Treasures of Dresden. Museum "Grunes Gewolbe" - "Green Vaults"

Relief tiles depicting the apostles John and Paul.
Byzantium. Middle of the 10th century Ivory, silver, partially gilded. Height 25 cm. Width 13.4 cm.

Dresden Palace Residence,
entrance to the Grunes Gewoelbe

Family tree of Christ. The so-called "Snake Tree". Probably Nuremberg.
Around 1500 Silver, partly gilded. Shark teeth. Height 19.5 cm.

Small cup. Probably French work. 14th century Height 17 cm.
Cup of the Polish Queen Jadwiga. French work. Probably 14th century.
Set in the Krakow court workshop until 1399. Height 24 cm.
Kettle. French work. Second half of the 14th century Edited in the 15th century. Height 21 cm.

Pendant with diamond rosette Probably Nuremberg. Early 16th century
Gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds. Height 5.2 cm. Width 4.4 cm.

Pendant depicting St. George Netherlands (?). Around 1500
Mother-of-pearl, gilded silver. Diameter 6.6 cm.

rings
Skull ring. Allegedly belonged to M. Luther. Germany. Early 16th century
Turquoise ring. Made for Elector Christian II, probably in Dresden. Early 17th century
Martin Luther signet ring. Carnelian. Augsburg. About 1530
Ring with agate, owned by F. Melanchthon. Germany. First half of the 16th century
Ring with sapphire. Allegedly belonged to Elector Johann Friedrich of Saxony. Germany. About 1540
Ring with a pyramidal diamond. Germany. Around 1570-1580

Tub and hand for rose water. Frame made in Nuremberg. 1530-1540
Mother-of-pearl mosaic, gilded silver. Tub diameter 56 cm. Handle height 29 cm.

Tub made of mother-of-pearl and hand. Master Elias Guyer. Leipzig. 1611-1613
Mother-of-pearl, gilded silver, wood, black mastic. Tub diameter 60.1 cm. Handle height 35 cm.

Large bottle with handle Southern Germany. Around 1540 Gilded silver. Height 81 cm.

Box with an ink device Master Wenzel Yamnitzer. Nuremberg. 1562 Silver,
partly gilded, enamel, rock crystal and ebony. Height 31 cm. Length 24 cm. Width 11 cm.

Golgotha ​​Master Elias Lenker. Nuremberg. 1577
Gilded silver, wood, mother-of-pearl shells, irregularly shaped pearls,
emeralds, turquoise, garnets. Height 67 cm. Stand length 31 cm. Width 19.3 cm.

Chalice and vessel for wine Nuremberg (?) and German work. Around 1550-1560
Gold, diamonds, gems, enamel. Height 19.5 cm and 16.5 cm.

Pendants Germany and probably France. Around 1560-1570
Pendant with the monogram "AA" (for Elector Augustus of Saxony and his wife Anna).
Pendant with a cross-shaped rosette.
Pendant with the monogram "A" (for Elector Augustus or his wife Anna).

Pendants Pendants depicting St. George, the court of Paris, the siren and the head of a warrior.
Germany. Around 1570-1600 Gold, diamonds, rubies, one emerald, pearls, enamel.

Chains Germany. Third quarter of the 16th century Around 1600 Gold, enamel, lapis lazuli.

The richest treasury located in Dresden is called the Green Vaults. The unusual name came from the emerald color of the columns that adorn the palace. True, today most of them are hung with mirrors, so it is impossible to enjoy the original appearance of the walls.

History of the Green Vault

Initially, since the 16th century, precious items belonging to the princely family were kept in this area of ​​the palace. These halls were chosen to create an expensive collection due to their safety in case of fire. Perhaps this is what helped the masterpieces to survive until the present day.

With the coming to power of Augustus the Strong, it was decided to turn the secret area of ​​the palace into one of the first museums. At that time, the collection was divided into nine rooms, where jewelry, outlandish interior items, weapons, and rare masterpieces were stored.

During the Second World War, the building was destroyed, but by that time the treasures had been taken to a safe place. After the defeat of Germany, the jewels passed to the USSR, but the government returned them to the GDR in 1958.

The museum was restored, ten rooms were organized in it to store historical treasures. Moreover, visitors have a chance to see most of the relics as close as possible, even without glass stands.

A collection that enchants with uniqueness

It is especially interesting to visit the jewelry rooms, most of which were created by Johann Melchior Dinglinger and his descendants. A unique pair of stones, a sapphire over 600 carats and a pure diamond, were donated by Peter the Great.

The Dresden diamond of smoky green color, which acquired its unusual shade due to exposure to natural radiation over many centuries, is of great value. Such a stone of 41 carats cannot be found anywhere else, which is why it is of great interest to scientists and tourists.

In the absence of the opportunity to visit the Green Vaults, you can see panoramic photos and enjoy a professional tour. There will be described the history of the creation of the famous Cherry stone with portrait images, an amber cabinet, a bowl of Ivan the Terrible and other relics.

