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No proof Bute House chandelier was looted by the Nazi, initial probe finds No proof Bute House chandelier was looted by the Nazis, initial probe finds
(35 minutes later)
An inquiry has yet to find evidence that a chandelier in the official residence of Scotland's first minister was looted by the Nazis.An inquiry has yet to find evidence that a chandelier in the official residence of Scotland's first minister was looted by the Nazis.
It was said to have been found abandoned in a north German street in 1945.It was said to have been found abandoned in a north German street in 1945.
Holocaust research organisation the Simon Wiesenthal Centre has suggested it may have been looted.Holocaust research organisation the Simon Wiesenthal Centre has suggested it may have been looted.
But the National Trust for Scotland, which owns Bute House, said there was "no conclusive evidence".But the National Trust for Scotland, which owns Bute House, said there was "no conclusive evidence".
The four-storey Georgian house at 6 Charlotte Square, in the heart of Edinburgh, was acquired by the Treasury in 1966 from the Bute family in lieu of death duties.The four-storey Georgian house at 6 Charlotte Square, in the heart of Edinburgh, was acquired by the Treasury in 1966 from the Bute family in lieu of death duties.
It passed to the National Trust for Scotland, and since 1999 has been the official residence of the first minister of Scotland.It passed to the National Trust for Scotland, and since 1999 has been the official residence of the first minister of Scotland.
According to a 2012 Scottish government guidebook, the elaborate drawing room chandelier was found in the German town of Cleves by English interior designer Felix Harbord who helped Lady Bute with the decoration of her family homes.According to a 2012 Scottish government guidebook, the elaborate drawing room chandelier was found in the German town of Cleves by English interior designer Felix Harbord who helped Lady Bute with the decoration of her family homes.
The National Trust for Scotland's head of collections care, archives and libraries, Jennifer Melville, said in the 1960s it was not common for the detailed histories of objects to be investigated.The National Trust for Scotland's head of collections care, archives and libraries, Jennifer Melville, said in the 1960s it was not common for the detailed histories of objects to be investigated.
She added: "Nowadays there is a much more rigorous approach and all museums and galleries in the UK are particularly mindful of the issues surrounding items acquired in the 1930s and 1940s.She added: "Nowadays there is a much more rigorous approach and all museums and galleries in the UK are particularly mindful of the issues surrounding items acquired in the 1930s and 1940s.
"With this particular chandelier, all we have to go on is the written account passed on by the Marquess of Bute's estate. The scenario painted by the Simon Wiesenthal Center is concerning but we still have no conclusive evidence to confirm that the chandelier was indeed looted."With this particular chandelier, all we have to go on is the written account passed on by the Marquess of Bute's estate. The scenario painted by the Simon Wiesenthal Center is concerning but we still have no conclusive evidence to confirm that the chandelier was indeed looted.
"Nevertheless, as responsible custodians, we will lodge details of the chandelier on the central spoliation database."Nevertheless, as responsible custodians, we will lodge details of the chandelier on the central spoliation database.
"This contains a list of artefacts held in the UK of uncertain provenance and enables anyone who may have further information to come forward.""This contains a list of artefacts held in the UK of uncertain provenance and enables anyone who may have further information to come forward."
Bute House became the official residency of secretaries of state for Scotland until 1999 at which point, with the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, it became the official home of Scotland's first ministers.Bute House became the official residency of secretaries of state for Scotland until 1999 at which point, with the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, it became the official home of Scotland's first ministers.
The property is currently managed on a day-to-day basis by the government agency Historic Scotland.The property is currently managed on a day-to-day basis by the government agency Historic Scotland.