The Spoils of War: World War II and Its Aftermath: The Loss, Reappearance, and Recovery of Cultural Property

Elizabeth Simpson, Editor

ISBN 10: 0810927535 / ISBN 13: 9780810927537

Published by Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York, 1997

About this Item

First Edition. A FINE, bright, clean, tight copy sans flaws. Book published in association with the 1997 Bard Graduate Center For Studies in the Decorative Arts' expansive symposium of the same name. From the Foreword of Susan Weber Soros, Director of The Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts: "At the end of the war, enormous numbers of objects were returned to the countries from which they had been taken. But today, half a century later, the fate of many thousands more remains unknown or undecided, the cause of considerable controversy. the Bard Graduate Center hopes that the information presented in this volume will help elucidate the issues relating to this controversy and that our common desire to preserve these displaced world treasures will help us all to resolve the problem of their disposition in an equitable fashion." PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED in archival black-and-white photography with accompanying descriptive captions. 336 pages. NOTE: Due to the large size and weight of the book additional shipping cost will be requested/required for OUT-OF-U.S. shipment in accordance with country of destination. GO4.

Seller Inventory # 017198

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Spoils of War: World War II and Its Aftermath: The Loss, Reappearance, and Recovery of Cultural Property
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York
• Publication Date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0810927535
• ISBN 13: 9780810927537
• Binding: Pictorial Softcover. Paperback
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket, as Issued

About this title

Synopsis

An illustrated volume features records of the 1995 international symposium among government representatives, curators, archaeologists, and historians dealing with the disputed ownership of the vast cultural property stolen or lost during World War II."

From Kirkus Reviews

The ever-rapacious Nazis looted staggering quantities of great art and antiques from the nations they occupied. Much of it found its way back to Germany, and following the Allied victory, many thousands of rare (and some priceless) pieces were identified, and returned to the countries from which they had been taken. But not all of the paintings, statues, and archaeological treasures were recovered: Some were taken by Soviet troops and disappeared into Russia. Still others slipped into the black market in western Europe, and were snapped up by wealthy (if unprincipled) collectors. A 1995 symposium at the Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts brought together European and American investigators and historians to discuss both the the Nazi thefts and the current state of knowledge of the whereabouts of the many still missing treasures. Those papers are reprinted here. While the pieces are detailed, dry, and likely to be of most interest to specialists, there are some extraordinary stories, most prominently the description of the recent rediscovery of ``Priam's treasure,'' excavated by Schliemann at Troy and hidden since WW II in a Russian museum. (123 illustrations, 25 in color) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.