Jewellery Museums in Europe (Ex. UK)
This list of museums is provided as a service to our members. All the museums in this list have jewellery, sometimes rather loosely defined, in their collections, but some may not be on display. Please check in advance before visiting a museum, to avoid disappointment. The descriptions are provided by the museums themselves, or by members.
Please tell us here if there are any other jewellery museums which we should add to this list, or if anything needs correcting.
AUSTRIA
Vienna
Kunsthistorisches Museum
1010 Vienna, Burgring 5, entrance: Maria-Theresien-Platz
+43/1/525 24
Major collection of jewelled objects, including some from the court of Rudolf II.
Weltliche und Geistliche Schatzkammer (Treasury)
1010 Vienna, Hofburg, Schweizerhof
+43/1/525 24
Visit the world’s greatest treasury and experience invaluable jewels and insignia from a thousand years of European history. In this oldest part of the Hofburg (13th century), you will find the crown of the Holy Roman Empire (around 962) and the later Austrian Imperial crown (1602), as well as the remaining items of the 15th century Burgundian Inheritance, and the treasures of the Order of the Holy Fleece.
Österreichisches Museum für Volkskunde
1080 Vienna, Laudongasse 15-19
+43/1/406 89 05
Austrian traditional arts and crafts, including costume and jewellery.
BELGIUM
Antwerp
The Diamond Museum
Koningin Astridplein 19 - 23, B-2018 Antwerpen
+32 (0)3 202 48 90
Antwerp has been known as the Diamond Centre of the World for centuries. This museum covers every aspect of diamonds, including a collection of diamond jewellery from the sixteenth century through to the present day.
Brussels
Musée du Cinquantenaire
Parc du Cinquantenaire 10, 1000 Bruxelles 1000 Brussels
+ 32 (0) 2 741 72 11
Massive applied arts museum containing numerous collections from all round the world, including much ethnographic jewellery. From spring 2012 three new rooms dedicated to Art Nouveau in Belgium will open, including silverware, crystal and jewels, and signed works by Horta, Van de Velde, Hankar Hobé, Serrurier-Bovy, Wolfers, De Rudder, Van der Stappen and Braecke.
BULGARIA
Sophia
National Ethnographic Museum
6A, Moskovska St, Sofia
(+359 2) 987 4191
The museum displays folk costumes, fabrics, jewelry, wood cuttings, hammered ironwork, etc.
National Museum of History
16, Vitoshko Lale, 1618 Sofia
+359-(0)2-955 42 80
Classical and medieval Slav jewellery. Six cases of traditional jewellery.
Plovdiv
Ethnographic Museum
2, Dr.Stoyan Chomakov Str., Plovdiv.
624 261
Four large cases of traditional jewellery
Vratsa
Vratsa History museum and Art gallery
Hristo Botev Square
092 20373
Contains part of the Thracian Rogozen treasure, and many examples of 19th century Vratsa traditional jewellery.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Jablonec nad Nisou
The Museum of Glass and Jewellery
* U Muzea 398/4 * 466 01 Jablonec nad Nisou
+420 483 369 011
The museum has two collections – the museum collection and Waldes collection. The sub-collections can be divided into basic (costume jewellery, books and magazines, buttons, metal costume jewellery, glass costume jewellery, medals and plaques, numismatic collection, Sachs collection, glass, Riedel glass, arts and crafts) and supplementary ones (costume jewellery technology, graphics, clothes accessories, copies, special collections and Waldes collection with its sub-collections of buttons, fasteners and clothes accessories).
Nova Paka
The Municipal Museum Nova Paka
ul. F. F. Prochazka c.p. 70, 509 01
(+420) 493 721 943
In the Treasury of Gem stones there is a gallery of various minerals and the history of jewellery manufacturing in the region. Gem stones are located according to their finding places and varieties. You can see there huge amounts of polished agates, amethysts, crystals, jaspers, garnets, etc.
Trebenice
The Museum of Czech Garnet
Loucka 411 13 Trebenice
+420/416 594 695
The Czech Garnet Museum is located in a former Lutheran church in Trebenice. The local exhibition focuses on the history of the region, the mining and processing of Czech garnet and historical as well as modern jewellery fashioned from garnet. The core of the museum's treasure is formed by a collection built up by V. Parík, a local doctor and ardent patriot. The greatest attractions include, among other things, the largest Czech garnet (pyrope), the jewellery collection of Ulrike von Levetzow, the last love of J. W. Goethe, and the urban vinyards register. Visitors to the museum can not only inspect the garnets on display there, but also try to find some directly in front of the museum or in the available garnet sand.
