fine and Applied Art collections, the Numismatics, the Science & Industry and Birmingham History collections (the latter two in respect of the contribution of the city to the industrial growth and importance of the region within the UK). In addition the archaeology and ethnography collections represent (in conjunction with local history) the cont.ext for interpreting the wealth of world cultures and human history (with specific collections counting among the top 10 within the UK).

. Archaeology of Europe and the Near East, including Greek, Roman and Ancient Egyptian

Natural History, including Herbarium

. Ethnographical material from Africa, America, Oceania, India and the Far East

. Pinto collection of wooden objects

. Paintings, Old Masters (from 14th Century to French Impressionists), Pre-Raphaelites, 20th century and contemporary art

. Applied Arts, particularly Arts and Crafts Movement and 20th century British ceramics, glass, stained glass, metalwork, silver, jewellery etc

. Birmingham history

. Science & Industry

1. Overall Plan

Mapping the research work

PARTS OF THE COLLECTION EXCLUDED
The following areas of the collections are specifically excluded from the research project since the material is local to Birmingham, or dealing with UK archaeology or sites from which excavation records provide definitive information.
. Birmingham history
. Science and Industry collections aside from weapons
. Natural history collections
. Archaeology - British
. Archaeology - known site archives

PARTS OF THE COLLECTION WITH LOW PRIORITY
The following areas are considered a low priority as they deal with multiples of items, where value at the time of acquisition or subsequently was low and where specific identification of a spoliated item would be difficult:

. Fine Art - Prints
. Applied Art - Ceramics, Glass, Metalwork, Jewellery, Silver, Furniture, Oriental collections
. Numismatics
. Ethnography
. Archaeology - Egypt, Greece, Rome
. Science & Industry - weapons
. Watercolours - English

AREAS FOR PRIORITY RESEARCH
The following areas are considered to be high risk:
. Paintings
. Sculpture
. Old Master European Drawings
. Applied Arts - high value items only

CONSIDERATIONS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN MAPPING OUT THE RESEARCH TASK ARE:
. Nature and provenance -association with high risk names or circumstances
. Availability of provenance information - absence of information for the period concerned and/or incomplete acquisition record
. Value of items - high or low value
. Uniqueness and facility to identify - unique identifying marks

2. Research Planned In Target Areas

METHOD OF RESEARCH
The research process will work in stages beginning with the high priority collections:
. Stage 1 - initial checks from information readily to hand to identify gaps in provenance and compile an initial list
. Stage 2 - using the initial list further desk research to confirm provenance or to detail more closely the gaps
. Stage 3 - compilation of gradually evolving lists showing stages of research in progress

RECORDING PROGRESS AND RESULTS
Quantifying The Progress And Results
. Numbers or scope of items in the target areas
. Numbers or description for which the provenance information (provided it is correct) positively excludes them from the possibility of having been spoliated.
. Number or description of objects which are still subject to checks from internal sources
. Number or description of objects which have gaps or question marks in their provenance for the period 1933-1945 and for which further provenance information is being sought

3. Information On Making General Enquiries About Collection

Contact for all enquiries about Holocaust or WWII Spoliation (1933-1945) is
Tessa Sidey, Curator, Prints and Drawings
Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3DH.
Tel: 0121 303 2839 fax 0121 303 1394

Details of information sources on collections held by Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery and access
The following information is available on the collections:

. Accession registers and correspondence
. Object History files
. Exhibition and display files
. Loan records

In addition there are libraries for Art and Human History with reference materials available for researchers (includes auction sale catalogues, exhibition catalogues, site and excavation records, archival material (artist's letters etc).

The requirements of the Data Protection Act on access to authorised information will be met.

The archives at BMAG consist of the administrative records of the institution from 1885 to today, though, in the pre-1950s period, some years contain more information than others. Birmingham City Council holds records of all council meetings where in the early years of the institution accession of important additions to the collections were acknowledged. In addition the following information is available on the collections - accession registers and correspondence; object history files; exhibition and display files; loan records. There are libraries for Art and Human History with reference materials available for researchers (including auction sale catalogues, exhibition catalogues, site and excavation records, archival material (artists' letters etc).

The archives are accessible by appointment only. Requests for access to departmental records should be sent to the Head(s) of the department(s) concerned. In the first instance please contact the Head of Curatorial Services, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3DH.

How to make general enquiries about collections
General enquiries should be made in the first instance through the Contact Officer listed above. The enquirer will be directed to the relevant section and curator should more detailed information be required.

PRESS OFFICE
Alison Greatbatch, Corporate Media Relations:
Tel 0121 303 3635; e-mail: alison.greatbatch@birmingham.gov.uk

Carmel Girling, Marketing & PR, Leisure & Culture Department
Tel 0121 303 2923; e-mail: carmel.girling@birmingham.gov.uk

WEBSITE
http://www.bmag.org.uk