Heinrich Rothberger

Heinrich Rothberger, born September 13, 1868 Vienna, died 20 January 20, 1953 in Montreal, Canada was a Viennese textile manufacturer, department store owner and collector of porcelain.

Early years and family
Rothberger took over his father's textile company Jacob Rothberger and department store on Stephansplatz in Vienna together with his brothers Moritz and Alfred. He was marrried to Ella, née Burchardt (1878–1964), and they had two sons Jakob Johann, called Hans (1899–1987), and Friedrich, called Fritz (1902–2000).

Art collection
Rotherberger's art collection, especially of ceramics, was famous and many of the objects are now in museums.

Nazi persecution
After the annexation of Austria in 1938, the Rothberger family were persecuted as Jews. They were arrested and the collections and other property seized.

Restitution claims
Fourteen objects confiscated from Heinrich Rothberger by the Nazis were identified in the MAK collections The Münchner Stadtmuseum agreed to restitute a porcelain box after research proved it had been transfered due to Nazi persecution.

Many of the restituted objects were sold at Bonhams.