Swiss museum to vet art left by German collector Gurlitt before deciding whether to accept it

BERLIN – The Swiss museum designated as the sole heir of German collector Cornelius Gurlitt’s trove of priceless art says it plans to vet the collection first before deciding whether to accept it.

Gurlitt died last month, two years after German authorities seized more than 1,000 artworks from his Munich apartment. Some of the items — including works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall — may have been looted from Jewish owners under Nazi rule.

The Kunstmuseum Bern said in a statement Tuesday it hasn’t yet been able to inspect the works or received an inventory.

The museum says it has six months, starting once the will is opened, to decide whether to accept the inheritance. The Munich court handling the will didn’t immediately respond to calls seeking comment.