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  • Material relating to Kurt Schwitters compiled by his English companion, Mrs Edith ‘Wantee’ Thomas mostly after the artist’s death in 1948
  • Correspondence and documents relating to the Ernst Schwitters v Edith Thomas court case, 1963

Material relating to Kurt Schwitters compiled by his English companion, Mrs Edith ‘Wantee’ Thomas mostly after the artist’s death in 1948

1948–91

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Available online are various items selected from the Kurt Schwitters collection featuring writings, correspondence and photographs, particularly relating to Schwitters' relationship with Edith Thomas, and the court case between Edith and Kurt Schwitters' son, Ernst, regarding the division of Schwitters' works following his death. Items from this collection also available online are: private view cards and exhibition catalogues relating to exhibitions featuring Schwitters' work; photographs of Schwitters, and his family and friends; and photographs of his works and locations he visited.

Further details on this collection are available on the archive catalogue.

Collection Owner
Kurt Schwitters 1887–1948
Collection
Tate Archive
Acquisition
Presented by Edith Thomas's son, Geoff Thomas, in 1995.
Reference
TGA 9510

139 objects in this collection

  • Material relating to Kurt Schwitters compiled by his English companion, Mrs Edith ‘Wantee’ Thomas mostly after the artist’s death in 1948

    139 Objects

    • Writings about Schwitters by Edith Thomas

      2 Objects

    • Correspondence and documents relating to the Ernst Schwitters v Edith Thomas court case, 1963

      100 Objects

      • Correspondence and documents, numbered sequentially, from various correspondents relating to Kurt Schwitters and his works

        68 Objects

      • Correspondence and documents relating to the Schwitters v Thomas court case

        32 Objects

    • Printed ephemera relating to Kurt Schwitters

      20 Objects

    • Photographs relating to Kurt Schwitters

      17 Objects

Title
Correspondence and documents relating to the Ernst Schwitters v Edith Thomas court case, 1963
Date
1947–66
Description
The case concerned the division of works by Kurt Schwitters to Edith Thomas and Ernst Schwitters after the artist's death and includes files of correspondence and documents between Thomas and her lawyers; material used as evidence; and letters of support and press cuttings following the court case.
Reference
TGA 9510/3

Showing 61–80 of 100 objects

Letter from Philip Granville at Lord’s Gallery to Edith Thomas (‘Wanty’)

Philip Granville, Lord’s Gallery, recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas
8 September 1958

Letter from Edith Thomas’s solicitors to Ernst Schwitters’ solicitors regarding Edith’s entitlement to Kurt Schwitters’ estate

Unknown person(s), recipient: Freeman & Son
15 October 1958

Statement for the purchase of Schwitters’ work, ‘Brown picture with head of nut’ and ‘Black powder’ from The Hanover Gallery to Edith Thomas

Hanover Gallery (London, UK), recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas
14 June 1960

Statement for the purchase of Schwitters’ work, ‘Gal’ from The Hanover Gallery to Edith Thomas

Hanover Gallery (London, UK), recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas
9 August 1960

Statement for the purchase of Schwitters’ work, ‘Glass in Stone’ from The Hanover Gallery to Edith Thomas

Hanover Gallery (London, UK), recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas
17 September 1960

List of prices of Schwitters’ works sold to John Teed

Unknown person(s)
date not known

News article about Kurt Schwitters’ work

Unknown person(s)
date not known

Article about Kate Steinitz entitled, ‘350 WORDS ON KATE STEINITZ’

Pasadena Art Museum (Pasadena, USA)
date not known

Letter from Geo. Gatey & Son to Edith Thomas responding to her letter dated 11 Jan 1961

George Gatey & Son Solicitors (Windermere, UK), recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas
20 January 1961

Notes detailing Schwitters’ works which were taken from Schwitters’ barn and in possession of Edith Thomas

Unknown person(s)
[1959]

Leaflet for a collage exhibition entitled, ‘E.L.T. MESENS’

Palais des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles (Brussels, Belgium)
[25 April–13 May 1959]

Printed images of Schwitters’ works, ‘Merz Relief’ 1940 and ‘Sculpture’ 1942-45 with captions

Unknown person(s)
date not known

Letter from Philip Granville at Lord’s Gallery to Edith Thomas about their first meeting and Kurt Schwitters

Philip Granville, Lord’s Gallery, recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas
29 August 1958

Letter from Dr Dux to Edith Thomas

Dr Walter Dux, recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas
[3 November 1958]

Letter from Ernst Schwitters to Dr Walter Dux regarding Kurt Schwitters’ property in Dr Dux’s possession

Ernst Schwitters, recipient: Dr Walter Dux
1958

Note of Schwitters’ art work sales and prices entitled, ‘Hanover Galleries’

Unknown person(s)
date not known

Note of Schwitters’ art work sales and prices entitled, ‘Hanover Gallery’

Unknown person(s)
21 September 1955

Letter from Sidney Janis to Edith Thomas, about a shipment of Schwitters’ work entitled, ‘PALL MALL DEPOSIT’ written on an envelope

Unknown person(s)
date not known

Letter from Rose Fried from The Pinacotheca gallery to Edith Thomas

Rose Fried, Pinacotheca Gallery (New York, USA), recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas
6 November 1950

Letter from Rose Fried from The Pinacotheca gallery to Edith Thomas

Rose Fried, Pinacotheca Gallery (New York, USA), recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas
23 November 1950
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