The Mauerbach Benefit sale, conducted on a non-profit basis by Christie's in October 1996 for the Federation of Austrian Jewish communities, marked an important milestone in the history of Jewish restitution.
In a unique auction event thousands of works of art, confiscated by the National Socialists between 1938 and 1945 and whose owners could not be determined, were offered for sale in just under a thousand lots.
The sale far exceeded pre-sale expectations raising $14.6 million (£9 million) to benefit needy victims of the Holocaust in and from Austria. The worldwide distribution of these funds is currently underway, organised by the Federation of Jewish Communities in Austria.
This lot has recently been made available by the Republic of Austria and is now being offered on behalf of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Austria. The proceeds from the sale of these wall brackets will be used to benefit needy Holocaust survivors.
A SET OF FOUR SOUTH GERMAN POLYCHROME-PAINTED AND PARCEL-GILT WALL- BRACKETS
MID-18TH CENTURY, INCLUDING TWO OF LATER DATE
Details
A SET OF FOUR SOUTH GERMAN POLYCHROME-PAINTED AND PARCEL-GILT WALL- BRACKETS
Mid-18th Century, including two of later date
Each with a cherub's head below a shaped stepped platform, on a scrolled foliate shaped panel, two inscribed in pencil to the reverse '176', refreshments to the decoration, the head of the later brackets possibly reused
11 in. (28 cm.) wide; 11¼ in. (28.5 cm.) high; 7 in. (17.5 cm.) deep (4)
Mid-18th Century, including two of later date
Each with a cherub's head below a shaped stepped platform, on a scrolled foliate shaped panel, two inscribed in pencil to the reverse '176', refreshments to the decoration, the head of the later brackets possibly reused
11 in. (28 cm.) wide; 11¼ in. (28.5 cm.) high; 7 in. (17.5 cm.) deep (4)