Imperial and royal copper

Over 600 original pieces of dynastic crockery from the Guelph, Habsburg and Wittelsbach court kitchens are now on display in the renovated columned hall of the listed property.
From the 17th century onwards, copper was an indispensable part of the upmarket kitchen inventory due to its good thermal conductivity. Accordingly, this Central European kitchen utensil was mainly used in palace and monastery kitchens. At the auction of inventory from various Guelph castles, which took place at Marienburg Castle near Hanover in 2005, several royal copper sets were also offered, the cultural and historical significance of which the collector and museum founder Siegfried Kuhnke recognised and which he acquired for his museum. He had the pieces professionally restored and scientifically analysed.
Over the course of time, the foundation also purchased important objects from other court kitchens. The significance of the preserved historical pieces of crockery - stamped with the monogram of the ruler, the respective palace kitchen, inventory numbers and master's mark - is exemplary for the history of dynastic cookery and dining culture in the 19th century.
This is the first time that preserved copper crockery from various palace kitchens has been shown to the public in such abundance and in these decorative forms. The rich ornamentation, architectural shapes, imaginative animal images and huge kettles fascinate us today not only as useful utensils from earlier times, but also as masterfully crafted works of art. These are exhibits that fortunately survived the metal collections of the First and Second World Wars and were not melted down. Kuhnke is showing an impressive whipping bowl with riveted handles from the pastry kitchen of the former Habsburg imperial family in Vienna. The heavy quality and the stamp with the double-headed eagle on it are remarkable.
Royal copper treasures from the region, from Possenhofen Castle on Lake Starnberg, are also on display, including Sisi's broad pot and a beautifully shaped jug from the estate of the fairytale King Ludwig II: all pieces are labelled with the royal crown and monogram. The most interesting pieces are presented in an exciting and informative guided tour through the exhibition.
This collection of dynastic copperware is unique in the world and is complemented by themed paintings, graphics and sculptures.

Last edited on 01.11.2025