Abguss-Sammlung antiker Plastik
 Abguss -Sammlung antiker Plastik, Schloßstraße 69 b 14059 Berlin-Charlottenburg. |
The exhibition of casts of ancient Greek sculpture currently comprises of approximately 1400 plastercasts of Greek and Roman statues. This exhibition carries forth the tradition of the famous Berliner cast collection which was established in 1695. |
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It was first to be seen in the Academy of Arts, then in Schinkels Old Museum (1843), in Stüler's New Museum (1856), and finally in the Friedrich-Wilhelm University in Unter den Linden (1921) where the exhibition occupied 24 rooms. It stayed there up until the Second World War during which much was broken or lost. At the time it consisted of about 2.500 pieces and was probably the biggest collection of its kind in the world. |
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Its reconstruction was made possible due to the successful cooperation of the Classical Archaeology Department of the Freie Universität of Berlin together with the Staatliche Museen Preußischer Kulturbesitz and with the Minister of Cultural Affairs. In 1985 the Senate of Berlin commisioned the architectural form of R. Schüler-U. Schüler-Witte to convert and extend the former garages of the Motorway Police Station in Charlottenburg which was adjacent to the Museum of Egyptology. The new wing, together with the newly completed museum form an entity overlooking a common courtyard. |
| More than 6.000 casts taken from statues from all Art periods are in store in the foundry of the Staatliche Museen which is very near-by. Some 2.000 of them are taken from original Greek and Roman works. Those which were generously donated to the new museum now provide the basic core of the exhibition, which will be enlarged over the next few years. The store rooms of the Staatliche Museen in Hohenschönhausen also contain casts which were originally part of the collection in Berlin and Jena. Unfortunately, these need to be restored or at least cleaned before they can be put on display in the museum. In addition, the collection will be enriched through appropriate purchases from abroad. In this process of expansion, limited capacity will become a problem. This problem could, however, be solved in the long term if the neighbouring building, the Museum of Egyptology, could be used. This may well be possible towards the beginning of the next century. |
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In the meantime, the exhibition is used as a facility for teaching and research by the Classical Archaeology Department of the Freie Universität. However, the layout is not structured solely around academic principles but is presented in such a way as to appeal to wider public. The display provides a good overview of history, emphasizing the differences between the various periods and styles of Greek and Roman sculpture. There are representative statues over an extensive period of time covering from about 3.000 B.C. to 500 A.D. The Kykladic Culture is the starting point. The display then continues on to show examples from the Minoan and Mycenic civilizations, the Geometric and Archaic eras, Classical and Hellenistic periods, through to the sculpture of the Roman and Byzantine Empires. In order to put one's understanding of Ancient Sculpture into context, and in order to be able to appreciate its uniqueness and essential characterictics, a few specially chosen examples of Mesopotamian Art are included, as well as artifacts from Egypt and some of the so-called periphery-cultures within the Mediterranean Region. |
The chronological structure of the permanent exhibition is occasionally interrupted by temporary displays, which are prepared by university classes and for which comprehensive catalogues are printed. Apart from this, theatrical and musucal events are occasionally held as well as about six exhibitions a year which are specially dedicated to modern artists' work. These act as a contrast to the Art of Classical Antiquity and take place either in the exhibition rooms or in the courtyard (c. 1.500 m2).
Address:
D-14059 Berlin-Charlottenburg, Schloßstraße 69 bTel.: 030/34 34 054 and 838 37 12; Fax: 030/838 565 78
Curator: Dr. Klaus Stemmer
Admission free
Opening hours: Thursday-Sunday 14 - 17
Sponsors Society:
Freunde & Förderer der Abgußsammlung antiker Plastik e.V.Address as above
Catalogues:
- Kaiser Marc Aurel und seine Zeit
- STANDORTE - Kontext und Funktion antiker Plastik
