Mysterious delivery at the museum in Stuttgart
In a surprising turn of events, the State Museum of Württemberg in Stuttgart has received a package from the United States, containing 33 objects that were potentially Jewish property, as German museums appropriated artworks during World War II. Among these artifacts are miniature paintings, medals, uniform parts, and a reserve soldier's pipe head, all dating back to the early 19th century.
Six of these objects have been confirmed to almost certainly belong to the collection of the Bavarian Army Museum in Ingolstadt. The museum, upon receiving the package, suspected a connection between the stolen objects and their own collections. The Bavarian Museum Agency and other Bavarian institutions have supported the museum's request regarding the returned objects.
One of the most intriguing finds in the package is a double portrait painted by Joseph Loesch, depicting Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and his wife Therese. Another medal in the package shows the image of Bavarian King Maximilian I. Joseph. Inventory numbers were found on depictions of soldiers' uniforms in the package, providing a clue to their origins.
However, the circumstances surrounding the theft and recovery of these objects are currently unknown. The sender of the package was unknown to the State Museum of Württemberg. The museum teams now assume that the thief, as an American soldier, was most likely not taken prisoner of war in Stuttgart, but rather about 200 kilometers east in Upper Bavaria.
The State Museum of Württemberg is now trying to determine the rightful owners of the objects. The remaining pieces from the package from the United States likely in the inventory of the Bavarian Army Museum in Ingolstadt are owned by the museum itself. The search continues for the owners of the remaining pieces from the package from America.
The Provenance Network Bavaria has received the museum's request, and the investigation into the history and provenance of these objects is ongoing. As the mystery unfolds, the return of these long-lost artifacts offers a glimmer of hope for those seeking justice and closure.
