Russians and Germans: 1000 Years of Art, History and Culture

Dish-basin embossed with an image of "Turks, captured by Leopold I, the Holy Roman Emperor"
Augsburg, 1683-1684. Silversmith: Biller I Lorenz. Silver, embossing, casting, pouncing, gilding.
Goblet
Bavaria, Passau, the late XVIth century. Silver, embossing, casting, pouncing.
Table decoration - figurine "Horseman"
Augsburg, 1680-1684. Silversmith: Lorenz I Biller. Silver, embossing, casting, pouncing, gilding.
Goblet
Nuremberg, the late XVIth century. Andrew Roza. Silver, casting, embossing, etching.
Lidded goblet
Nuremberg, before 1617.
Decorative figurine "Indian man" to be placed on a mantelpiece
Augsburg, circa 1680. The figurine - Johannes Kilian, the base - Lucas Lang. Silver, base metal, casting, embossing, pouncing.
Candlestick
Augsburg, 1670-1674. Silver, casting, embossing, punching.
Decorative figurine "Indian woman" to be placed on a mantelpiece
Augsburg, circa 1680. Silver, base metal, casting, embossing, pouncing.
Candlestick
Augsburg, 1670-1674. Silver, casting, embossing.
Pickle bowl
Germany, first half of the XVIIth century. Amber, gold, carving, enamel.
Candlestick from a set
Augsburg, before 1675. Silver, embossing, pouncing.
Pickle bowl
Germany, first half of the XVIIth century. Amber, gold, carving, enamel.
13Candlestick from a set
Augsburg, before 1675. Silver, embossing, pouncing.

October, 04, 2012 - January, 13, 2013

Germany, Berlin, the Neues Museum

Organized by:: the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, supported by the Museum of Prehistory and Early History, Berlin, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the State Historical Museum, Moscow, the Moscow kremlin Museums

Table decoration - figurine "Horseman" The exhibition explores the history and aspects of the Russian-German political and cultural relations, covering a period of one thousand years. An original approach to the subject matter constitutes a unique distinctive feature of the exhibition project as the exposition incorporates monuments of art and historical records commemorative of the whole period of the development of mutual relations between the two world powers. Through the numerous outstanding pieces of decorative and applied arts, jewellery, paintings, historical records and relics, the exposition is intended to explore "the historical depth and diversity of common ties between Russians and Germans".*

Several sections of the display, spanning over ten centuries, are devoted to the main historical periods within the course of the countries' development: from the time of the formation of German and Russian nationalities in the IXth-Xth centuries, to the epoch of political and social perturbations of the late 1980s, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, which paved the way for German reunification, and the dissolution of the world's largest communist state – the USSR.

The way the Russian-German relations have been established and the course of their development indicate that military conflicts, caused by the needs of international politics, did not serve as a basis for a dialog between the two nations. The section related to the XXth century history stand out among the other exposition’s parts as it comprises articles of special emotional impact.

Five hundred various historical artefacts, documents and precious artworks are to reveal the peculiarities of the Russian-German political and cultural relations. 30 artworks of the XVIIth century were loaned by the Moscow Kremlin Museums, i.e. precious tableware and interior furnishings and utensils, crafted by the renowned goldsmiths from Nuremberg and Augsburg, the renowned European centers of precious metals processing industry. Among them are fascinating goblets, remarkable for their exclusive forms and décor, silver candlesticks with figurines of Jupiter and Juno, the so-called pickle bowls, dishes, table decoration – figurine "Horseman", decorative figurines "Indian man" and "Indian woman".

*From the website of the National Museums in Berlin.

To learn more about the exposition please visit the Neues Museum website.