GERMANY: German Chancellor Angela Merkel reopens Dresden's renowned Green Vault treasure chamber

The Green Vault in the eastern German town of Dresden was reopened by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday (September 1), more than 60 years after its destruction during the Second World War. The spectacular treasure chamber, regarded as one of the most exquisite in Europe, was destroyed during a major bomb attack on Dresden on February 13, 1945. Three of the Green Vault's eight exhibition rooms were destroyed by the bombing, although the portable art objects had already been removed for safekeeping. Merkel was accompanied by Georg Milbradt, Minister President of the state of Saxony, during her tour of the Green Vault. The museum opens to the public on September 15. Named after the colour of many of its treasures, the Green Vault is housed in the vaults on the ground floor of the west wing of Dresden's Royal Palace. The collection of more than 3000 objects comprises jewellery and goldsmiths' work as well as precious objects of amber and ivory, jewelled receptacles and elaborate bronze statuettes. The Green Vault is one of the only royal collections in the world to exist in its original design. Although kept behind glass, the art works displayed in the historical vault are still exhibited in the traditional way, such as on decorative tables. The Vault was originally established as a museum by the Saxon elector and Polish king August the Strong between 1723 and 1730. During that period, the Wettin dynasty's sumptuous collection of Renaissance and Baroque treasures was placed on view for the first time in eight of the Royal Palace's presentation rooms. The Baroque synthesis of art objects and magnificent interior architecture remained almost unchanged until World War II. Having visited the collection, Merkel said it became evident how politics and art were once linked. "I think it is also our task to join politics and art once again, not in the sense that we politicians should start collecting, but in the sense that we should look after our treasures and also give today's artists a chance," she said. Following the Second World War, the stored objects from the vault were taken to Moscow, where they remained until 1958, when the Soviet government passed a resolution providing for their return to Dresden. In 1959, parts of the collection were placed on display in the Albertinum, as a return to Dresden Royal Palace was impossible due to war damages.

ITN Source | September 2, 2006

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