2 June 2022 to 8 January 2023

A few years ago, the Liebieghaus Skulpturensammlung succeeded in making the most significant addition to its own holdings in the history of the museum: a collection of precious ivory sculptures of the Baroque and Rococo periods from the estate of the patron Reiner Winkler (1925–2020). The Ernst von Siemens Kunststiftung, the Städelsche Museums-Verein, and the Städel Museum, with the support of the Kulturstiftung der Länder and the Hessische Kulturstiftung, acquired this unique collection, which was made possible in the first place by Reiner Winkler’s generous donation of the majority of the collection.

Since then, masterpieces by world-famous sculptors, such as “Fury on a Charging Horse” (1610), “The Three Parcae” (ca. 1670), “Chronos on the Globe” (ca. 1720/25?), and the “Allegory of Damnation in Hell (Anima Dannata?)” (1736) have been on display at the Liebieghaus in the exhibition “White Wedding”.

White Wedding now complete

With the exhibition and new collection presentation “Splendid White”, the Reiner Winkler Ivory Collection at the Liebieghaus has been completed: more than 200 historical ivory works were presented—including a further twenty-one outstanding works of art that remained in the private collection of Reiner Winkler until his death and were accessible to the public for the first time. In the collection presentation, the beauty, virtuosity, and richness of variation of baroque ivory carving can be experienced in an impressive way. The last works of art to be displayed and hung in the patron’s private home, including portrait medallions, large-format reliefs with Christian religious motifs and genre scenes, as well as an impressive combination figure, add essential exhibits to the previous collection presentation at the Liebieghaus.

More about the Reiner Winkler Ivory Collection

The publication and exhibition “Splendid Wedding” were supported by Stiftung Reiner Winkler and Ernst von Siemens Kunststiftung

The publication and exhibition „White Wedding“ were supported by Stiftung Reiner Winkler, Ernst von Siemens Kunststiftung, and the City of Frankfurt

The acquisition was made possible by Ernst von Siemens Kunststiftung, Städelscher Museums-Verein, Kulturstiftung der Länder and Hessische Kulturstiftung