"Merovingian period - Europe without borders. Archaeology and history of the 5th to 8th centuries". Exhibition opening with looted artefacts in Russia
Press release from 03/09/2007
On Monday, 12 March 2007, the joint exhibition "Merovingian Period - Europe without Borders" by the Museum of Prehistory and Early History of the Berlin State Museums, the Pushkin State Museum Moscow, the State Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg and the State Historical Museum Moscow will be opened at the Pushkin Museum in Moscow in the presence of the Minister of State for Culture Bernd Neumann and his Russian counterpart A.S. Sokolov.
The exhibition offers a unique overview of the cultural-historical development of early medieval Europe (5th - 8th century AD). It conveys a multi-layered picture of the Migration Period in the area between the Urals and the Atlantic. Contemporaneous cultures from the Baltic region, the Russian forest-steppe zone, the Balkans and southern, central and western Europe are juxtaposed. For the first time, the diversity and quality of the cultural achievements of the Merovingian period can be presented in such a comprehensive way. The majority of the artefacts on display are gold, silver and precious stone finds of the highest quality. A large proportion of them come from the Berlin Museum of Prehistory and Early History and were transported to the Soviet Union as spoils of war in 1945.
After more than sixty years, these important treasures from the Migration Period, which were previously thought to have been lost, are being brought back into the public eye. This also makes the exhibition a project of extraordinary political significance. Germany and Russia are opening a new chapter in cultural co-operation, as the presentation was only made possible by temporarily bringing together the objects from Berlin with the Berlin collections stored in Russia and the Russian treasures on this subject. Of the more than 1300 exhibits, 700 pieces alone are looted art objects. 230 works are on temporary loan from the Berlin Museum of Prehistory and Early History, while the Hermitage Museum and the Moscow State Historical Museum have contributed the rest from their collections. The exhibition and catalogue are the result of collaboration between German and Russian scholars.
Klaus-Dieter Lehmann, President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, explains: "The big question about the future of looted art has not yet been resolved. But the exhibition opens up new opportunities. The professional co-operation has proved its worth and points the way to the future. Making the objects speak, as the exhibition shows, is only possible if they are viewed in the context of their collection history. The outstanding importance of the Berlin museum in terms of its holdings and scientific expertise becomes visible."
The exhibition will also be shown in a second stop at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. A presentation here in Germany is not possible as Germany cannot guarantee the return of some of the exhibits due to its asserted ownership claims.
Pushkin State Museum (White Hall), Moscow: 13 March - 13 May 2007
St. Petersburg State Hermitage: 20 June - 16 August 2007
The trilingual exhibition catalogue (German / Russian / English; publisher: Edition Minerva, 591 pages, bookshop edition: 72 euros, museum edition: 45 euros) presents all the exhibits with illustrations and scientific descriptions, as well as the history of the collections and the different legal positions of Germany and Russia on the issue of art and cultural assets relocated as a result of the war. It can be ordered via the online shop of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.
Please note:
Members of the press can obtain the catalogue from the Publications Department of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (Tel. 030/266 2606 or e-mail).
The press conference will take place on 12 March 2007 at 12 noon in the "Italian Court" of the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, the opening at 4 pm (accreditation press office: Tel. 007/495/202 84 81, Fax: 007/495/629 8211, e-mail). For further questions about the organisation: Ms Ovarova, Press Centre of the Federal Agency for Culture and Media, Tel: 007/495/6290596, e-mail, Pushkin Museum website.
Press photos will soon be available on the website of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. You will receive a detailed press release on Monday.
Attachment:
- Speech by Klaus-Dieter Lehmann, President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, at the opening of the exhibition (deadline 12 March 2007, 4 p.m.)
- Foreword to the catalogue by Klaus-Dieter Lehmann, President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation
- Joint catalogue foreword by the directors of all four participating museums