Grünes Gewölbe is a unique jewelery museum. In it you can see jewelry collected by Saxon rulers from the late Middle Ages to the middle of the 18th century: jewelry, luxurious vessels, goblets, dishes and bowls, household items.

Grünes Gewölbe, photo faun070

The Green Vault Museum (Grunes Gewölbe - Grünes Gewölbe) is the famous treasury of the Electors of Saxony and consists of more than 4,000 unique works of art.

Treasury room, photo by Christian Sieg

The name Green Arch came from the malachite-green color of the columns of the Hall of Jewels (now they are covered with mirrors).

Over time, the Green Vaults became part of the State Art Collection. Today, the collection is on display in the west wing of the Dresden Residenz Palace.

During the bombing on February 13, 1945, 3 halls of the treasury were destroyed. In order to preserve the heritage of culture, the surviving collection was sent to the safes of the USSR Ministry of Finance. Art historians restored and conserved valuable exhibits. The new history of the museum was marked by the return of the jewels to their homeland in Dresden in 1958.

In 2006, the Green Vaults Museum was completely renovated. Now visitors can access not only the heritage of centuries, but also modern exhibits.

Some art historians consider the Grunes Gewölbe to be the richest collection of jewels in Europe.

Palace reception in Delhi on the birthday of the Great Mogul Aurangzeb, 1701-1708, photo by Cheryl Hammond

How to get there

Take tram 4, 8, 9 to the Theaterplatz stop.

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"Green Vaults" (Grünes Gewölbe) is a museum in the German city of Dresden, located in the building of the residence palace. Here is a unique collection of jewelry, as well as the treasury of the ancient European dynasty of Saxon electors - the Wettin family.

Dresden's Green Vault Museum is one of the most famous museums in Europe. It got its name in honor of the malachite-green columns in the Hall of Jewels, which today are covered with mirrors. The museum is rightfully considered the historical core of the state art collections of Dresden.

From the history of the museum

In the 16th century, the premises of the palace-residence were not public, they were used as a cabinet of curiosities, as well as for storing jewelry. In addition, this place was considered the most fireproof. The beginning of the collection was laid by the Polish king and the Elector of Saxony August the Strong in the 20s of the XVIII century, when he gave the order to equip 9 thematic halls. Unique exhibits collected by Augustus the Strong himself and his predecessors were exhibited here.

The king also passed on his love for collecting works of art to his son Augustus III. Thanks to him, the treasury has grown considerably. Today, this wealth is available for acquaintance to every visitor of the "Green Vaults". By the way, the Dresden Gallery, or as it is also called, was also created under these two rulers.

As a result of the bombing of Dresden during the Second World War, 3 out of 9 halls were destroyed. Fortunately, the exhibits were transported to the Königstein fortress in advance. After the end of the war, the treasures ended up in the USSR, and in 1958 they were returned to Germany. For 45 years - from 1959 to 2004, the collection was in the Dresden Museum of Fine Arts Albertinum. After the reconstruction and opening of 10 new halls, the collection was returned to the palace-residence. Today, the permanent exhibition is divided into two exhibition areas - Historical Green Vaults and New Green Vaults.

What can be seen in the "Green Vaults"

The museum's collection covers the period from the Renaissance to Classicism. The total number of exposition includes more than 4,000 exhibits, which include jewelry, ivory and amber items, various figurines, dishes, etc.

Exhibition area "Historic Green Vaults" located on the first floor of the museum in the west wing. Among the 3000 copies are such masterpieces as:

• The jewelry room of August the Strong and his son August III, where unique jewelry studded with diamonds, diamonds, rubies is presented. Here is the world's largest blue sapphire - 548 carats.

• The amber cabinet-study was a gift from the King of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm I. There are also other items made of amber here.
• "Moor with an emerald ore" - the work of the court jeweler Johann Melchior Dinglinger. The sculpture is made of pear wood, decorated with topazes, sapphires, garnets, rubies and almandines.

• Cup of Ivan the Terrible, which was presented by Tsar Peter the Great. The bowl is made of gold, decorated with pearls and sapphires.

Historic Green Vaults is limited to a limited number of people, so please keep this in mind when buying tickets and sign up in advance.

"New Green Vaults" include about 1100 items. Among them:

• The most unique figurative composition "Palace Reception in Delhi on the Birthday of the Great Mogul Aurangzeb" - each figurine is covered with gold enamel and also decorated with diamonds, emeralds, pearls and rubies. This beauty cost August the Strong 58,485 Reichstalers, which at that time was the annual income of 1,000 officials.

• A cherry pit carved with 185 portraits, created with a magnifying glass in 1589.
• Golden coffee service of 45 items. In addition to gold, silver, ivory, enamel and about 5,600 diamonds were also used to create it.

