Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam Acquires Historic Johannes Lutma Salt Cellars After Restitution
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has announced the acquisition of four significant silver salt cellars created by the renowned 17th-century silversmith Johannes Lutma. This acquisition follows a recent restitution process, ensuring these important works, which were formerly part of a Jewish family's collection and involuntarily sold during the Nazi era, are now permanently housed in the national museum. The partially gilded objects are considered premier examples of Dutch silversmithing from their period.
Visitors will have the opportunity to see these four salt cellars on public display at the Rijksmuseum starting September 6, 2023. The special presentation will not only showcase the artistic mastery of Lutma but also highlight the profound historical journey of the objects, including the story of their previous owner, Emma Budge.
A Glimpse into 17th-Century Amsterdam Craftsmanship
Johannes Lutma (1584-1669) was a leading silversmith in Amsterdam during the 17th century, known for his masterful work and influential style. He was a contemporary and associate of famous figures like Rembrandt, who famously etched Lutma's portrait, and the poet Joost van den Vondel. The acquired salt cellars stand out as pivotal pieces in Lutma's surviving oeuvre, showcasing his innovative blend of the ornate auricular style with a classical aesthetic. The silversmith himself regarded these as breakthrough works, even featuring an early version of them in his 1638 portrait by Jacob Adriaensz Backer, which is also part of the Rijksmuseum collection and will be displayed alongside the cellars.
The complete ensemble of four is particularly rare, demonstrating Lutma's ability to design a cohesive set of objects that were produced over several years. Their consistent design, particularly in the feet, unifies the pieces, while subtle differences in figures and salt dishes give each pair a distinct character. Such elaborate and costly items graced the tables of affluent art collectors, civic militias, and naval institutions during significant banquets.
Rectifying a Historical Injustice: The Restitution Process
Prior to World War II, the four salt cellars belonged to Emma Budge (1852-1937), a Jewish art collector from Hamburg, Germany, who, with her husband Henry Budge, amassed an extensive art collection. Following Emma Budge's death in 1937, her estate was sold at an "Aryanized" auction in Berlin. The proceeds were unlawfully confiscated by the Nazi party, rather than reaching her heirs.
In the decades that followed, two of the salt cellars entered the Rijksmuseum's collection in the 1960s, while the other two were held by the Amsterdam Museum. Concerns about the provenance of the objects led to investigations by both museums, culminating in the Dutch Restitutions Committee's conclusion in 2018 that the 1937 auction was involuntary. This decision paved the way for the objects' return to Budge’s descendants.
Following this recommendation, the descendants submitted a claim, leading to the formal return of the salt cellars by the Dutch state and the City of Amsterdam on May 12, 2023. On the same day, the heirs sold all four pieces to the Rijksmuseum, ensuring their public accessibility and allowing the museum to highlight both their artistic value and the compelling story of their provenance and restitution.
The Rijksmuseum has been actively engaged in provenance research since 2012, with a dedicated team investigating objects suspected of involuntary removal from Jewish ownership under Nazi persecution. This vital work aims to expose instances of theft and forced sales, making these stories public and integrating the human and family histories into the broader narrative of Dutch national history.
This significant acquisition was made possible through the generous financial support of the Friends Lottery, the Mondriaan Fund, the Rembrandt Association, and private benefactors via the Rijksmuseum Fonds.
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