Laura Sonntag (1893–1979) was born in Chicago and lived and worked in Leipzig. It was there that she met her future husband, Carl (1883–1930), who was a renowned bookbinder and binding artist. The couple collected art together. Carl passed away in 1930, but the family's life changed radically when the National Socialists came to power. Although Laura Sonntag and her children were able to flee, she had to leave her art collection in Leipzig. The collection was auctioned off, with some of the works being acquired by the MdbK. In 1994, the daughters were given their property back by the museum.