of the objects as well as the restitution of the objects in accordancewith the terms of the Art Restitution Act, and in cooperation with theCommission for Provenance Research.This exhibition is the result of the express desire of the descen-dants of Anna Mautner to ensure that the collection, which wasdonated to the museum after its official restitution to the family, shouldbe accessible to the public and available for research purposes.The entire restituted and donated collection – about five hundredobjects – is presented in the exhibition and interpreted according tocultural contexts and discipline history.I would like to thank everyone involved in the preparation of the­exhibition and this catalogue, in particular the three curators KathrinPallestrang, Magdalena Puchberger and Maria Raid. Thanks alsoto Michael Hieslmair and Michael Zinganel for the design, Theresa­Hattinger for the exhibition graphics, Lisa Ifsits for the cataloguegraphics, Angela Althaler and Wolfgang Oblasser for the designof the media stations, and all of the staff of the VolkskundemuseumWien and our external supporters. I am also grateful to the Commis-sion for Provenance Research and the department in the Ministry ofArt, Culture, Civil Service and Sport for their assistance during theentire research process and planning of the exhibition. Finally, I shouldlike to thank the provenance researcher Claudia Spring for her yearsof investigation into our collections.I am particularly grateful to Stephen M. Mautner and his family.The investigation of the Mautner Collection not only provided newinsights into the objects and heightened the awareness of our moralresponsibility but also gave us the opportunity of getting to know thedescendants of Anna and Konrad Mautner. This friendship is perhapsthe most valuable result of a fruitful and emotional collaboration.Stephen M. Mautner has made astute and far-sighted contribu-tions both to the exhibition and to this catalogue, providing us withimportant information on the illegal acquisition of the collection,­illuminating the motivation and passion for collecting and the deepconnection to people and landscapes. All in all, establishing andworking with collections is an enriching experience for all involved.9