The fire that destroyed the world’s best carpet collection

Last week, I showed you the super-expensive so-called Clark-Corcoran carpet, and commented that – with these prices – none of us are likely to be actually seeing it face-to-carpet, so to speak.

The exhibition in the Alte Münze vaults, showing the destroyed carpets. Image from: http://www.bare-exhibition.de

There are some other carpets that are even less likely to be seen: the 17 large-format classical carpets, including the iconic white-ground Safavid medallion carpet that was the centrepiece of a series of arrangements in the Berlin Islamic galleries on Museum Island. The carpets were stored in Second World War in the “deep vault of the Reich mint”, since this was considered to be especially safe. However, following an Allied bombing raid on 11 March 1945, the carpets were destroyed by fire.

All that survived was a pile of charred fragments and, elsewhere in the Museum’s archives, a collection of superb glass-plate photographs.  That was the end of the major Bode collection.

A recent exhibition at the Berlin Antique Rugs & Textile Exhibition converted the vaults, the imposing steel doors and the musty, humid atmosphere of the “Alte Münze” – recently a dance club venue – to an exhibition space for the photographs of the carpets.

There’s more great pics and details in a Hali article: http://www.hali.com/choices/berlins-war-losses-at-the-old-mint/

One of the photos of the destroyed carpets, and the remaining fragments. Image from: http://www.hali.com/choices/berlins-war-losses-at-the-old-mint/

1 thought on “The fire that destroyed the world’s best carpet collection”

  1. This week’s posting is about the renowned Bode collection of Safavid carpets. This was stored in a fire-proof bank vault in Berlin in the second World War. Sadly the vault wasn’t fire proof at all: and the collection was (mostly) destroyed in an Allied bombing raid.
    A recent exhibition – in the offending vault itself – showed the fragments that remain (amazing to see) and some old very high quality pics of these most beautiful of carpets.
    It’s another set of carpets – like last week’s most expensive carpet in the world – that you wont be seeing again.
    Enjoy looking at what there was, and what’s left now

    Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.