Museum information
“Crazy about tulips“ they were, the Ottoman sultans as well as the princes and patricians in Europe, in the 16th and 17th centuries. This colourful and exotic flower conquered the gardens of botanists and collectors. In 1637 speculations with tulip bulbs led to a dramatic crash at the stock market of Amsterdam. However, as subject or as motive in the arts and decorative arts, the tulip gained prominence.
Coming from the Ottoman court of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, the Dutch Princes of Orange in the Golden Age and the collections of August the Strong, superb treasures of silver, ivory, lustrous mother-of-pearl an enamel will stand in public limelight. Impressive „tulip-vases“ of blue Delft faience, furniture with splendid intarsia, lace and damask, as well as fine old master paintings, drawings and copper engravings will testify to the advent of the tulip in the residences and treasure chambers.
Coming from over fifty public and private collections the exhibition will comprise about 250 objects of prime quality.
Catalogue
André van der Goes, Tulpomanie: die Tulpe in der Kunst des 16. und 17. Jahrhunderts, Dresden (Kunstgewerbemuseum) and Zwolle (Waanders) 2004. 280 pp., 211 color and 49 b/w illustrations.
ISBN 90-400-8840-3