Hidden Room

GIO · 18th January 2012, 12:00 AM

The Venice collection was put together during a journey in the Far East of the Prince Enrico di Borbone, Conte di Bardi, from 1887 to 1889.
After the dath of the Prince, in 1906, the widow sold the entire collection to Mr. Trau (an Austrian antiquarian) who started the sale of the specimens piece by piece. The beginning of the first Word War stopped the sales (the Italian Government refused to buy the collection at It. Lire 1.800.000 - equivalent to roughly 10/12 million dollars of today - because the expense was considered as not affordable), but at the end of the war the collection was returned to Italy as part of the reward for war damages.
Part of the collection , composed of Japanese, Chinese and Indonesian items, was used, until 1945, to decorate various government offices, ministries and embassies, and now is considered definitely lost.
This is in brief the story of this huge and wonderful collection, which comprises many exceptional pieces in perfect conditions.

Years ago, I think around 1995, after a visit to the museum, I went to the office of the director - a jung lady - to ask some questions about the lack of a catalogue, the prohibition of making photographs, and of such a poor collocation (no explanation at all) of the pieces.
The answer was: the catalogue needs too a big work (i.e. lack of money),
a permission to make photographs was easily obtainable on demand, and a new space for the museum had been already found in a different palace, always on the Grand Canal which has been purchased by the Venitian Municipality in 1981. Today the museum (after 30 years !!!) is still there.

Should somebody wish to have further information about this Italian shame, I shall be happy to answer at the best of my knowledge.

18th January 2012, 12:00 AM	#24
GIO Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 329	The Venice collection was put together during a journey in the Far East of the Prince Enrico di Borbone, Conte di Bardi, from 1887 to 1889. After the dath of the Prince, in 1906, the widow sold the entire collection to Mr. Trau (an Austrian antiquarian) who started the sale of the specimens piece by piece. The beginning of the first Word War stopped the sales (the Italian Government refused to buy the collection at It. Lire 1.800.000 - equivalent to roughly 10/12 million dollars of today - because the expense was considered as not affordable), but at the end of the war the collection was returned to Italy as part of the reward for war damages. Part of the collection , composed of Japanese, Chinese and Indonesian items, was used, until 1945, to decorate various government offices, ministries and embassies, and now is considered definitely lost. This is in brief the story of this huge and wonderful collection, which comprises many exceptional pieces in perfect conditions. Years ago, I think around 1995, after a visit to the museum, I went to the office of the director - a jung lady - to ask some questions about the lack of a catalogue, the prohibition of making photographs, and of such a poor collocation (no explanation at all) of the pieces. The answer was: the catalogue needs too a big work (i.e. lack of money), a permission to make photographs was easily obtainable on demand, and a new space for the museum had been already found in a different palace, always on the Grand Canal which has been purchased by the Venitian Municipality in 1981. Today the museum (after 30 years !!!) is still there. Should somebody wish to have further information about this Italian shame, I shall be happy to answer at the best of my knowledge.