Spoils of War: World War II and its Aftermath

Elizabeth Simpson

ISBN 10: 0810944693 / ISBN 13: 9780810944695

Published by Abrams, 1997

About this Item

Explores the ongoing debate over the vast amounts of cultural property displaced as a result of World War II. Not only paintings, sculpture and decorative arts, but also archaeological artefacts, rare books and manuscripts, musical instruments and scores, religious objects and memorabilia of every description were seized by the Nazis, taken by individuals, or removed to the USSR by the Soviet army by the end of the war.

Seller Inventory # CIN0810944693G

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Spoils of War: World War II and its Aftermath
• Publisher: Abrams
• Publication Date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0810944693
• ISBN 13: 9780810944695
• Binding: Hardback
• Condition: Good

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."

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.