150 Jahre Deutsches Edelsteinmuseum

Das Deutsche Edelsteinmuseum in Idar-Oberstein feierte 2009 sein 150jähriges Bestehen.

• 1859 wurde die „alte Gewerbehalle“ am Alexanderplatz in Idar-eröffnet.
• 1897 siedelte man über in die „neue Gewerbehalle“ (Ecke Mainzer-Straße/Dr. Liesegang Str.)
• 1973 entstand dann daraus das „Deutsche Edelsteinmuseum“ in der neu errichteten Diamant-u. Edelsein-Börse, Mainzer Straße 34.
• 1995 erfolgte die Gründung einer Stiftung.
• 1996 der Umzug in die denkmalgeschützte Gründerzeit-Villa „Purpers Schlösschen“ in der Hauptstraße 118, dem heutigen Domizil.

Deshalb feiern wir mit Stolz das 150jährige Jubiläum eines der ältesten und schönsten Museen unseres Landes mit einer Sonderschau: ausgewählte Edelsteinarbeiten aus 150 Jahren.

Ausgewählte Arbeiten von Edelsteinschleifern aller Bearbeitungsarten, herausragende Werke von Edelstein-Graveuren, abgerundet durch hervorragende Goldschmiede-Arbeiten, zeigen eine großartige Präsentation der Qualität unserer Edelstein-Region.

Diese Jubiläums-Ausstellung dokumentiert die Qualität, die Vielfalt und das Können der letzen 150 Jahre.

After its move into new premises of the city mansion known as “Purper’s Schlößchen” at Hauptstraße 118 in the year 1996, the German Gemstone Museum Deutsches Edelsteinmuseum was hardly settled in when in the following year the works started to transform the vaults into an appropriate setting for special exhibitions.

In fact, there had been special exhibitions held before, but these always had to be integrated into the daily routine of normal operations, and only few showcases could be added, imposing severe limitations on the scope of special exhibits. With the expansion of the large vaults to install 21 new showcases there was then provided the opportunity to organise large-scale special exhibitions and to prepare and hold them independent from daily business. Today, outstanding special exhibitions are mandatory for any museum in order to keep it alive, to provide a new impetus and to offer new and changing experiences to the visitors.

On 1 October 1998 these Special Exhibitions started with the opening show dedicated to feature “German Art of Stone Cutting from the Dresden Green Chambers”, which then moved on in the subsequent year to be displayed at the Arts and Crafts Museum of the Berlin State Museums and finally to the Georgenbau building of the Dresden Chateaux. Ever since this time, then, their have been one or two special exhibitions each year, featuring a variety of topics. The Special Exhibition for 2009 will be dedicated to the 150th Anniversary of the German Gemstone Museum and shall proudly present Selected Gemstone Objects from 150 Years In this exhibition we want to underline the special uniqueness of the gemstone region of Idar-Oberstein in this exhibition, which is first and foremost reflected in the quality and variety of the skills applied.

It will bear witness to the expertise achieved throughout the last 150 years by agate cutters, hollow cutters, facetteurs, lapidaries, diamond cutters, and especially the outstanding works of local gemstone engravers, rounded off by excellent goldsmithing. One of the most difficult tasks here is actually procuring old pieces in top qualities, as a producing industry is based on actually selling its products, and many beautiful objects thus were spread all over the world. Nevertheless, there always remains a secret stash of exclusive and special objects and also spectacular masterpieces which were stowed away in families and firms. We will also be able to show some pieces which were for example sold from the Trade Hall around 1900, e.g. to clients such as arts enthusiast and collector Carl Merlo from Cologne. After he died without offspring in 1920, his complete collection was auctioned at the Cologne Auction House of Matth. Lempertz Köln in May 1921.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Idar-Oberstein was then able to reacquire some of these pieces, and have been kind enough to provide them to our Museum.

Le « Deutsche Edelsteinmuseum », musée allemand des pierres précieuses à Idar-Oberstein, fête son 150ème anniversaire.

• 1859 : inauguration de l’ancienne halle industrielle (« alte Gewerbehalle ») sur la place Alexanderplatz à Idar-Oberstein.
• 1897 : déménagement dans la nouvelle halle industrielle, « neue Gewerbehalle », au coin des rues Mainzer-Straße et Dr. Liesegang Str.
• 1973 : installation du musée « Deutsche Edelsteinmuseum » dans la nouvelle bourse des diamants et des pierres précieuses (« Diamant-u. Edelstein-Börse »), au numéro 34 de la rue Mainzer Straße.
• 1995 : création d’une fondation.
• 1996 : déménagement dans une villa de l’ère Wilhelminienne, classée monument historique et nommée « Purpers Schlösschen », Hauptstraße 118, qui reste le domicile actuel du musée.

Cette année nous fêtons fièrement le 150ème anniversaire d’un musée qui est parmi les plus vieux et les plus beaux du pays avec une exposition spéciale : 150 ans de création avec des pierres précieuses Des réalisations choisies de polisseurs et de tailleurs de pierres précieuses, de joailliers et des œuvres d’exception de graveurs de pierres précieuses et d’orfèvres. Une présentation unique des qualités de notre région riche en pierres précieuses. L’exposition anniversaire présente les qualités, la diversité et le savoir-faire des dernières 150 années.