Staatliche Antikensammlungen

The Staatliche Antikensammlungen (State Collections of Antiquities) is a museum in Munich's Kunstareal that holds Bavaria's collections of antiquities from Greece, Etruria, and Rome. Founded in 1847 and housed in a purpose-built neoclassical structure on the south side of Königsplatz, it forms an architectural and museological pair with the Glyptothek across the square, which displays the related sculpture collection. The museum is distinguished by its internationally renowned collection of Greek vase painting, considered among the finest in the world alongside the Louvre and the British Museum, and its comprehensive holdings of smaller antiquities including terracottas, bronzes, jewelry, glass, and engraved gems.

The collections trace their origin to the Wittelsbach antique collections, with the earliest holdings assembled by Albert V, Duke of Bavaria in the 16th century. King Ludwig I, who reigned from 1825 to 1848, was the decisive figure in building the collection; in 1831 his agent Martin von Wagner acquired pottery from excavations at Vulci, while another agent, Friedrich von Thiersch, purchased antiquities from the estate of Lucien Bonaparte at auction, including the celebrated cup by Exekias. Ludwig I also acquired gold jewelry from the collection of Caroline Murat, Etruscan bronzes from Perugia, and Greek terracottas from South Italy. After the king's death in 1868, his personal collection was united with the older Wittelsbach holdings. The museum was later enriched by major private donations: Paul Arndt (1908), James Loeb (1933), and Hans von Schoen (1964), all specializing in smaller antique objects, glassware, bronzes, terracotta, and precious metals. During World War II, the museum suffered significant losses, particularly of Etruscan pottery stored in the bombed Neue Pinakothek. The building itself was severely damaged by bombing and lay gutted until its reconstruction and reopening in 1967 under the name Staatliche Antikensammlungen.

The Staatliche Antikensammlungen presents antiquities from Greece, Etruria, and Rome, with particular eminence in Greek vase painting spanning from Mycenaean through Hellenistic periods. The collection encompasses Cycladic art, geometric, archaic, classical, and Hellenistic Greek pottery, Etruscan and Roman ceramics, terracotta figurines, bronze statuettes, ancient jewelry in gold and silver, glass vessels, portrait works, engraved gems, coins, and reliefs. A dedicated section houses approximately 800 engraved gems donated by Helmut Hansmann (1924-1996). The museum deliberately excludes sculpture, which is displayed at the Glyptothek opposite, and works created in Bavaria, which are shown in a separate museum; ancient Egyptian material also has its own dedicated institution.

The ceramic collection features masterpieces by virtually every major Greek potter and painter, including the Amasis Painter, Exekias, Archikles, Glaukytes, the Penthesilea Painter, the Andokides Painter, Oltos, Kleophon, Phintias, Euphronios, Euthymides, Epiktetos, the Pan Painter, the Berlin Painter, Hieron, Makron, Douris, the Brygos Painter, the Acheloos Painter, and Lydos. Signature works include the bilingual Belly Amphora by the Andokides Painter (c. 520-510 BC), showing black-figure on one side and red-figure on the other, and the Dionysus cup by Exekias (c. 530 BC). Among terracottas, the Standing Woman from Boeotia (late 5th century BC) and The Beauty (early 3rd century BC), found near Athens and among the best-preserved ancient terracotta figures in the world, are outstanding. Etruscan highlights include a head vessel depicting the death demon Charun (400-350 BC). In bronzes, the Hellenistic Goddess of Beauty and Love (c. 100 BC), also known as the Girl from Beröa, is a masterpiece. The jewelry collection features the gold Funerary Garland from Armento (4th century BC) and a Golden Diadem from the Black Sea region (Crimean Peninsula, c. 150 BC). The Roman reticella glass goblet from Cologne (4th century AD), inscribed BIBE MULTIS ANNIS, was a gift to Ludwig I for his support of Cologne Cathedral. Achaemenid Persian pieces include a silver drinking bowl and rare transparent soda-lime glass bowl (500-450 BC). The mummy portrait of a young upper-class man from imperial Egypt (c. 140 AD) ranks among the finest surviving examples of this genre.

The museum occupies a neoclassical building on the south side of Königsplatz, commissioned by King Ludwig I and designed by architect Georg Friedrich Ziebland. Construction lasted from 1838 to 1848. The structure takes the form of a Corinthian temple, with eight supporting columns bearing Corinthian capitals in the portico. The pediment centers on a figure of Bavaria as protector of arts and industry, while a Phoenix serves as the central acroterion above the portico. A grand freestanding staircase elevates the building above the square. This building was conceived as the counterpart to the Glyptothek across the square, which has an Ionic portico, together completing the classical forum designed by Leo von Klenze from 1815. Originally opened as the Royal Art and Industrial Exhibition Building (Kgl. Kunstausstellungsgebäude am Königsplatz), it later served as the royal antiquarium (1869-1872), home to the Munich Secession (1898-1912), and the New State Gallery (from 1919). Bombing in World War II gutted the interior, but the building was reconstructed and reopened in 1967 for its present purpose. The monastery of St. Boniface was constructed simultaneously on the building's south side.

The Staatliche Antikensammlungen is located in Munich's Kunstareal on the south side of Königsplatz, directly opposite the Glyptothek. The museum operates under state ownership as part of Bavaria's public museum system. Its administration is housed at the Haus der Kulturinstitute nearby. The museum maintains a website at http://www.antike-am-koenigsplatz.mwn.de/antikensammlung/index.html. Visitors should note that the Glyptothek across the square holds the related sculpture collection, while ancient Egyptian works and Bavarian-produced antiquities are displayed in separate dedicated museums.