Material relating to Kurt Schwitters compiled by his English companion, Mrs Edith ‘Wantee’ Thomas mostly after the artist’s death in 1948
1948–91

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
- Title
- Material relating to Kurt Schwitters compiled by his English companion, Mrs Edith ‘Wantee’ Thomas mostly after the artist’s death in 1948
- Date
- 1948–91
- Description
- 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. - Reference
- TGA 9510
Showing 21–40 of 139 objects
George Gatey & Son Solicitors (Windermere, UK) Letters from Geo. Gatey & Son to the Museum of Modern Art and Edith Thomas about the sale of Schwitters’ work
16 March 1948
George Gatey & Son Solicitors (Windermere, UK), Harold Handley, recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas Letter from Harold Handley at Geo. Gatey & Son to Edith Thomas about Kurt Schwitters’ last will and testament
24 March 1948
Kate Steinitz, recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas Letter from Kate Steinitz to Edith Thomas (‘Wantee’) about the loss of her friend, Kurt Schwitters
24 March 1948
Margaret Miller, Museum of Modern Art (New York, USA), recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas Letter from Margaret Miller at the Museum of Modern Art to Edith Thomas about Schwitters’ work and funding
1 April 1948
Margaret Miller, Museum of Modern Art (New York, USA), recipient: George Gatey & Son Solicitors (Windermere, UK) Letter from Margaret Miller at the Museum of Modern Art to Geo. Gatey & Son about the sale of Schwitters’ work
6 April 1948
Marguerite Hagenbach, recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas Letter from M. Hagenbach to Edith Thomas about Schwitters’ work in Switzerland
14 April 1948
Unknown person(s) Note relating to cash in Schwitters’ estate
1 September 1948
Edith “Wanty” Thomas, recipient: Ernst Schwitters Letter to Ernst Schwitters from Edith Thomas (‘Wanty’) about Kurt Schwitters’ affairs following his death
4 May [1948]
Eve Schwitters, recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas Photocopy of a letter sent to Edith Thomas (‘Wanty’) from [Ernst Schwitters wife, Eve]
29 May 1948
Edith “Wanty” Thomas, recipients: Eve Schwitters, Ernst Schwitters Letter to Eve and Ernst Schwitters from Edith Thomas (‘Wanty’)
date not known
Marguerite Hagenbach, recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas Letter to Edith Thomas from Marguerite Hagenbach regarding Schwitters’ work in Switzerland
9 February 1948
Arthur E. Shave Letter to Edith Thomas from Arthur E. Shave with postal order enclosed
1 September–9 November 1948
Collection owner: Kurt Schwitters Letter to Geo. Gatey & Son from Margaret Miller at the Museum of Modern Art, forwarded on to Edith Thomas and Ernst Schwitters
22 December 1948–8 January 1949
Museum of Modern Art (New York, USA) Invoice from the Museum of Modern Art for Schwitters’, ‘Paper Clouds’ collage
31 January 1949
Ernst Schwitters, recipient: George Gatey & Son Solicitors (Windermere, UK) Letter from Ernst Schwitters to Geo. Gatey & Son about the sale of some of Kurt Schwitters’ work
7 February 1949
Margaret Miller, Museum of Modern Art (New York, USA) Letter from Margaret Miller at the Museum of Modern Art to Geo. Gatey & Son about the sale of Schwitters’ work, ‘Paper Clouds’ and interest from the Pinacotheca Gallery in obtaining some of Schwitters’ work
8 February 1949
Rose Fried, Pinacotheca Gallery (New York, USA), recipient: George Gatey & Son Solicitors (Windermere, UK) Letter from Rose Fried at the Pinacotheca gallery to Geo. Gatey & Son
10 February 1949
Eve Schwitters, recipients: Margaret Miller, Museum of Modern Art (New York, USA) Letter from Eve Schwitters to Margaret Miller at the Museum of Modern Art
12 February 1949
Ernst Schwitters, recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas Photocopy of a letter sent from Ernst Schwitters to Edith Thomas (‘Wanty’)
12 February 1949
George Gatey & Son Solicitors (Windermere, UK), recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas Letter from Geo. Gatey & Son to Edith Thomas
14 February 1949