• The Dresden Green Diamond is one of the largest diamonds in the world (41 carats), discovered in India. He received his color as a result of natural radioactivity.

• Ivory frigate with tiny sailors.
• Venetian glass plates and crystal caravel.

Thematic halls of this exposition are placed in the museum in chronological order.

The Green Vaults Museum is of great value both for Germany and for the whole world. This is one of those places that should definitely be included in your Dresden travel guide. The city has a lot of historical sights, architectural monuments and world-famous collections - it is not for nothing that Dresden is called the city of art and culture. Come here for 2-3 days and enjoy the beauty left behind by several eras. For accommodation, book on our portal.

Information for tourists

The address: Residenzschloss, Taschenberg 2, Dresden.

Schedule: daily from 10:00 to 18:00 (day off - Tuesday).

How to get there: you can get to the Green Vaults treasury by trams No. 1, 8, 9, 12; the stop is called Theaterplatz.

Ticket price:€12, children under 17 free of charge. You can buy a ticket online on the official website of the museum.

Somehow I somehow hurried to say goodbye to Dresden. I completely forgot about the Green Vaults. This is the largest treasure chest in Europe. Even more than our Armory. (To be more precise, while some of the German jewels were kept with us as a trophy, the Armory was larger, but after Khrushchev returned them to the GDR, the Green Vaults again became the largest. I don’t really want to discuss the actions of politicians, but as a person, close to art, I think that the war caused gigantic damage to all parties, a lot of time, effort and money still have to be spent just to restore the destroyed and find the missing.I think it's fair: to return valuables and art objects to that country, from which they were taken).
There are actually two green vaults. The historical ones are located in the halls, which Augustus the Strong has remade into a treasury-museum-exhibition halls. The New Green Vaults is the newest exposition, it is also in the Albertinum, but in the usual museum premises. It’s just that you can’t put all the funds in the historical ones, so they were divided. The value can be compared - the historical exhibits are ancient (there are even medieval ones), the new ones are newer, but more skillfully executed.
In the historical halls, by the way, you need to enter and exit through the air lock. Until then, the Germans are shaking over the safety of this museum. It's even funny. When else will you feel like an astronaut?
In the historical Green Vaults, exhibits are divided by materials. Approximately the way it happened before the beginning of the 20th century: there is a hall of jewels, a hall of jewelry, a hall of white silver, a hall of amber - and so on. In general, there are collected products from a wide variety of materials: precious woods, coconuts, ostrich eggs, glass, mother-of-pearl and whole shells of sea mollusks, ivory, bronze, various ornamental stones. The smallest exhibit is a cherry pit, decorated with skillful carvings (it is viewed through powerful lenses). The most multi-figure - "Courtyard of the great Mogul". The most precious is apparently a unique green diamond, weighing 41 carats.
Most of these products have never been used for their intended purpose (dishes, caskets, etc.), but served only as objects of admiration.
I definitely won’t fit into one post with all this stuff, so it will be parts.



Historical Green Vaults. Hall of white silver. There are only three silver sculptures left - they are perfectly visible on the left - the rest were melted down during the war. This photo clearly shows how exhibits are displayed in historical halls: console shelves, and mirrors in the walls.

Hall of gilded silver. On the right are red glass vessels. A few centuries ago, red glass was terribly expensive.

Jewelry room.

Hall of jewels.

Corner office.

Hall of Emblems.

Bank with a lid. Master - G. Spiller. Potsdam. Around 1700 Glass.

Jar, double goblet, mug made of jade and serpentine. Germany, Zoblitz, Dresden. Before 1600 - circa 1660

Golden bowl of the Danube Literary Society. Decorated with Roman coins. South East Germany. 1508

Golden Bucket of Ivan the Terrible. A gift from Tsar Peter the Great. Moscow court workshop. After 1563 Gold, niello, sapphires, pearls.

Golden coffee service. Master I. M. Dinglinger. The enamel is the work of his brother G. F. Dinglinger. Dresden. 1697-1701

Items from the golden coffee service.

Made of ivory in the manner of Georg Petel. The gilded silver setting is made in Strasbourg. Until the middle of the XVII century.

Ivory mug and goblet. Germany. 17th century Gilded silver frame, enamel, gems.

Jug of lapis lazuli. Master Bernardo Buontalenti. Florence. End of the 16th century

Tub and hand for rose water. Frame made in Nuremberg. 1530-1540 Mother-of-pearl mosaic, gilded silver.

Tub made of mother-of-pearl and hand. Master Elias Guyer. Leipzig. 1611-1613 Mother-of-pearl, gilded silver, wood, black mastic.

Cutlery with coral handles. Genoa. 1579 Steel, gilded silver, turquoise.

Shield with the coat of arms of Elector Augustus. Master Valentin Geithner. Dresden.1586 Cutlery. Probably Nuremberg. About 1600