Lot 167
A COPPER WINE COOLER
ITALIAN OR SOUTH GERMAN, 17TH CENTURY
Closed29 April 2010
Price Realised
EUR 1,625
More Information
Specialist note
Otto Lanz (1865-1935) studied in Switzerland and Germany and obtained his doctorate in 1889. In 1894 he settled as a practitioner and Dozent of surgery at the University in Bern.
In 1902 Lanz was appointed professor of surgery in Amsterdam, remaining there until his death. He was well known for his surgery of the thyroid gland and for his studies on the vermiform appendix. In 1907 he invented the meshed graft.
Apart from his professional achievements, Lanz was a great connoisseur and passionate collector of Italian Renaissance art. In 1906 objects from his collection were installed in a room in the Rijksmuseum. In July-October 1934 a significant part of his collection was included in the exhibition of Italian art in Dutch collections in the Stedelijk Museum of Amsterdam. Lanz' contribution to the exhibition was 122 paintings. After his death in March 1935, the collection, consisting of paintings, sculpture, furniture and ceramics, in total some 430 objects, was entrusted to the Rijksmuseum by his heirs. In 1941 his widow sold the collection to Adolf Hitler who acquired it for his proposed Führermuseum. The price was 2 million Swiss francs and 350,000 Dutch guilders. After the capitulation, the collection was returned to The Netherlands.
In 1902 Lanz was appointed professor of surgery in Amsterdam, remaining there until his death. He was well known for his surgery of the thyroid gland and for his studies on the vermiform appendix. In 1907 he invented the meshed graft.
Apart from his professional achievements, Lanz was a great connoisseur and passionate collector of Italian Renaissance art. In 1906 objects from his collection were installed in a room in the Rijksmuseum. In July-October 1934 a significant part of his collection was included in the exhibition of Italian art in Dutch collections in the Stedelijk Museum of Amsterdam. Lanz' contribution to the exhibition was 122 paintings. After his death in March 1935, the collection, consisting of paintings, sculpture, furniture and ceramics, in total some 430 objects, was entrusted to the Rijksmuseum by his heirs. In 1941 his widow sold the collection to Adolf Hitler who acquired it for his proposed Führermuseum. The price was 2 million Swiss francs and 350,000 Dutch guilders. After the capitulation, the collection was returned to The Netherlands.