The Welfenschatz – in English the so-called Guelph or Welf Treasure – should not be returned, says commission

Gertrude, wife of Count Liudolf dedicated around 1030 the Cathedral of St. Blasius at Burg Dankwarderode in Brunswick as  the family collegiate foundation. During the next 5000 years an impressive collection of reliquaries, crosses and other treasure were amassed – the so-called Welfenschatz or Guelph Treasure

Part of the treasure, consisting of 42 priceless medieval reliquaries, crosses, candlesticks etc. is currently held by the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. Originally the treasure belonged to St. Blasius in Braunschweig. In 1671 it came into the possession of the House of Welfs. Here it resided until the princely house sold the 82 objects from the collection of nearly priceless medieval art to a group of art-dealers. In 1935 the Prussian State bought 42 pieces of the treasure. Today 44 literally priceless pieces belong to the collection.

In 2008 the Jewish descendants of the sellers from 1935 demanded to have the treasure returned to them with reference to the very low price, the state – and Goering – bought the treasure for in 1935. The descendants claimed that the price paid at that time mirrored the fact that the sell was forced. On the other hand the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation has claimed that the price reflected the challenges the consortium had had selling the artefacts from the treasure due to the economic crisis in the 20s and 30s. Thus, already in 2009 the Foundation declared the petition for unfounded.

However, because of the sensitive character of the issues involved, the Foundation appealed to a commission especially designed to to advice in such matters. The conclusion was recently (20.03.2014) published: according to the commission it is not recommended that the Foundation should return the treasure to the heirs as it seems apparent that the sale in 1935 was not forced.

The matter, however, is complicated by the fact the Israeli Government has officially requested Germany to return the treasure to the petitioners.

In view of the latest declaration, the heirs have issued a statement wishing to ponder the decision of the commission in order to ponder whether new steps should be taken.

PRESS RELEASE

 Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation declares the Welf treasure should not be returned

PHOTOS

© SMB, Kunstgewerbemuseum / J. Liepe

READ MORE

Welfenschätze
By Gisela Bungarten and Jochen Luckhardt
Braunschweig Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum
Verlag: Michael Imhof Verlag 2007
ISBN-10: 3865682626
ISBN-13: 978-3865682628

Der Welfenschatz und sein Umkreis 
Joachim Ehlers and Dietrich Kötzsche
Zabern (1998)
ISBN-10: 3805324022
ISBN-13: 978-3805324021

In 1931 the Guelph treasure was shown at The Art Institute of Chicago under the auspices of the Antiquarian Society of the Art Insitutet and of the Renaissance Society of the University of Chicago. For this exhibition a special catalogue was prepared, describing all the 82 pieces in the collection (as it was sold to the consortium of Jewish artdealers in 1929). One of the few complete descriptions of the Guelph Treasure, it is available for download here

See more of the priceless objects from the Guelph Treasure – Welfenschatz