Dohna-Schlobitten collection

Schlobitten Castle ( Supraporte ), around 1730 (painter unknown)

The Dohna-Schlobitten collection includes works of art of all genres from the late 16th to the 20th century and shows significant evidence of European aristocratic culture. It is administered by the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg . It is currently being shown in Doberlug Castle .

Creation of the collection

Document to expand the Dohna-Schlobitten collection in 1917

The basis for the collection, which represented the inventory of the East Prussian Castle Schlobitten until 1944 , was the Dohna family constitution and in particular the "Eternal Testament" of the noble family branch Dohna-Schlobitten from 1621, a family entreprise . The collection, which grew through heirlooms, gifts, dowries and purchases, was bequeathed from the head of the family to the successor and was not allowed to be tampered with (used or used up). The collection grew over the course of several generations. The last known expansion (including the “Schlößchen” in Mohrungen ) was approved by the Prussian King Wilhelm II (last German Emperor) in 1917.

In 1944 the important library comprised 55,000 volumes, of which only 11 now belong to the collection (see: Schlobitten Palace, Library ) .

Younger story

Alexander Fürst zu Dohna-Schlobitten was able to save a significant part of the inventory of Schlobitten Castle shortly before the end of the Second World War , before it was destroyed by arson after it was occupied by the Red Army . The transports took place in secret from 1943 onwards in trains and wagons, the last one comprised 330 people (family members and servants), 140 horses and 38 wagons and went over 1,500 km on the wrong track to northern Germany. Around 2/3 of the collection was lost, the prince fought over parts confiscated in the GDR .

As early as 1978, the foundation acquired parts of the collection with the help of the German Class Lottery Berlin . The prince negotiated with the aim of amalgamating the collection and the complete exhibition of the inventory rescued from Schlobitten Castle; further purchases by the foundation were made in 1992/93 with the help of the federal government and in 1999.

Changing exhibition locations

First, from 1978 to 2009, Charlottenburg Palace received items and repurchases from the foundation. From 2009 to 2019, part of the collection of works of art of all genres will be shown in Schönhausen Palace in their context that has grown over centuries. Thematically structured rooms highlight valuable focal points of the Schlobitten inventory: valuable holdings in the library, the treasures of the silver collection and the art collection. The entire collection is then to be shown in Doberlug Castle .