Choice list ‘provenance category’

The objects in the database are classified in categories according to their provenance. These are based on the Restitution Reports by the Republic of Austria and by the City of Vienna in cooperation with the Vienna Jewish Community, the head of the Viennese Commission for Restitution, and the head of the Commission for Provenance Research.

  1. Acquisition from the VUGESTA/GESTAPO (VUGESTA - Gestapo Office for the Disposal of the Property of Jewish Emigrants)
  2. Purchase/donation by Julius Fargel
  3. Purchase from the Dorotheum 1938-45 (Dorotheum – auction house in Vienna)
  4. Purchase from the Dorotheum after 1945 (Dorotheum – auction house in Vienna)
  5. Acquisition from the art market/antique shop
  6. Benefaction/donation/presentation from the art market
  7. Purchase from a private collection
  8. Benefaction/donation/presentation from a private collection
  9. Assignment/presentation from the public sector 1938-1945
  10. Assignment/presentation from the public sector after 1945
  11. Loan to museum/collection
  12. Legacy/bequest
  13. Assignment from the Federal Office for the Protection of Monuments (Austria)
  14. Found in storage
  15. Means of acquisition not clear
  16. Assignment/presentation from the Reich Exchange Department

Choice list ‘body in charge’

For the restitution of art objects in the possession of the museums of the Republic of Austria, either the Federal Minister for Education, the Arts and Culture, the Federal Minister for Economy, Family and Youth or the Federal Minister of Defence and Sport or another competent member of the Federal government are in charge.

For the restitution of art or cultural objects in the possession of the museums of the City of Vienna, the Executive City Councillor from the municipal authority is in charge.

For the restitution of art or cultural objects in the possession of the museums of the Austrian provincial states, the respective provincial governments are in charge.

Choice list ‘committee in charge’

According to para. 3 of the Art Restitution Law, the Art Restitution Advisory Board is responsible for objects of art from the Austrian federal museums and collections.

Following a resolution passed by the Municipal Council of the Federal Capital of Vienna on April 29 1999, the Viennese Commission for Restitution is in charge of art and cultural objects from the museums, libraries, archives, collections and further holdings of the City of Vienna.

None of the nominated committees are responsible for the restitution of art assets belonging to the Austrian provincial state museums. Therefore, in the case of art objects possessed by these museums, the field “committee in charge” remains empty.

Choice list 'implementation'

With regard to the realization of art restitution, the following four options exist:

  1. The art or cultural object is kept in the museum/in the collection.
  2. The art or cultural object was restituted to the owners or their legal successors.
  3. The art or cultural object was handed over to the National Fund for utilization.
  4. The art or cultural object was utilized by the National Fund.

Choice list 'decision'

With regard to the availability of a decision, for objects from the museums and collections of the Republic of Austria the following four options exist:

  1. No decision has been reached so far.
  2. The body in charge has decided to restore the art or cultural object to the owners or their legal successors.
  3. The body in charge has decided to hand over the art or cultural object to the National Fund for utilization.
  4. The body in charge has not recommended the restitution of the art or cultural object.

For objects from the museums and collections of the City of Vienna, the following four options exist:

  1. No decision has been reached so far.
  2. The body in charge has decided to restore the art or cultural object to the owners or their legal successors.
  3. The body in charge has decided to hand over the art or cultural object to the National Fund for utilization.
  4. The body in charge has come to the conclusion that the art or cultural object cannot be restituted.

Choice list 'recommendation'

With regard to the presence of a recommendation, for objects from museums and collections of the Republic of Austria the following five options exist:

  1. No recommendation has been issued yet.
  2. The Art Restitution Advisory Board has recommended that the art or cultural object is to be restored to the owners or their legal successors.
  3. The Art Restitution Advisory Board has established the owners or their legal successors and has recommended to restore to them the art or cultural object.
  4. The Art Restitution Advisory Board has recommended the utilization of the art or cultural object by the National Fund.
  5. The Art Restitution Advisory Board has not recommended the restitution of the art or cultural object.

For objects from the museums and collections of the City of Vienna the following five options exist:

  1. No recommendation has been issued yet.
  2. The committee in charge has recommended if possible to restore the art or cultural object, if the owners or their legal successors can be established.
  3. The committee in charge has established the owners or their legal successors and has recommended to restore to them the art or cultural object.
  4. The committee in charge has recommended the utilization of the art or cultural object by the National Fund.
  5. The committee in charge has come to the conclusion that the art or cultural object cannot be restituted.

Checkbox examination/‘pendency’

With regard to the examination and pendency of art restitution proceedings, for objects from the museums and collections of the Republic of Austria there are five options:

  1. The questionable nature of the provenance of the art or cultural object is being or has been examined by the museum/the collection/the Commission for Provenance Research. So far, the case has not been dealt with by the Art Restitution Advisory Board.
  2. The possible questionable nature of the object is being examined by the Art Restitution Advisory Board.
  3. Research completed: Following an examination, the museum/the collection/the Commission for Provenance Research has determined that the art or cultural object is not of a questionable nature.
  4. The Art Restitution Advisory Board has decided on the restitution of the art.
  5. The art restitution case is closed.

For objects from the museums and collections of the City of Vienna there are three options:

  1. The questionable nature of the provenance of the art or cultural object is being or has been examined by the museum/the collection. So far, no art restitution proceedings have been instituted.
  2. Art restitution proceedings are pending.
  3. The art restitution proceedings have been concluded.