Christie’s Restitution department honoured the 25th anniversary of the Washington Principles in 2023 with a global series of events and initiatives.

In December 1998, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum brought together participants from 44 countries and 13 non-governmental organizations, as well as observers from art museums and auction houses, to Washington, D.C., to address the widespread loss and confiscation of art during the Holocaust era. This group established and publicly shared 11 Washington Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art, which offered a new way forward for victims and their heirs to research, locate, and, where possible, recover missing art and lost histories. The Washington Principles have ushered in a new wave of art restitution and they are the foundation of Christie’s approach to art and cultural valuables that were lost during the Nazi-era and to the work of its Restitution Department.

Throughout 2023, scholars, legal experts, researchers and interested parties met in Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, Berlin, London, New York as well as throughout the United States to share and discuss important stories, ideas and perspectives. Christie’s Reflecting on Restitution programme began on 27 January, when visitors were welcomed to an inaugural public exhibition at Christie’s galleries in Paris. Global audiences were invited to engage with the programme through other in-person opportunities as well as this dedicated website, featuring recordings of selected events, stories of important restitutions, as well as a virtual walking tour of historic sites throughout Berlin.

Christie’s Restitution department continues to use the Washington Principles as the basis of their research of Nazi-era losses. Up to date information about the Restitution team’s efforts and events can be found on their webpage.

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