Turnov
Muzeum Ceskeho raje v Turnove
Skalova 71 511 01 Turnov
+420 481 322 106
A treasury opened in February 2010 is the latest addition to Turnov’s Czech Paradise Museum. The museum can now exhibit its unique collection of jewellery from the romantic, Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods, created by teachers and pupils of the local jeweller’s training college. The most valuable exhibits, including pieces that were previously held in the store, can now be displayed.
CYPRUS
Larnaka
Ayios Lazaros Church museum
Ayios Lazaros Square, Larnaka
Small museum containing icons, vestments, and church silver and jewellery.
The Pierides Foundation Museum
Zinonos Kitieos, 4, Larnaka
+357 (0) 24 814555
One case of traditional jewellery
Nicosia
Cyprus Jewellers Museum
7-9 Praxippou, Laiki Yatonia , Nicosia
2266 7278
Small museum dedicated to traditional Cypriot jewllery, mainly from the 19th century.
Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia
Ippokratus 17, near Laiki Geitonia,
(02) 66 14 75
Two cases of traditional jewellery and clasps.
DENMARK
Copenhagen
Amager Museum
Hovedgaden 4 DK-2791 Dragør
(+45) 3253 0250
Traditional costumes and jewellery of the Amager Dutch community of Copenhagen
Nationalmuseet (The National Museum of Denmark)
Frederiksholms Kanal 12, DK 1220 Copenhagen K
(+45) 3313 4411
Danish pre-historic and Viking jewellery. Some Amager and north African traditional jewellery
Rosenborg Castle
Rosenvængets Alle 2, 2100 København
+45 3542 2032
Includes Danish Crown jewels
Thorvaldsens Museum
Bertel Thorvaldsens Plads 2 DK-1213 Copenhagen K
+45 33 32 15 32
Bertel Thorvaldsen lived from 1770 to 1844 and Thorvaldsens Museum is Denmark’s oldest and also most extraordinary museum building. It contains one of the largest public displays of Graeco-Roman gems (in stone, glass, intaglios, cameos: the whole range) to be seen anywhere in the world.
ESTONIA
Tallinn
Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design
17 Lai Street, 10133 Tallinn
+372 627 4600
The jewellery collection, includes over 2200 jewellery pieces by more than 130 authors. The oldest exponents time-wise are the 19-century national jewellery. The nucleus of the collection is formed by the jewellery from the 1950s-1980s that reflects well the changes and innovations occurred within the local context and the historical background.
FINLAND
Helsinki
The National Museum of Finland
Mannerheimintie 34, Helsinki
+358 9 4050 9544
Finno-Ugric traditional jewellery from Finland, Estonia and Russia.
FRANCE
Arles
Museon Arlaten
29-31 rue de la République, 13200 Arles
04.90.93.58.11
Contains the Frédéric Mistral collection of Provencal costume and jewellery.
Besançon
Musée du Temps
Palais Granvelle, 96 Grande rue, 25000 Besançon
03.81.87.81.50
One of the largest collections of antique and jewelled watches in France, to commemorate the historic importance of the craft to Besançon
Cagnes sur Mer
Espace Solidor
Place du Château, Haut-de-Cagnes 06800 - Cagnes-sur-Mer
+33 4 93 73 14 42
Contains a unique collection of modern artist jewellery acquired from the annual contemporary craft exhibitions over the last 10 years
Grasse
Musée provençal du Costume et du Bijou
2 rue Jean Ossola, F-06130 Grasse
04 93 36 44 65
The museum is housed in the former home of the Marchioness of Cabris, and contains the Provencal costume and jewellery collections of Helena Costa
Le Puy
Musée Crozatier
Jardin Henry Vinay, 43000, Le Puy-en-Velay
+33 (0)4 71 06 62 40
Large wall case of typical Auvergne jewellery, with others showing silversmith’s tools and moulds, and pilgrimage souvenirs
Lyons
Musee Gadagne (Historical Museum of Lyons)
14 rue de Gadagne, Hôtel Gadagne - 1 place du petit collège, 69005 Lyon
04 78 42 03 61
Includes one case of revolutionary jewellery
le Musée Africain de Lyon
150, cours Gambetta, 69361 LYON cedex 07
04 78 61 60 98
Belonging to the Society of African Missions, The African Museum of Lyon is a private institution open to all. It includes African jewellery from the Meynet collection.
