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Spoliation reports

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

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM

Imperial War Museum
Lambeth Road
LONDON SE1 6HZ

Contact for enquiries about Holocaust or WWII Spoliation:

Jane Carmichael, Director of Collections.
Tel 020-7416-5330
Fax 020-7416-5379

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF COLLECTION
The works of art held by the Imperial War Museum form one of the leading collections of British 20th century art. The collection is rich in fine and graphic art and is especially strong in works commissioned for official purposes during the two World Wars. The Museum's other collections range from three dimensional objects to archives of film, photographs, documents and sound.

1. OVERALL PLANS

A. Areas which could contain looted items
Only those items which have been acquired from private collectors.

B. Areas excluded and why;
The bulk of the Art collection was commissioned under the official war artists scheme which operated in both World Wars. After the Second World War works were allocated to institutions across the Empire; they were not marketed in the conventional sense. This means that virtually the entire collection can be excluded. Collecting from any other source has been extremely limited and concentrated on British works, often acquired direct from the artist.

C. Areas Prioritised for research and why, and timetable for completion of research
Target areas and timetable for research

As at A above - the museum has no works on loan through MOD/regimental museums.

D. Areas considered a lower priority (as distinct from excluded) and why
None.

2. RESEARCH CARRIED OUT OR BEING CARRIED OUT IN TARGET AREAS.

A. Process and sources for checks from information readily to hand
Checking of provenance of items acquired from private collectors

B. Description of checks being carried out beyond desk research
None.

3. INFORMATION REGARDING PROGRESS IN TARGET AREA

All items in the target area have now been checked and IWM is satisfied that none has a provenance which gives rise to concern

A. No. of items in target area
One

B. No. of items where provenance has been tested satisfactorily
None

4. INFORMATION ON MAKING GENERAL ENQUIRIES OR ABOUT COLLECTIONS

A. Contact for all enquiries about Holocaust or WWII Spoliation
Jane Carmichael, Director of Collections. Tel 020-7416-5330 Fax 020-7416-5379

B. Details of Published catalogues and how to get access to them
An image database catalogue of the fine art collection is available at the IWM and through the on-line Visual Arts Data Service.

C. How to make enquiries about collections

By writing to Jane Carmichael (see above).

D. Press office contact

Chris Dowling Tel 020-7416-5000

E. Address of the Institution

Imperial War Museum
Lambeth Road
LONDON SE1 6HZ

F. Website (where appropriate)

http://www.iwm.org.uk