Intro
Since World War II, Berlin has received thousands of gifts, all shut away in government offices and storerooms. But now Berlin unpacks them. At the Red Town Hall, almost 500 of these diplomatic gifts are being shown to the public for the first time. The space is transformed into a chamber of wonders with seven themed sections full of fascinating objects from over 100 countries. In their diversity, they stand as an eloquent testimony to Berlin's many contacts with the rest of the world.
Address for Visitors
Rotes Rathaus
Main entrance at Rathausstraße 15
10178 Berlin
Wheelchair access at Jüdenstraße 1
10178 Berlin
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (except on public holidays)
Temporary closures may occur due to private events. Please call +49 (30) 9026-2032 in advance for more information.
About the exhibition
Gifts Make History
The exchange of gifts is probably the oldest form of diplomacy – it doesn't even require words. One can rarely refuse a present, and accepting it obliges one to return the compliment later with a gift of one's own.
Every gift marks a specific moment in the flow of time. The collection of diplomatic gifts is therefore a testament to relationships that change over the years – due not least to the people who exchange gifts when they meet.
A gift often says more about the giver than about the recipient. Accordingly, the exhibition assembles not just gifts, but stories and histories from all over the world. But their common point of reference is always Berlin.
An Atlas Full of Marvels
The full collection of diplomatic gifts comprises over 3,800 objects, nearly 500 of which have been chosen for the exhibition. As there is usually little information available about such gifts, the criteria for their selection and presentation were exclusively object-related.
What types of objects are there? What are they made of? Where do they come from? What function(s) do they have? What symbolic value do they possess? – These were the considerations operative in the eventual decision to divide the show into seven separate sections.
Accordingly, the exhibition is an atlas of these diplomatic gifts. Different classification criteria can be applied to identify a variety of references between the objects, each of which however remains ultimately unique. It is an atlas that invites us to browse and marvel.
Notes
The criteria for the selection and arrangement of the objects on view are purely aesthetic and/or formal. No political allusions are intended.
With a few exceptions, the designations used for countries and regions square with official contemporary usage.
Most official, aristocratic and academic titles are used in their abbreviated form and as such conform with everyday usage.