Marseilles
Le MuCEM. Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée
Caserne du Muy, 7 rue Bugeaud 13003 Marseille
04 96 13 80 90
The old Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions, fortified with the collections of the Museum of Man from the Trocadero. Jewellery and costume from across Europe.
Martainville
Musée des Traditions et Arts Normands
le Château de Martainville, Martainville-Epreville
02 35 23 44 70
The 2nd floor is devoted to traditional Normandy dress, including jewellery.
Méru
Musée de la Nacre et de la Tabletterie
51, rue Roger Salengro - 60110 Méru
03 44 22 61 74
Located in an old factory, the museum presents the history of small works, such as card cases, fans and buttons, in mother of pearl, tortoiseshell, ivory and bone in the region, from the 17th to 20th century.
Nice
Musee d'Art et d'Histoire Palais Massena
65 rue de France, Nice
04-93-88-11-34
Contains Chapsal collection of traditional jewellery from France and other countries.
Paris
Musée national des Arts d'Afrique et d'Oceanie
293, avenue Daumesnil , 75012 Paris
44 74 84 80
Includes the Paul Eudel collection of jewellery from the Maghreb
Musée des Arts Décoratifs
107 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
00 331 4455 5750
Some 1200 jewels from its collection are exhibited in the Galerie des Bijoux
Musée national des Arts et Traditions Populaires
Closed. Collections transferred to the MuCEM in Marseilles
6, av. du Mahatma Gandhi, 75116 Paris
44 17 60 00
Includes French traditional jewellery
Musée d’Orsay
1 rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris
00 331 4049 4814
A fine collection of jewellery and goldsmiths’ work dating from the 1860’s onwards
Musée national de la Legion d'Honneur et Des Ordres de Chevalerie
2, rue Bellechasse , 75007 Paris
40 62 84 25
Orders of chivalry
Musée du Louvre
36 Quai du Louvre, 75001 Paris
00 331 4020 5760
Its collection of jewellery ranges from ancient to mid-nineteenth century and includes magnificent French Crown jewels displayed in Galerie d’Apollon
Musée National du Moyen Age
7 Place Paul Painlevé, 75005 Paris
00 331 5373 7816
A fine collection of Medieval jewellery
Musée du quai Branly
37, quai Branly, 75007 – Paris
01 56 61 70 00
Includes jewellery and ornaments from non-European cultures
Rouen
Musée le Secq des Tournelles
Rue Jacques Villon, 76000 Rouen
02 35 88 42 92
The museum is dedicated to art in iron of all forms, including an important collection of jewellery.
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Musée d'archéologie nationale
Château - Place Charles de Gaulle, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, 78105
01 39 10 13 00
Includes major collections of jewellery, as well as coins, combs, armour weapons and art, as well as some more curious objects.
Wingen-sur-Moder
Musée Lalique - Musée de France
29 rue de Zittersheim 67290 Wingen sur Moder, Bas-Rhin
03 88 89 08 14
The only museum in France dedicated to the work of the Art Nouveau master jeweller and glass worker, René Lalique (1860-1945). Opened July 2011.
GERMANY
Baden-Baden
Fabergé Museum GmbH
Sophie Strasse 30, 76530 Baden-Baden
+49 (0) 7221 970,890
The Fabergé Museum is the first of its kind dedicated solely to the life work of Carl Fabergé. The unique collection of the full range of works by Carl Faberge is present, starting with the famous Easter eggs of the imperial family, to exquisite jewellery and high-quality goods of daily use from the time of the 1st World War.
Bad Füssing
Bernstein/Amber Museum
Hinter dem Rathaus, am FreizeitparkHeilig-Geist-Straße 2
+49 8531 981034
Where amber comes from, and how it is made into jewellery
Berlin
Museum für Asiatische Kunst und Ethnologisches Museum
Lansstraße 8, 14195 Berlin-Dahlem
+49(0)30 - 8301-382, +49-(0)30- 266-3666
Traditional art and culture, including jewellery, from non-European cultures.
Museum Europäischer Kulturen
The Museum of European Cultures is currently closed. It will re-open at the end of 2011.
Arnimallee 25, 14195 Berlin-Dahlem
+49(0)30 - 83901-287
Comprehensive collection of traditional art, including jewellery, from north and east Europe.
Kunstgewerbemuseum
Matthäikirchplatz 4-6, 10785 Berlin Tiergarten
+49(0)30 - 266-2951
European arts and crafts from the Middle Ages until the present day: glass, enamel, and porcelain receptacles as well as gold and silversmith work. Includes the 13th/14th century Pritzwalker hoard of 130 pieces of jewellery.
