LOOT OF CENTURIES.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 September 1919, Page 5

LOOT OF CENTURIES.

._.._._..o__:__ CLAIMS AGAINST ROBBER ' ' NA’I‘IONS. In many ways the most interesting and certainly the most picturesque clauses in the peace treaties. with Austria and Germany, deal-with reparation for acts of theft and dynamic peeulatioii committed not only during the war, but also in tlie spacious days of the Hapsburg domination in. Europe. The Central Empires will be called upon to restore all sorts of objects nanging from. skulls to; vestments‘ which either are ofartistie, historic, or religious value, and were taken in sonic period of the World’s history from the countries which have shown themselves Victorious. The British, Bel. gian. French, and‘ Italian Governments have claims of this nature upon the enemy. Some of the claims may evoke a picture of the wonderful era of Hapsburg rule from the Low Countries to the Italian plain. Italy is claiming. on behalf of Tuscany, medals, jewels, and crowns, forming‘ a part of nthe Medici heirlooms, and other previous objects, which were I'o- - to Vienna during the eigliteeiith century. She also asks for the return of furniture and silver plite belonging to the Medici h.ous'e, and of ancient lllSll'1lll1(“]ll'.~‘ of astronomy and physics belonging; to the Academy of Cimento, removed by the House of Lorraine, and sent as a present to cousins of the Imperial House at‘ Vienna. Moclena. requires the return of “The Virgin,” by Correggio, which was removed in 1859 by Archduke Francis V., as well as manuscripts and bronzes from the Modena liberary__ remo\"ed. at the same time, including the Biblia Vulgatar, the Brevarium Romanum, and the Ofiieum Be-attae Virginis. It also requires the restoration of a number of other objects which were claimed by the Duke of M»oclena. in .1865 and 1372These -include two pictures by Salvator Rosa. and by Dcsso. ' ‘

Claims by Palermo have been advanced upon objects made in fhe twelfth and thixl-teellth o('n'tul"ics -by Arab workmen, labouring -at Palermo for Norman kings. These articles, which were C.a4rl‘iCd away to Vienna and used at the coronation of the en_lperors, are by far the most 'l'mporta.nt artistic treasures the. Vro-turll of which is claimed. The objects in question are the vesl'lllérifs of Hohenstaufibn, Conrad and Frederick 11.. There are (‘.1191wsal'rllellfs, most of which were made on the order of Conrrtd at the end of the twelfth century for use in the «~01-onativon ceremonies. Work of this naturo- was the Sepcial province of Arab ombroiderers. who“ were far superior fo European craftsmen. ,