Legacy of Hohenzollern family: fresh foundation assumes control
In a historic move, the Brandenburg Ministry of the Interior and the House of Hohenzollern have reached an agreement in August 2025, resolving a century-long dispute over approximately 3,600 artworks and collection items linked to the House of Hohenzollern, the former German imperial house.
The core of the arrangement involves the joint establishment of a framework for the ownership and management of these valuable pieces. Both parties will collaborate to oversee the collection, rather than one party having unilateral control.
The agreement aims to settle any unresolved claims or disputes related to the collection comprehensively. This development is significant because it attempts to balance the historical heritage and cultural value of the collection with public and private interests.
Many of these objects are currently housed in institutions such as the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz, the Stiftung Preußischer Schlösser und Gärten, and the German Historical Museum. The establishment of this joint framework ensures that these magnificent pieces will continue to be publicly displayed in museums.
The 1926 contract, intended to settle property disputes, was ineffective in resolving the controversy, which continued for nearly a century. The confiscation of the wealth of the former imperial house occurred after the end of the monarchy in 1918, but the agreement now marks a significant step in the resolution of this long-standing dispute.
The Hohenzollerns now have the freedom to dispose of some pieces worth millions, including the option to sell them. However, the details of the distribution of the objects have not been publicly disclosed. The wealth of the former imperial house, confiscated after the end of the monarchy in 1918, is now primarily passing into the possession of the new foundation.
The jointly established foundation is the core of the deal. Some objects have been attributed to the ownership of the public authorities, while others have been attributed to the Hohenzollerns. The agreement does not disclose the details of these attributions.
This cooperative approach between the German state (Brandenburg) and the House of Hohenzollern ensures the preservation and appropriate management of these important cultural assets. The Foundation for Hohenzollern Art Holdings has been officially established, marking a significant step in the preservation and public display of the art and collection items from the former German imperial house.
The agreement between the public authorities and the House of Hohenzollern is now definitive and in effect. The details of the agreement have not been publicly disclosed, but the resolution of this decades-long dispute between the Hohenzollerns and the federal government, as well as the states of Berlin and Brandenburg, is a welcome development for art enthusiasts and historians alike.
[1] Source: Brandenburg Ministry of the Interior press release, August 2025.
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