Kunstgewerbemuseum - Schloss Köpenick
Schloßinsel 1, 12557 Berlin-Köpenick
+49-(0)30- 266-3666
One case of Berlin Iron jewellery
Märkisches Museum (Berlin City Museum)
Am Köllnischen Park 5
24 00 21 62.
One case of Berlin Iron jewellery
Darmstadt
Museum Künstlerkolonie
Institute Mathildenhöhe, Olbrichweg 13, 64287 Darmstadt
+49 (0) 6151. 132778
The presentation in the former studio of the artists colony building combines painting, sculpture, architectural models, graphics, book art, furniture, textiles, porcelain, jewellery and goldsmith's work of the Darmstadt Art Nouveau - and shows the members of the artists' colony as influential artists of their time. On display are masterpieces by such renowned artists such as Peter Behrens, Hans Christiansen, Bernhard Hoetger and Joseph Maria Olbrich.
Hessischen Landesmuseums
The museum will be closed for renovation works until 2012.
Friedensplatz 1, 64283 Darmstadt
Includes the Arts-and-Crafts collection of the Dutch court jeweller Karel A. Citroen (*1922). Citroen began collecting in 1952, at a point in time when it was not at all fashionable to collect artisan craftwork from the Art Nouveau. By 1959, the Amsterdam-based jeweller had succeeded in bringing together several hundred objects from all over Europe, with the main focus being on jewellery.
Dresden
Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault)
Albertinum, Am Neumarkt, Bruhlsche Terrasse, Dresden
351-491-4619
Magnificent artworks of gold, silver, precious gems, enamel, ivory, bronze and amber.
Duisburg
Cultural and Stadthistorisches Museum
John Corputius-Platz 1, 47051 Duisburg
(0203) 283-2647
Contains The Koehler Osbahr collection, consisting of more than 200 pieces of jewellery, including the personal ornaments of the founders, European jewellery from the 18th-20th century, and Islamic jewellery from Algeria, Turkoman, India and South-east Asia.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Werdenfelser Heimatmuseum
Ludwigstraße 47, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen
(08823) 2134
Many examples of the typical jewellery of the Werdenfels region.
Halle
Stiftung Moritzburg - Kunstmuseum des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt
Friedemann-Bach-Platz 5 06108 Halle (Saale)
+49 (0) 345 21 25 90
Extensive collection of works of the Halle Jewellery School from the 1920s to the present day.
Hamburg
Altonaer Museum
Museumstraße 23, Hamburg, Germany 22765
+49 40 428 1350
Important collection of traditional costumes and jewellery from the Hamburg area.
Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe
Steintorplatz, 20099 Hamburg.
+49 (0)40 428 134 - 27 32
Some traditional costumes and jewellery from the Vierlande, and also some Art Nouveau jewellery.
Karlsruhe
Badisches Landesmuseum
Karlsruhe Palace, 76131 Karlsruhe
+49 (0)721 / 926 6514
Wide-ranging collection, from Antiquity to the present day, including 17th century Turkish booty, the Margrave’s kunstkammer, and some traditional and aristocratic jewellery from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Kevelaer
Niederrheinisches Museum für Volkskunde und Kulturgeschichte
Hauptstr. 18, 47623 Kevelaer
49(2832)95410
Includes two cases of jewellery and ex-votos from the major pilgrimage centre.
Leipzig
GRASSI Museum für Völkerkunde zu Leipzig
Johannisplatz 5-11, 04103 Leipzig
+49(0)341/97 31-900Includes jewellery from south and east Europe, as well as Central Asia, North Africa, Polynesia, etc.
Munich
Bayerisches National Museum
Prinzregentenstr. 3, 80538 München
089- 21 124- 01
Includes jewellery from royal Palatinate graves of the early 17th century.
The Neue Sammlung, State Museum of Applied Arts and Design
Danner Rotunda, Barer Straße 40, 80333 Munich
+49 (0)89 / 2 38 05-360
Showcasing some 300 pieces of jewelry art from the permanent loans of the Danner Jewelry Collection, which provides a wealth of insights into this lively international scene.
Neugablonz
Jizerska Museum Neugablonz
Jablonec House, Marktgasse 8, 87600 Kaufbeuren-Neugablonz
+49-911-1331 0
The Jizerska Neugablonz museum covers the history of the Jablonec jewellery industry: for around 400 years German culture and industry dominated in the three districts of Jablonec nad Nisou, Liberec and Friedland, in Bohemia. After World War the expelled Sudeten Germans settled in Neugablonz and continued their tradition of costume jewellery. This museum presents a particularly striking example of their new beginnings.
