Why go
The collection is split between the Kunstgewerbemuseum building at the Kulturforum (52°30′35″N 13°22′03″E / 52.5097°N 13.3674°E) and Köpenick Palace (52°26′38″N 13°34′22″E / 52.4439°N 13.5728°E).
What to look for
- European decorative arts range from medieval reliquaries to fashion and 20th-century design inside the Kulturforum.
The full story
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. Parts of the collection were destroyed in World War II, and the surviving items were split between East and West Berlin. 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 in 1985. 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. There is a very important collection of Late Antique objects in many media. The items from the Middle Ages include a large number of gold reliquaries.
Useful to know
- Verify current opening hours, closures and timed-entry rules on the official visitor page before setting out.
- Allow extra time for security or ticketing when the visit includes an interior collection or viewing platform.