Object numberM2004/028:001
DescriptionAntique fan, made of lace and mother-of-pearl. It belonged to the donors great-grandmother Charlotte, a relic from her splendid life in Vienna. The donor, Vera Koenigswarter, comes from an old and respected Jewish family in Vienna, with Baron's title. Vera was baptised as a child and fled with parents Victor and Stephanie to Switzerland in 1939. Later in 1939 they migrated to Australia.
Vera Koenigswarter was born in Vienna. Her great-grandfather Moritz inherited the title of Baron from his father Jonas. The title was held by her grandfather, her father and her uncle. The family owned their own bank (which failed soon World War I). The Koenigswarter's owned a mansion on the Ringstrasse boulevard. Moritz Koenigswarter married Charlotte Wertheimstein, another prominent Viennese Jewish family. The home they lived in, called Villa Wertheimstein, was famous for its garden, which Charlotte planted for the blind. Moritz established the Koenigswarter soup kitchen; it pains Vera to think that Adolf Hitler ate there as an impoverished student in Vienna.
Charlotte and Moritz' son, Heinrich (1861-1931), Vera's grandfather, married a non-Jewish German actress called Margarethe Formes (1869 - 1940s). Her grandmother took Vera to the Lutheran church; out of respect for Vera's orthodox great-grandmother Charlotte, Vera was not baptised until she was six or seven years old, after Charlotte died.
Grandmother and grandfather had two sons: Vera's father Victor (born 1890) and her uncle Hans. Her father married Stefanie Groedel in March 1922. The Groedel’s were a wealthy Hungarian Catholic family, of Jewish background. Vera is the only child of that marriage. After Anschluss in 1938, Vera and her parents left Vienna quickly. Although neither of her parents were Jewish, their family name was well-known and identified as Jewish. In addition, Victor had been a member of an anti-socialists and anti-fascists political group. Vera was sent to boarding school in Switzerland. Her parents joined shortly after, with a few suitcases and virtually no valuable possessions. Her parents could stay as long as they were students. Her mother enrolled in a cooking school and her father in a hotel management course while awaiting permits for Australia. The family arrived on the Strathmore in May 1939. Victor and Stefanie moved to Katoomba, where Victor became the French master at a local school. Stefanie was an artist and painted many pictures inspired by the beauty of the Blue Mountains.
Vera Koenigswarter was born in Vienna. Her great-grandfather Moritz inherited the title of Baron from his father Jonas. The title was held by her grandfather, her father and her uncle. The family owned their own bank (which failed soon World War I). The Koenigswarter's owned a mansion on the Ringstrasse boulevard. Moritz Koenigswarter married Charlotte Wertheimstein, another prominent Viennese Jewish family. The home they lived in, called Villa Wertheimstein, was famous for its garden, which Charlotte planted for the blind. Moritz established the Koenigswarter soup kitchen; it pains Vera to think that Adolf Hitler ate there as an impoverished student in Vienna.
Charlotte and Moritz' son, Heinrich (1861-1931), Vera's grandfather, married a non-Jewish German actress called Margarethe Formes (1869 - 1940s). Her grandmother took Vera to the Lutheran church; out of respect for Vera's orthodox great-grandmother Charlotte, Vera was not baptised until she was six or seven years old, after Charlotte died.
Grandmother and grandfather had two sons: Vera's father Victor (born 1890) and her uncle Hans. Her father married Stefanie Groedel in March 1922. The Groedel’s were a wealthy Hungarian Catholic family, of Jewish background. Vera is the only child of that marriage. After Anschluss in 1938, Vera and her parents left Vienna quickly. Although neither of her parents were Jewish, their family name was well-known and identified as Jewish. In addition, Victor had been a member of an anti-socialists and anti-fascists political group. Vera was sent to boarding school in Switzerland. Her parents joined shortly after, with a few suitcases and virtually no valuable possessions. Her parents could stay as long as they were students. Her mother enrolled in a cooking school and her father in a hotel management course while awaiting permits for Australia. The family arrived on the Strathmore in May 1939. Victor and Stefanie moved to Katoomba, where Victor became the French master at a local school. Stefanie was an artist and painted many pictures inspired by the beauty of the Blue Mountains.
Production placeVienna, Austria
Production period19th Century
SubjectPre-war life
Object namefans (accessories)
Materialfibres (fabrics), mother of pearl
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mrs Vera Koenigswarter