Nuremburg
Germanisches Nationalmuseum
Kartäusergasse 1, D - 90402 Nürnberg
+49-911-1331 0
With current overall holdings of ca 1.2 million objects, the Germanisches Nationalmuseum is Germany's largest museum of cultural history. It has the most important collection of German traditional jewellery, but it is not on show in the permanent exhibition.
Pforzheim
Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim
Jahnstraße 42 • D-75173 Pforzheim
07231 / 39 21 26
One of the few dedicated jewellery museums in the world. It has a permanent exhibition of jewellery from Antiquity to the present day, and a rolling schedule of temporary exhibitions on all aspects of jewellery.
Stuttgart
Linden Museum
Hegelplatz 1, 70174 Stuttgart
+49 71 1202 2456
Includes 11th century Ghasnavid and 19th century Turkoman jewellery, as well as examples from many other cultures.
Waldenbuch
Museum für Volkskultur
Schloss Waldenbuch, 71111 Waldenbuch
07157 82 04
One board of traditional Wurttemberg jewellery
GREECE
Athens
National Archaeological Museum
44 Patission St., Athens
+30 210 8217724
Includes classical jewellery from all over the Greek world, including the treasure from Mycenae, and the Eleni and Antonios Stathatos Collection.
The Benaki Museum
Vassilisis Sofias and 1 Koumbari street
+30 210-3671000
Comprehensive collection of Greek art from Antiquity to the 20th century.
Museum of Greek Folk Art
17 Kydatheneon St, Plaka
323-1577
Located in an old house in the Plaka district, one floor is dedicated to silver work and traditional jewellery, and another to traditional costume with jewellery.
National Historical Museum
13 Stadiou street
323-7617
Three rooms of aristocratic and traditional costume, with 12 cases of jewellery.
Greek Historical Costume Museum
7 Dimokritou st, Kolonaki
362-9513
The Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum
Kallisperi 12 & Karyatidon Str., Acropolis 11742, Athens
+30 210-9221044
The Museum’s permanent collection includes over 4000 pieces of jewelry and micro sculptures from over 50 collections designed by the museum’s founder, Ilias Lalaounis, between 1940 and 2000. The permanent collection is enriched with donations including jewelry and decorative arts from around the world.
Florina
Museum of Gold and Silver-Smithery Folklore and History
Florina
+30 23810-31382/31354
The museum has showcases displaying two sets of rare goldsmith’s tools and a collection of goldsmith’s work (including men’s and women’s jewellery, ecclesiastical objects, buckles, belts, snuff-boxes, and household utensils).
Nafplio
Komboloi Museum
25 Staikopoulou St. Nafplio
+30 27520-21618
History and exhibition of 400 komboloi (Greek rosaries) of the period 1750-1950.
HUNGARY
Budapest
Museum of Applied Arts, Budapest
IX. Ulloi ut 33-37, 1450 Budapest, Pf.3.
456-5100
The fine metalwork collection counts about ten thousands pieces today, including the Esterházy collection; the division comprising jewellery, clothing accessories, various small boxes and cases; and the clock and watch collection. Besides the work of the leading Hungarian masters in the 17th and 18th centuries or objects made by the fine metal craft dynasties of Pest and Buda in the 19th century, the bizarre filigree work statuettes created by the Selmecbánya master Sámuel Libay also deserve mention. Held in the collection are a number of truly outstanding Art Nouveau jewels, such as works by Rene Lalique and Oszkár Tarján (Huber).
Hungarian National Museum
Muzeum korut 14-16, 1088 Budapest
(36-1) 338-2122, (36-1) 327-7749
Contains major collections of historic Hungarian and Balkan jewellery from the 16th to the 19th century.
Neprajzi Muzeum (Ethnographical Museum)
V. Kossuth ter 12, H-1055, Budapest
473-2400
Includes Hungarian traditional costume and jewellery
IRELAND
Dublin
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
Kildare Street, Dublin 2
+353 1 6777444
This branch of the National Museum of Ireland houses the most wonderful collection of artefacts dating from 7000 BC to the late medieval period. Examples of these include the Ardagh Chalice, the 'Tara' Brooch and the Derrynaflan Hoard.
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
+353 1 6777444
This branch of the National Museum of Ireland houses fine examples of silver, ceramics, glassware, weaponry, furniture, Folklife, clothing, jewellery, coins and medals, including Celtic revival and archaeological jewellery.
