The Yale University Art Gallery is pleased to announce the transfer of a pair of objects from its permanent collection, Allegorical Figures with Cornucopiae (Yale University Art Gallery inv. no. 1971.26.1–.2), to the executors of the Estate of Emma R. Budge.

The Budge estate’s attorney, Lothar Fremy, thanked the Gallery for its cooperation in the restitution of the artworks and its commitment to Nazi-era provenance research. “Our clients are very grateful for the decision of the Yale University Art Gallery. It is significant as it acknowledges the injustice suffered by the Budge family during the Nazi era.”

The bronze sculptures date to the 16th century and were sold to the Gallery in 1971 by a British dealer. Research conducted by the Gallery’s Curator of Provenance Research and its Department of European Art showed that the sculptures were part of the collection of Emma Ranette Budge (1852–1937), an American-German Jewish socialite, philanthropist, and art collector whose villa in Hamburg, Germany, the “Budge-Palais,” housed her internationally recognized decorative-arts collection. Upon Budge’s natural death in 1937, she left the disposition of her art collection to her estate executors, and, on October 4–6, 1937, a large portion of her collection was sold at the Paul Graupe auction house, in Berlin. Due to the social and political circumstances within Nazi Germany at the time, the Jewish-German heirs were ultimately denied proceeds from the sale. During the course of research, the Gallery was contacted by the Budge estate’s attorney, and an ownership claim was received. The Gallery decided, based on the unique facts and circumstances of this case, to transfer the items to the heirs.

“The Yale University Art Gallery is committed to provenance research on artworks in its collection and to proactively and responsibly addressing claims of ownership as new information becomes available,” said Stephanie Wiles, the Gallery’s Henry J. Heinz II Director. 

Provenance Research

For additional information on provenance research at the Gallery, including ownership resolutions, visit https://artgallery.yale.edu/research-and-learning/provenance-research.