It was founded in 1868 as the Deutsches Gewerbe-Museum zu Berlin, and originally had a
teaching institute as well as a public museum. The collection grew significantly in the 1870s,[1] and it was renamed Kunstgewerbemuseum in 1879. In 1881 it relocated into the
Martin-Gropius-Bau – where
Priam's Treasure was also on display for a time – and in 1921 it moved into the
Stadtschloss.[2]
Parts of the collection were destroyed in World War II,[3] and the surviving items were split between
East and
West Berlin.[2] The Eastern collection moved into Köpenick Palace in 1963, while the Western exhibits moved first into
Charlottenburg Palace, then into the new museum building in the Kulturforum[4] in 1985, built by
Rolf Gutbrod.
Exhibition
The Kunstgewerbemuseum displays European (and
Byzantine) decorative arts from all post-classical periods of art history, and features gold, silver, glass and
enamel items,
porcelain, furniture,
panelling,
tapestry, costumes, and silks.[5][6]
The
Baroque era is represented by
faiences from
Delft,[11] and glass items.[12] There is also European porcelain (particularly from
Meissen and the Royal Manufacturer of Berlin), and decorative crockery from the
rococo,
classicist,
historicist and
Art Nouveau styles. The "New Collection" of 20th century craftwork includes industrially-manufactured products.[5]
It was founded in 1868 as the Deutsches Gewerbe-Museum zu Berlin, and originally had a
teaching institute as well as a public museum. The collection grew significantly in the 1870s,[1] and it was renamed Kunstgewerbemuseum in 1879. In 1881 it relocated into the
Martin-Gropius-Bau – where
Priam's Treasure was also on display for a time – and in 1921 it moved into the
Stadtschloss.[2]
Parts of the collection were destroyed in World War II,[3] and the surviving items were split between
East and
West Berlin.[2] The Eastern collection moved into Köpenick Palace in 1963, while the Western exhibits moved first into
Charlottenburg Palace, then into the new museum building in the Kulturforum[4] in 1985, built by
Rolf Gutbrod.
Exhibition
The Kunstgewerbemuseum displays European (and
Byzantine) decorative arts from all post-classical periods of art history, and features gold, silver, glass and
enamel items,
porcelain, furniture,
panelling,
tapestry, costumes, and silks.[5][6]
The
Baroque era is represented by
faiences from
Delft,[11] and glass items.[12] There is also European porcelain (particularly from
Meissen and the Royal Manufacturer of Berlin), and decorative crockery from the
rococo,
classicist,
historicist and
Art Nouveau styles. The "New Collection" of 20th century craftwork includes industrially-manufactured products.[5]