ITALY
Biella
Santuario di Oropa
Via Santuario di Oropa, 480 13900 Biella-Oropa (BI)
015.25551200
The treasury of the shrine of the Virgin of Oropa contains, together with crowns, chalices, ostensories and votive hearts, the jewels that adorned the statue of the Madonna for the coronations that have been held at Oropa since 1620 every hundred years: the two-tier tiara, the aureole of stars, the bodice, the ‘love knot’ and the pendant realized in gold, diamonds and precious stones.
Campo Ligure
Museo della Filigrana
Via della Giustizia 5, 16013 Campo Ligure GE
010920981
The only museum in the world dedicated to filigree.
Casalmaggiore
Museo del Bijou
Via Porzio, 9 26041 Casalmaggiore (CR)
0375 284428
The exhibited objects consist of more than 20,000 pieces of mainly costume jewellery produced by the industries in Casalmaggiore between the end of the 19th century and 1970. Besides the traditional jewellery (brooches, cufflinks, bracelets, belts, earrings, pendants) you can find powder-cases, lipstick holders, cigarette cases, sunglasses, devotional medals and badges.
Ferrara
The National Archaeological Museum of Ferrara
Via XX Settembre, 122
+39 0532.66299
La Sala degli ori (The Hall of Gold Jewellery) opened on 10 June 2010. It shows, mostly for the first time, jewellery of gold, silver, amber, semi-precious stones and vitreous glass paste from the necropolis of Spina. The refined, innovative exhibition setting was developed by the Emilia-Romagna Archaeological Heritage Bureau with the technical assistance of jewellers Bulgari.
Florence
Museo degli Argenti
Uffizi Gallery, Florence
055-238-8709
Over 500 pieces of jewellery from the 17th century to the present day, including over 100 pieces by 53 international artists and jewelers, such as Buccellati, Torrini, Bino Bini, Gio Pomodoro, Cavalli, Finotti, Sofia Vari, Bueno.
Friuli
Il Museo Etnografico del Friuli
PALAZZO GIACOMELLI, Via Grazzano 1, Friuli
0432 271920
Contains Perusini collection of traditional jewellery and amulets.
La Spezia
Museo del Sigillo
Via Vittorio Veneto, 2 - 19124 La Spezia
+39 0187 7421
Around 1500 examples of seals from the 4th millenium BC to the present.
Nuoro
Museo Della Vita E Delle Tradizioni Popolari Sarde
Via Antonio Mereu, 56 08100 Nuoro (Sardegna)
+39 0784 37484
Ethnological museum of Sardinia, including a room of traditional jewellery
Pescara
Museo delle genti d’Abruzzi
Via delle Caserme, 22, Pescara
085/4283517.
Includes traditional costumes and jewellery of the Abruzzi.
Rome
Museo Nazionale Delle Arti e Tradizioni Popolari
Piazza Marconi, 10.
06 591 07 09
The museum was founded in 1956, after the long organizational work which followed the Italian Ethographical Exhibition held in Rome in 1911. This institution intends to provide documents and information on the folk traditions of the various regions of Italy. Large collection of Italian traditional jewellery.
Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia
Piazzale di Villa Giulia, 9
+39.06.3201951
Contains pre-Roman antiquities, including much jewellery. The Castellani collection, currently closed to the public, is famous for its jewels and gold-works, which provide an invaluable contribution to the study of ancient goldsmithery.
Trapani
Pepoli Museum
via Conte Agostino Pepoli, 200, Trapani
0923 55 32 69
Extensive collection of Trapanese coral art and jewellery, much from the treasury of the Annunziata.
Volterra
M. Guarnacci Etruscan Museum
Via Don Minzoni,15, Volterra
0588/86347
Extensive collection of Etruscan art including numerous pieces of jewellery, mainly from tomb excavations.
MALTA
Mdina
Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum
Villegaignon Street, Mdina MDN 1191
+356 2145 4512
This palace is the former home of Capt Olof Frederick Gollcher OBE (1889-1962). The jewellery on show includes a collection of rings, Maltese silver buttons, watches and family pieces.
Valletta
Casa Rocca Piccola
74 Republic Street, Valletta, VLT 03
(00356) 21 221499
Casa Rocca Piccola is the private home of the De Piro family. It contains the relics of over 200 years of fine living, including costume and jewellery.
