Julius Cassirer facts for kids

Julius Cassirer (born February 2, 1841, died June 18, 1924) was a German businessman and art collector. He was Jewish and lived in Berlin. He was a main owner of a big company called Kabelwerke Dr. Cassirer & Co., which made cables. One painting from his art collection is part of a very long-running legal case. This case is about art that was taken during the Holocaust.

Julius Cassirer's Family

Julius Cassirer was born in 1841 in a place called Schwientochlowitz (now Świętochłowice). He was the second oldest of ten children. His parents were Marcus Cassirer and Jeannette Steinitz. Julius married Julie Cassirer, who was his cousin. They had three children together: Fritz Leopold Cassirer, Bruno Cassirer, and Elise Cassirer. Fritz became a writer and musician, and Bruno became a publisher.

Julius Cassirer's Work Life

Early Business Ventures

From 1866, Julius worked with his brother Louis at their father's liqueur factory in Breslau. Their father, Marcus, retired from the factory, and his sons took over. When Marcus died in 1879, he left his property to his nine living children.

Julius then moved to Görlitz. There, he ran a company called Cassirer and Sons with his brother Isidor. In the early 1880s, Julius and Louis Cassirer moved to Berlin. They started a new business selling lumber and building materials. Over time, more of their brothers also moved to Berlin.

Founding the Cable Factory

In 1896, Julius Cassirer started a cable factory called Dr. Cassirer und Co. He founded it with his nephews Alfred and Hugo. Hugo had studied chemistry and worked in another cable factory before this. Later, Julius's brother Louis also became a partner in the company.

The cable factory grew quickly. It moved its production to a larger area in Hakenfelde. By 1912, the company had 150 workers. By 1914, this number had grown to 630 people. Julius Cassirer was also involved in other businesses, including a sales office for insulated wires and a rubber goods factory. He lived in a large house in Charlottenburg and was known as a respected businessman.

Public Roles and Contributions

The Swan Chick Fountain by August Gaul, 1908

Julius Cassirer was an important member of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce. He served on various committees that dealt with taxes, trade, and legal issues. From 1904 to 1908, he worked as a commercial judge.

In 1910, Julius Cassirer made a generous gift to the city of Charlottenburg. He donated the Swan Chick Fountain, which was created by the artist August Gaul in 1908. This beautiful fountain can still be seen today. In 1914, he was given the special title of Royal Commercial Councillor, which showed how important he was in business.

Julius Cassirer as an Art Collector

Julius Cassirer loved art and collected many valuable pieces. One famous painting he owned was Rue Saint-Honoré, dans l'après-midi. Effet de pluie. This oil painting was made in 1897 by the famous artist Camille Pissarro.

When Julius Cassirer passed away in 1924, the painting was inherited by his son, Fritz Cassirer. After Fritz died, his wife Lilly became the owner of the painting. However, when the Nazis came to power in Germany, they persecuted Jewish people. Because Lilly was Jewish, she was forced to give up the painting.

Years later, in 2005, Julius Cassirer's great-grandson, Claude Cassirer, and other family members started a legal case. They wanted the painting back from the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection Foundation in Spain. This lawsuit, known as Cassirer v Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection Foundation, is one of the longest-running cases about art taken during the Holocaust. It has even been discussed by the Supreme Court of the United States of America.