Talk on the restoration profession and Nazi looting

Restoring for the Reich:  The Conservation /Restoration Profession
    and the Nazi Looting Machine
Morwenna Blewett
Art Workers Guild
6 Queen Square
London WC1N 3AR

Thursday 5 February 2009
6:30 pm drinks for 7 pm start

Refreshments: Cash bar before the meeting

Nearest Tube: Russell Square
Cost: Free for BAPCR members
    UKP6 per ticket
    (UKP4 for students)

The looting of cultural property by the Nazis during the Second
World War functioned to meet a selection of different objectives.
These aims ranged from the collecting of ideologically desirable art
for inclusion in new museums and private collections to removing
objects that were deemed 'degenerate' and therefore unpalatable to
the National Socialist regime. This mechanism of theft was also used
to suppress and persecute Jews as their art collections and
household goods were sequestered. Looting also offered financial
benefits to the Nazis, as unwanted looted works were sold on to
create capital.

Alongside other specialists such art historians, dealers and
curators, restorers from the commercial and institutional worlds
took up theft and profiteering. Some restorers worked under duress
for the Nazis, their good reputations in the field making them
vulnerable to forcible employment orders while others actively
identified with National Socialism for careerist motivations or
monetary gain.

This talk will briefly explore the context of looting during the
period of Nazi domination and then describe the role of conservators
and restorers within this highly organized and ruthless programme of
theft. Previously classified material will be used in addition to
recently rediscovered papers and photographs.

For more details contact

    Lucy Tetlow
    +44 1603 516237
    secretary<-at->bapcr<.>org<.>uk


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:43
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