Provenance research

The Bröhan Museum’s collection originated from the private collection of Karl H. Bröhan, which he had amassed in Berlin since the 1960s. It comprises works of applied and fine art from the period 1889-1939. The aim of provenance research is to reconstruct the history of the origin of these objects and, if possible, to identify former owners. The focus is on the question of whether they included people persecuted by the Nazi regime or the GDR regime who lost their art possessions as a result of persecution.

DAY OF PROVENIENCE RESEARCH on April 12, 2023

Further links on the topic of provenance research:

Our collection curator and provenance researcher Dr. Sabine Meister has compiled a list of further links on the subject of provenance research:

Washington Principles 1998 – Principles of the Washington Conference in relation to works of art confiscated by the National Socialists (Washington Principles).

Joint Declaration 1999 – Declaration of the Federal Government, the Länder and the municipal umbrella organizations on the tracing and restitution of Nazi-confiscated cultural property, especially Jewish property.

Guidelines for the implementation of the “Declaration of the Federal Government, the Länder and the municipal umbrella organizations on the tracing and restitution of cultural property seized as a result of Nazi persecution, in particular Jewish property” of December 1999; revised version 2019.

German Center for the Loss of Cultural Property

Lost Art Database / German Center for the Loss of Cultural Property

Proveana research database / German Lost Art Foundation

Research Center for Degenerate Art

Working Group for Provenance Research

On our blog you will also find an interview with Dr. Sabine Meister and an article on the history of the Bröhan Museum’s collection.