Books and other printed items
Books, newspapers, magazines, et cetera
Prints
Prints made using various methods and techniques (engravings, etchings, woodcuts, et cetera)
Photography
Photographic negatives, positives, and postcards
Manuscripts
Holographs, letters, musical manuscripts, et cetera
Clothing
Items of clothing and accessories
Arts and Crafts
Decorative containers, lighting devices, and further items of applied art
Drawings
Drawings using various techniques (pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, et cetera)
Furniture
Furniture, lamps, textiles, et cetera
Philately
Postage stamps, letters, and postcards
Coins and Medals
Coins, medals, orders, badges, et cetera
Musical Instruments
Musical instruments
Sculpture
Sculptures and reliefs using various media (marble, bronze, et cetera)
Jewellery
Rings, chains, broochs, et cetera
Weapons and Technical Instruments
Weapons, armaments and technical devices
Further Categories
Items of natural history (fossils, preserved specimens of animals and of plants, minerals, et cetera) and further objects ( i.e. objects which cannot be classified under existing categories)
Books
Novels, dictionaries, books of plates, et cetera
Incunabula and Early Printed Items
Items printed after the invention of movable type, between 1453 and 1500 (incunabula)
Printed Music
Printed music by Strauss, Wagner, and others
Invitations
Invitations and entrance tickets
Newspapers and Periodicals
Newspapers, newspaper cuttings, and magazines
Further Printed Items
Calendars, posters, et cetera
Aquatints
A method of rotogravure by which etching produces various shades of grey on a metal plate. In contrast to the etching method, an aquatint does not produce lines but areas; this is why the executed sheets resemble washed (that is to say coloured with watercolours) Indian ink drawings.
Phototypes
A method of planographic printing by which a photosensitive layer is applied to an etched glass pane. The photo subject is photomechanically projected onto this pane, by which the parts to be printed are coloured. In the humidifying process, these parts are printed onto the paper.
Lithographs
A method of printing by which the drawing to be printed is applied to a prepared stone with a greasy substance. Etching enhances the contrast between areas to be printed and those to be left blank. When inked, only the greasy parts take the colour. In the case of colour lithographs, this process has to be repeated for each colour individually. Coloured lithographs are lithographs, which were coloured afterwards.
Etchings
A method of rotogravure by which an acid-resistant layer is applied to a metal plate, which is then engraved using an etching stylus. In an acid bath, only the part of the plate which is etched is eaten away. The acid-resistant layer is then removed, the plate inked, wiped, and printed. In the case of colour etchings, this process has to be repeated for each colour individually. Coloured etchings are etchings which were coloured afterwards.
Engravings
Engravings can be produced by rotogravure or by relief printing. The motif is scribed into the plate using a graver. While the colour is taken by the raised parts of a wood engraving, it instead penetrates the depressions of copper and steel engravings.
Woodcuts
A method of relief printing for which a wooden printing block is used (woodcut). The motif in reverse is cut out of the wood, the high parts of which are inked and then printed from.
Further Forms of Graphic Art
Photo- and heliogravures, scraping techniques, and colour prints
Positive Prints
Positives of photographs
Negative Prints
Glass-plate photographic negatives
Postcards
Picture postcards
Musical Manuscripts
Songs, sonatas, musical scores, et cetera
Typescripts
A typescript is a machine-typed text.
Further Manuscripts
Letters, notes, poems, et cetera
Accessories
Hats, sticks, umbrellas, et cetera
Vessels
Cups, jugs, bowls, et cetera
Lamps
Girandoles (branched candlesticks or lighting devices), hand lamps, et cetera
Further Kinds of Arts and Crafts
Porcelain figures, door panels, et cetera
Gouaches
Painting in gouache employs watercolours and additives, which, in contrast to watercolours, have an opaque, covering effect.
Miniatures
The term miniature painting is applied to painted depictions of small format, especially miniature portraiture, but also for book illumination and enamel painting. Various materials serve as a ground, such as wood, ivory, metal, et cetera. Miniature painting is mostly executed in watercolour and gouache.
Mixed Technique
Mixed technique combines various techniques, mostly oil and tempera painting.
Tempera
Tempera painting was above all used for Medieval art. The pigments are mixed with water and a bonding agent (egg yolk, glue, wax or resin). The resulting emulsion dries quickly and cannot be re-worked.
Pastels
Pastel painting offers the possibility of combining drawing with painting either by applying the colours next to each other (using a bonding agent) or by wiping them. Pastel painting distinguishes itself by delicate, finely defined and shimmering shades.
Further Kinds of Paintings
Grisaille painting (monochrome painting in shades of grey) and sepia painting (painting using pigments made from the secretion of a cuttlefish).
Pencil Drawings
Pencil drawings are executed in pencil on paper.