NETHERLANDS
Apeldoorn
CODA Museum
Vosselmanstraat 299, 7311 CL - Apeldoorn
(055) 5268400
CODA museum in Apeldoorn is a museum for contemporary art and regional history. As a museum for contemporary art it specialises in jewels and paper art. The jewellery collection gives a good overview of the evolution of modern jewellery from ca. 1960. There are (among others) works of Emmy van Leersum, Gijs Bakker, Françoise van den Bosch, Nicolaas van Beek, Marion Herbst, Onno Boekhoudt, Ruudt Peters, Dorothea Prühl.
Leiden
Museum Volkenkunde
Steenstraat 1, Postbus 212, 2300 AE Leiden
071 51 68 800
Leading Dutch ethnographic museum.
Nijmegen
Galerie Marzee
Lage Markt 3 / Waalkade 4 6511 VK Nijmegen
+31 24 3229670
Galerie Marzee is the largest gallery for modern jewellery in the world. As a rule, the gallery hosts four or five exhibitions at any time, with new openings every two months.
Schoonhoven
Nederlands goud-, zilver- en klokkenmuseum (Dutch Gold, Silver and Clock museum)
Kazerneplein 4, 2871 CZ Schoonhoven
(0182) 38 56 12
The museum has a vast collection of four centuries of Dutch silver, clocks and watches.
Edelambachtshuys
Haven 13, 2871 CK Schoonhoven
(0182) 38 26 14
In the former synagogue is an outstanding collection of Schoonhoven silver from the Golden Age to 1900, including much traditional jewellery and buttons. The Museum also includes an exhibition of modern artist’s jewellery.
NORWAY
Bergen
West Norway Museum of Decorative Art
Nordahl Brunsgate 9, 5014 Bergen
55 33 66 33
The museum is the repository for Norway’s largest private collection of Bergen silver. For centuries Bergen was Norway’s key production site for beautiful and prestigious objects made from gold and silver. These objects represent Norway’s foremost classic handcraft. Here you will find tankards, drinking vessels, goblets, terrines, snuffboxes, silverware, jewellery and other objects from the 16th through 20th cen.
Oslo
Kunstindustrimuseet
St. Olavs gate 1
22 03 65 40
Norsk Folkemuseum
Museumsveien 10, Bygdøy, N-0287 Oslo
(+47) 22 12 37 00
Norway's largest museum of cultural history featuring the world's oldest open air museum and large indoor collections. Permanent indoor exhibitions include folk art, folk costumes, and jewellery.
POLAND
Gdansk
The Amber Museum
Main Town Hall, ul. Dluga 47
+48 58 767 91 00
The Amber museum occupies all floors of the historical Prison Tower, with each floor dedicated to a different amber-related issue. One of the more important principles behind the Amber Museum is to present the achievements of contemporary amber artists.
PORTUGAL
Lisbon
Museu Calouste Gulbenkian
Av de Berna 45A, 1067-001 Lisboa Codex
21 7823000
The Calouste Gulbenkian Collection comprises some 6000 works of art from all over the world and dating from antiquity until the early twentieth century (including examples from ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, Babylon, Armenia, Persia, Islamic Art, Europe, and Japan). The collection of works by René Lalique (1860-1945) is quite exceptional for the quality of the jewellery and other objects, particularly the glass, which, because of its quality and consistency is considered to be quite unique.
RUSSIA
Moscow
The Moscow Kremlin
Aleksandrovsky Sad , Moscow
(495) 624-55-03
The Armoury Chamber contains ancient state regalia, ceremonial tsar’s vestments and coronation dress, vestments of the Russian Orthodox Church’s hierarchs, the largest collection of gold and silverware by Russian craftsmen, West European artistic silver, ceremonial weapons and arms, carriages, horse ceremonial harness.
Moscow State Historical Museum
Krasnaya Ploshchad 1/2, Moscow 103012
(095) 292-3731
The museum charts the development of Russian civilization, from its ancient tribal beginnings, through the formation of Kievan Rus, to the downfall of the Tsars. Includes jewellery from all periods.
The State Museum of Oriental Art
12a, Nikitsky Boulevard, 119019, Moscow
(495) 291-9614, 291-4966, 291-8219
Includes costume and jewellery from all the eastern districts of the former USSR, including the Caucasus and Central Asia.
St. Petersburg
The State Hermitage Museum
2, Palace Square, Saint-Petersburg
(812) 710-90-79
The Hermitage has a considerable collection of jewellery. It includes European jewellery formerly in the possession of royal and aristocratic owners or acquired from nationalized collections in 1918; over 3,000 objects from Asia covering the period between the 1st century BC and the 20th century; a small collection from East and South America; and Scythian jewellery found during archaeological excavations on the Northern Black Sea coast, above all objects from the area of the Bosphoran Kingdom on the coast of the straits of Kerch (former Cimmerian Bosphorus).
