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Most Nazi-looted art 'still missing', expert says Most Nazi-looted art 'still missing', expert says
(about 1 hour later)
A British expert on art looted by the Nazis says the hoard of 1,500 artworks found in Munich is just "the tip of the iceberg" and most works acquired by the Nazis are still untraced.A British expert on art looted by the Nazis says the hoard of 1,500 artworks found in Munich is just "the tip of the iceberg" and most works acquired by the Nazis are still untraced.
The Munich trove is believed to include works by Matisse, Picasso and Chagall, the news magazine Focus reports.The Munich trove is believed to include works by Matisse, Picasso and Chagall, the news magazine Focus reports.
The total value is estimated at about one billion euros (£846m; $1.35bn).The total value is estimated at about one billion euros (£846m; $1.35bn).
Anne Webber of the Commission for Looted Art in Europe said about 90% of Nazi-looted art is still missing.Anne Webber of the Commission for Looted Art in Europe said about 90% of Nazi-looted art is still missing.
In Western Europe during World War Two, the Nazis often used devalued currency to acquire important artworks cheaply in occupied countries, though in Eastern Europe they carried out large-scale looting.In Western Europe during World War Two, the Nazis often used devalued currency to acquire important artworks cheaply in occupied countries, though in Eastern Europe they carried out large-scale looting.
The Munich works are thought to be among the many which the Nazis either seized from Jews or removed from galleries as "degenerate" modern art.The Munich works are thought to be among the many which the Nazis either seized from Jews or removed from galleries as "degenerate" modern art.
The magazine said the artworks were found by chance when the tax authorities investigated Cornelius Gurlitt, the reclusive son of an art dealer in Munich.The magazine said the artworks were found by chance when the tax authorities investigated Cornelius Gurlitt, the reclusive son of an art dealer in Munich.
He was suspected of tax evasion, and investigators obtained a search warrant for his apartment in Munich in early 2011.He was suspected of tax evasion, and investigators obtained a search warrant for his apartment in Munich in early 2011.
There, they found the cache of some 1,500 artworks which had vanished from sight during the Nazi era.There, they found the cache of some 1,500 artworks which had vanished from sight during the Nazi era.
The younger Mr Gurlitt had kept the works in darkened rooms, surrounded by clutter, and sold the occasional painting when he needed money, Focus reports.The younger Mr Gurlitt had kept the works in darkened rooms, surrounded by clutter, and sold the occasional painting when he needed money, Focus reports.
They have been kept in a secure wing of Bavarian customs while experts try to find out who they belonged to, the magazine says.They have been kept in a secure wing of Bavarian customs while experts try to find out who they belonged to, the magazine says.
'Unwritten history''Unwritten history'
Speaking to BBC News, Ms Webber said the German authorities were generally slow to trace the origins of artworks, despite the efforts of hundreds of families to trace their valuable property.Speaking to BBC News, Ms Webber said the German authorities were generally slow to trace the origins of artworks, despite the efforts of hundreds of families to trace their valuable property.
"The Bavarian authorities didn't publish a list... it's very important that the Bavarian government take immediate steps now to say when they are going to publish and when they will return works to their rightful owners," she said."The Bavarian authorities didn't publish a list... it's very important that the Bavarian government take immediate steps now to say when they are going to publish and when they will return works to their rightful owners," she said.
Ms Webber runs a registry of artworks that were held in Nazi collections during 1933-1945.Ms Webber runs a registry of artworks that were held in Nazi collections during 1933-1945.
The laundering of art from Nazi collections is "very much the unknown and unwritten history" of post-war Germany, she said.The laundering of art from Nazi collections is "very much the unknown and unwritten history" of post-war Germany, she said.
"There was a network of dealers in Bavaria after the war who had large amounts of Nazi-looted art that they were laundering and they still come up for sale at auction in Germany," she added."There was a network of dealers in Bavaria after the war who had large amounts of Nazi-looted art that they were laundering and they still come up for sale at auction in Germany," she added.
There are international warrants out for at least 200 of the Munich works, Focus reports.There are international warrants out for at least 200 of the Munich works, Focus reports.
One of the pieces is said to be a portrait of a woman by Matisse which belonged to the grandfather of French TV presenter Anne Sinclair.One of the pieces is said to be a portrait of a woman by Matisse which belonged to the grandfather of French TV presenter Anne Sinclair.
Paul Rosenberg, an art dealer who represented Picasso as well as Matisse, was forced to leave his collection behind when he fled Germany in the 1930s. Paul Rosenberg, an art dealer who represented Picasso as well as Matisse, was forced to leave his collection behind when he fled France in 1940.
The US Holocaust Memorial Museum estimates the Nazis seized about 16,000 works of art in all.The US Holocaust Memorial Museum estimates the Nazis seized about 16,000 works of art in all.