History and Geography
Books of plates, chronicles, et cetera
Pen-and-Ink Drawings
Pen-and-ink drawings are made by using liquid drawing agents (ink, Indian ink, et cetera).
Chalk Drawings
Chalk drawings are drawings made by using chalk, mostly for sketches and studies. The technique offers the possibility of hard and soft lines, which can be shaded by wiping.
Indian Ink Drawings
Liquid Indian ink is applied with a pen or a brush to the ground.
Charcoal Drawings
Charcoal drawings are made with a charcoal pencil. The fragile drawings, which are easily smudged, can be preserved by using a fixative spray (such as a spirit solution).
Further Kinds of Drawings
Drawings, which were executed in sepia, red chalk, et cetera.
Occasional Furniture
Caskets, small tables, fire screens, et cetera
Lamps and other Light Fittings
Chandeliers, lamp shades, et cetera
Suites of Furniture
Tables, sofas, armchairs, et cetera
Textiles
Blankets, bolsters, et cetera
Further Kinds of Interior Decoration Items
Beds, mirrors, mantel clocks, et cetera
Postage Stamps
Single postage stamps
Letters
Letter envelopes with stamps or postmarks
Postcards
Postcards with stamps or postmarks
Geological and Palaeontological Objects
Fossils of plants and animals
Prehistoric Objects
Objects found from prehistoric times (bronzes, jewellery, containers)
Zoological Objects
Preserved specimens of animals (stuffed animals, skeletons, preserved specimens)
Botanical Objects
Preserved specimens of plants, herbaria, et cetera
Minerological and Petrographical Objects
Minerals, ores, rocks, et cetera
Further Kinds of Objects
Objects which cannot be classified under existing categories ( e.g.early 19th century sedan chair)
Colour and Coloured Lithography
For colour lithographs, individual stone plates are made from which the colours are subsequently printed on paper. Coloured lithographs are black lithographs which are coloured afterwards.
Further Kinds of Lithography
Lithographs which cannot be unequivocally classified as either colour or coloured lithographs.
Colour and Coloured Etchings
For etchings, individual metal plates are made for all colours used. Coloured etchings are etchings which are coloured after printing.
Further Kinds of Etchings
Etchings which cannot be unequivocally classified as either colour or coloured etchings.
Copper Engravings
A rotogravure method by which the motif is cut into a copper plate using a graver. The colour applied penetrates the depressions and is absorbed by the moistened paper during printing.
Steel Engravings
A rotogravure method by which the motif is either cut or etched into a steel plate using a graver. The colour applied afterwards penetrates the depressions and is absorbed by the moistened paper during printing.
Further Kinds of Engravings
Wood engravings (xylography) and those engravings which cannot be classified unequivocally.
Portraits
Depictions of persons (portraits or likenesses).
Architecture
Illustrations of buildings.
Further Kinds of Photography
Photographic illustrations of various photo subjects ( e.g. landscapes, interiors, objects, et cetera)
Portraits
Depictions of persons (portraits or likenesses).
Architecture
Illustrations of buildings.
Further Kinds of Photography
Photographic illustrations of various photo subjects ( e.g. landscapes, interiors, objects, et cetera)
Art and Culture
Books of plates, guidebooks, et cetera
Belles-Lettres
Novels, narratives, et cetera
Reference Works
Encyclopaedia, dictionaries, et cetera
Politics and Economics
Reference works, encyclopaedia, et cetera
Religion and the Humanities
Bibles, scientific papers, et cetera
Technology
Manuals, et cetera
Natural Sciences
Textbooks, monthlies, et cetera
Further Kinds of Books
Books which cannot be classified under existing categories
Catalogue
In the complete catalogue you can search through the entire holdings of the database's 16 categories.
Search
The advanced search page provides three search features:
- the full text search field (as well available on the other pages of the website),
- the text input and selection fields of the advanced search and
- the option to select one or more periods, materials, restitution statuses and/or categories.
Detailed information on the advanced search is provided on our "advanced search" help page that can be reached via the "Help" link in the footer of the website.
Paintings
Oil paintings, watercolours, et cetera
Oil Paintings
For oil painting, colour pigments are dissolved in oil. By adding resin, wax, or laqu, different effects can be achieved (covering, glazing, matte or glossy). After drying, oil colours retain their colour.
Watercolours
Watercolour painting employs water-soluble colour, usually on paper. The transparency of the colours is a significant feature.
Choice list 'provenance category'
The objects in the database are classified in categories according to their provenance. These are based on the Restitution Reports by the Republic of Austria and by the City of Vienna in cooperation with the Vienna Jewish Community, the head of the Viennese Commission for Restitution, and the head of the Commission for Provenance Research.
