Ernst BUNZL

Viennese lawyer Dr. Ernst Bunzl and his late wife who died on 14 January 1938 owned a library, numerous valuable items of furniture, and extensive art collections including an object, a cast-iron head of a dignitary from 10th/11th century China. In 1930, they loaned this object to the MAK for the exhibition on works of Asian art in Viennese ownership. On 17 September 1938, Dr. Ernst Bunzl fled to France and later to Brazil. The head of a dignitary was purchased—possibly via the Dorotheum—by Anton Exner, Viennese collector, trader of East Asian art, and National Socialist who was involved in the “Aryanization” of art collections. Exner donated large parts of his collection to the MAK including the head of the dignitary. 
 
It was effected on 29 March 2019.