Sappho disappears in occupied Paris
A marble bought from Rodin was confiscated after its owner fled the Gestapo.
Hans Fürstenberg, later known as Jean, bought this marble directly from Rodin. A Jewish banker and bibliophile, he emigrated from Berlin to Paris in 1936 with part of his collection.
After the German occupation of France he escaped to Switzerland. His library was looted, and the ERR confiscated the Rodin from its Paris storage location on 16 November 1942.
Fürstenberg recovered portions of his library after the war, but not Sappho. The marble remains listed as missing. Its documented confiscation is distinct from the unresolved question of its later movements.
Monuments Men and Women Foundation
Scheduled program end: 2026-12-31
Offer advertised by an official source
Reward details & conditions
Up to US$2,500 is currently advertised for this specific work under the WWII Most Wanted Art program. New, non-public information must be submitted directly to the Foundation and lead to physical and legal recovery by the owner. Payment is conditional, may be shared and is determined by the Foundation. This is not a guaranteed payment or an offer by ArtTraceX. The program is scheduled to end on 31 December 2026, unless ended earlier.
Payment and eligibility are governed by the reward provider’s conditions.Artwork Details & DocumentationIdentification, ownership history and supporting records
Sappho
- Artwork title
- SapphoMonuments Men and Women Foundation ↗ · checked
- Maker / attribution
- Auguste RodinMonuments Men and Women Foundation ↗ · checked
- Object type
- SculptureMonuments Men and Women Foundation ↗ · checked
- Materials & technique
- MarbleMonuments Men and Women Foundation ↗ · checked
- Measurements
- Height: 99 cmMonuments Men and Women Foundation ↗ · checked
Not documented in this record: inscriptions & markings · distinguishing features · creation date / period · subject.
Documented ownership history
- Date undocumented
Purchased directly from Rodin by Hans (Jean) Fürstenberg.
Monuments Men and Women Foundation ↗ · checked - 1936
Taken to France by Fürstenberg and stored at Société Parisienne, Paris.
Monuments Men and Women Foundation ↗ · checked - 1942-11-16
Confiscated from storage in Paris by the ERR; still unlocated.
Monuments Men and Women Foundation ↗ · checked
Only stages supported by the cited sources are shown. This list is not a complete chain of ownership.
Record sources
Identification details follow the Object ID categories where documented. Ownership history is recorded separately; this documentation is not an authentication or a certificate of ownership.
Documentary sources
An original ArtTraceX synthesis. Sources checked .