- Acquisition from the VUGESTA / GESTAPO (VUGESTA - Gestapo Office for the Disposal of the Property of Jewish Emigrants)
- Purchase/donation by Julius Fargel
- Purchase from the Dorotheum 1938-45 (Dorotheum – auction house in Vienna)
- Purchase from the Dorotheum after 1945 (Dorotheum – auction house in Vienna)
- Acquisition from the art market/antique shop
- Benefaction/donation/presentation from the art market
- Purchase from a private collection
- Benefaction/donation/presentation from a private collection
- Assignment/presentation from the public sector 1938-1945
- Assignment/presentation from the public sector after 1945
- Loan to museum/collection
- Legacy / bequest
- Assignment from the Federal Office for the Protection of Monuments (Austria)
- Found in storage
- Means of acquisition not clear
Choice list 'committee in charge'
According to para. 3 of the Art Restitution Law, the Art Restitution Advisory Board is responsible for objects of art from the Austrian federal museums and collections.
Following a resolution passed by the Municipal Council of the Federal Capital of Vienna on April 29 1999, the Viennese Commission for Restitution is in charge of art and cultural objects from the museums, libraries, archives, collections and further holdings of the City of Vienna.
None of the nominated committees are responsible for the restitution of art assets belonging to the Austrian provincial state museums. Therefore, in the case of art objects possessed by these museums, the field "committee in charge" remains empty.
Choice list 'body in charge'
For the restitution of art objects in the possession of the museums of the Republic of Austria, either the Federal Minister for Education, the Arts and Culture, the Federal Minister for Economy, Family and Youth or the Federal Minister of Defence and Sport or another competent member of the Federal government are in charge.
For the restitution of art or cultural objects in the possession of the museums of the City of Vienna, the Executive City Councillor from the municipal authority is in charge.
For the restitution of art or cultural objects in the possession of the museums of the Austrian provincial states, the respective provincial governments are in charge.
Checkbox examination/'pendency'
With regard to the examination and pendency of art restitution proceedings, for objects from the museums and collections of the Republic of Austria there are five options:
- The questionable nature of the provenance of the art or cultural object is being or has been examined by the museum/the collection/the Commission for Provenance Research. So far, the case has not been dealt with by the Art Restitution Advisory Board.
- The possible questionable nature of the object is being examined by the Art Restitution Advisory Board.
- Research completed: Following an examination, the museum/the collection/the Commission for Provenance Research has determined that the art or cultural object is not of a questionable nature.
- The Art Restitution Advisory Board has decided on the restitution of the art.
- The art restitution case is closed.
For objects from the museums and collections of the City of Vienna there are three options:
- The questionable nature of the provenance of the art or cultural object is being or has been examined by the museum/the collection. So far, no art restitution proceedings have been instituted.
- Art restitution proceedings are pending.
- The art restitution proceedings have been concluded.
Choice list 'recommendation'
With regard to the presence of a recommendation, for objects from museums and collections of the Republic of Austria the following five options exist:
- No recommendation has been issued yet.
- The Art Restitution Advisory Board has recommended that the art or cultural object is to be restored to the owners or their legal successors.
- The Art Restitution Advisory Board has established the owners or their legal successors and has recommended to restore to them the art or cultural object.
- The Art Restitution Advisory Board has recommended the utilization of the art or cultural object by the National Fund.
- The Art Restitution Advisory Board has not recommended the restitution of the art or cultural object.
For objects from the museums and collections of the City of Vienna the following five options exist:
- No recommendation has been issued yet.
- The committee in charge has recommended if possible to restore the art or cultural object, if the owners or their legal successors can be established.
- The committee in charge has established the owners or their legal successors and has recommended to restore to them the art or cultural object.
- The committee in charge has recommended the utilization of the art or cultural object by the National Fund.
- The committee in charge has come to the conclusion that the art or cultural object cannot be restituted.
Choice list 'decision'
With regard to the availability of a decision, for objects from the museums and collections of the Republic of Austria the following four options exist:
- No decision has been reached so far.
- The body in charge has decided to restore the art or cultural object to the owners or their legal successors.
- The body in charge has decided to hand over the art or cultural object to the National Fund for utilization.
- The body in charge has not recommended the restitution of the art or cultural object.
For objects from the museums and collections of the City of Vienna , the following four options exist:
- No decision has been reached so far.
- The body in charge has decided to restore the art or cultural object to the owners or their legal successors.
- The body in charge has decided to hand over the art or cultural object to the National Fund for utilization.
- The body in charge has come to the conclusion that the art or cultural object cannot be restituted.
Choice list 'Implementation'
With regard to the realization of art restitution, the following four options exist:
- The art or cultural object is kept in the museum/in the collection.
- The art or cultural object was restituted to the owners or their legal successors.
- The art or cultural object was handed over to the National Fund for utilization.
- The art or cultural object was utilized by the National Fund.