Russian Museum of Ethnography
4/1, Ulitsa Inzhenernaya, 191011, Saint-Petersburg
(812) 313-4421
One of the largest and richest museums in Russia, including costume and jewellery of the ethnic culture of more than 150 peoples of Russia and its neighbours.
Yekaterinburg
State Stone-cutting and Jewelry History museum
620075, Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk region,
(343) 371-13-17
Founded in 1992, and located in the early XIX century building of a former mining drugstore, the museum celebrates the mineralogical riches of the Urals, from the 18th century work of the Yekaterinburg Imperial lapidary factory up to the present day.
SERBIA
Belgrade
The Museum of African Art
Andre Nikolica 14, 11000 Belgrade
+ 381 11 2651 654
The Museum of African Art is the one and only museum in the region of South East Europe that is wholly dedicated to the arts and cultures of the African continent. It includes an extensive collection of African jewellery
SPAIN
Madrid
Museo Nacional de Antropología
Calle Alfonso XII 68, 28014 Madrid
+34 915395995
Some examples of Filipino jewllery
Museo del Traje
Centro de Investigación del Patrimonio Etnológico, Avenida Juan de Herrera, 2 (Ciudad Universitaria) 28040 Madrid
+34 915497150
The Clothing Museum brings together numerous exhibits showing of the evolution of clothing in Spain through history. An exquisite selection of clothing items from times gone by is combined with traditional dress from every region of Spain, as well as examples of contemporary fashion design. Designers like Fortuny, Balenciaga, Pertegaz, Hannibal Laguna, Ailante and Torretta, among other masters of haute couture, are represented in this unusual museum, which also displays pieces of jewellery and items from the home.
Saragossa
Museum of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, Plaza de la Seo s/n 50001 Zaragoza
+34 915497150
Small museum in the Basilica contains four cases of mainly 19th century jewellery presented to the shrine.
SWEDEN
Lund
Kulturen (Kulturhistoriska föreningen för södra Sverige)
Open-air museum in the centre of Lund. Contains important collection of Skãne traditional jewellery.
Malmo
Malmöhus Castle
Malmöhusvägen, Malmö.
Includes Druvan hoard of around 300 pieces of jewellery dating from 1677
Stockholm
Historiska museet (Museum of National Antiquities)
Narvavägen 13-17, 114 84 Stockholm
+46(0)8-519 556 00
The Gold Room displays many gold treasures from Sweden's past, including the Viking Age which even today is known as Scandinavia’s Gold Age. These include the 1500 year-old gold collar from Ålleberg which was made so skilfully that today’s goldsmiths still can’t work out how it was done.
Stockholm Nordiska museet
Djurgårdsvägen 6-16, Box 27820, 115 93 Stockholm
08-519 546 00
Sweden's largest museum of cultural history, was founded by Arthur Hazelius, and contains some Swedish and Sami traditional costumes and jewellery
The Royal Palace
Slottsbacken 1, Old Town (Gamla Stan), Stockholm
+46 8 402 61 30
The treasury in the Royal Palace contains the Swedish crown jewels, including Gustav Vasa´s sword of state, Erik XIV´s crown, sceptre and orb and Lovisa Ulrika´s crown, as well as several of the Princes and Princesses' crowns.
SWITZERLAND
Geneva
City of Geneva horology and enamel museum
Currently closed. Due to re-open at a different address in the future
15, route de Malagnou 1208 Geneva
+41 22 418 64 70
Important collections of Geneva's traditional specialities of horology, enamelwork and jewellery
Musée d'ethnographie de Genève
Boulevard Carl-Vogt 65, CH - 1205 Genève
+41 (0)22 418 45 50
Includes several cases of Saharan jewellery
Zurich
Schweizerisches Landesmuseum
Museumstrasse 2, Zürich
01/218-65-11
Includes Swiss traditional costumes and jewellery.
UKRAINE
Simferopol
Central museum of Taurida
Ul. Gogolya 14, Simferopol, Krim, Ukraine
(0652) 25-25-11
The Gold Treasury hall contains important material excavated in the territories of the Ukrainian Crimea, on show for the first time in over 20 years. The displayed items – gold and silver earrings, tiaras, coins, horse harness elements, ceremonial items, fibulae, belt decorations, and the famous eagle head buckles dating back to the second century BC up to the 15th century AD – show the uniqueness of the local barbarian Gothic, Alanic, and Sarmat cultures and present the high level of jewellery development at the time.