'Reichstag' portrait seized by police

Field Marshal von Hindenburg preceded Hitler

An international investigation is under way after a portrait of a former German leader was seized by police at a Carmarthen auction house.

Officers took the painting of Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg into custody after it was put up for sale last week.

The question is whether the picture was taken unlawfully and who has the rights of ownership

Ludwig Linden, German Embassy

German authorities are now checking whether the 32 inch by 29 inch work of art was looted during World War II.

A spokesman for the German Embassy in London said they believed the portrait used to hang in the Reichstag, the main parliamentary building in Berlin.

The painting, which has been valued at between £1,200 and £1,600, was slightly damaged - it has been speculated that this was caused by a Russian bayonet.

"The suspicion is that this is looted art taken illegally from Germany," said Ludwig Linden.

"The question is whether the picture was taken unlawfully and who has the rights of ownership."

Mr Linden said it was difficult to say how long the checks would take, but that it was a routine matter.

"In the art world now there is more care and consideration given to the provenance of the pieces being sold at auction."

'Liberated' picture

Mr Linden explained that, in the art trade, sales are conducted using a notion of due diligence.

"If you sell an artwork, you have to check whether the seller has the rights to sell it."

The German authorities called the police in Carmarthen after the painting's details appeared on the website for auction house Peter Francis.

It is believed the portrait used to hang in the Reichstag

The details claimed the painting was "liberated" by an NCO in the Devon & Dorset Regiment.

"The present German government have laid claim to the portrait and inquiries are currently ongoing to ascertain its rightful owner," said a Dyfed Powys police spokesman.

"It is emphasised at this stage that there have been no criminal offences disclosed with regard to this portrait."

Nigel Hodgeson, from Peter Francis, said the auction house had followed all the correct procedures.

"We were contacted to sell the picture and it was submitted for cross-referencing on international lists of stolen art treasures."

"This is very unusual but it proves the computerised facilities and use of the internet do work."

The identity of the person selling the portrait has not been released, but Mr Linden said that person would also be conducting checks into the matter of its ownership.