The SPSG’s textiles collection includes about 8,000 objects from the 16th to early 20th century.
The larger part of the inventory consists of furnishing textiles for wall coverings and curtains, and upholstery fabrics for furniture, thrones, sedan chairs and coaches. In addition, some passements (trimmings), tapestries and carpets, embroideries and individual items of clothing have also been preserved. Among the artistically exquisite textile objects are the gold-embroidered back panel of Queen Elisabeth Christine’s throne and the coronation mantle of Empress Augusta (1861), as well as rare tapestries from the Berlin manufactories of Pierre Mercier, Jean Barraband and Charles Vigne, complemented by French and Flemish works. There are also sumptuous 18th century decorative silk fabrics from the New Palace, which are among the finest work produced by Berlin’s silk manufactories.
A smaller part of the collection comprises textiles that are important historically because of their origins or use. Among them are the embroidered coat of arms of the German Reich from 1871 from the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles, and the embroidered upholstery fabrics and carpets in Crown Princess Elisabeth Ludovika’s living room in Charlottenhof Palace.
Numerous hearthrugs, bell pulls, rugs and coasters further attest to the cultural history and life at court in Berlin.
Only a limited amount of table and bed linen survives, as most of the household linens were awarded to the Hohenzollern family in accord with the Fürstenabfindung (regulation of assets and expropriation of the dynastic properties of the former ruling houses of the German Empire) in 1926, and thus became their private property. Subsequent acquisitions of individual items from former royal or imperial property indicate the enormous size and diversity of the holdings.
In the interests of conservation, most of the textile collection is not on permanent display. Most of it is kept in the SPSG's Central Art Goods Depot in Potsdam.
Curator
Dr. Susanne Evers
