Thursday, 31st August 2006 (1416 views)

When Dresden's Green Vault opens tomorrow for the first time in 70 years, visitors will be able to see treasures that were highly prized by Saxon elector August the Strong.

In the 1720s August (or Augustus), who was also the King of Poland and was thought to be the father of no less than 300 children, opened a private museum to display his personal collection, which included jewels, gold, silver and ivory.

Fortunately the museum's treasures were removed during World War II, because the building itself was bombed during the Allied air attack on the city in 1945.

Now the collection will go on display in a newly-restored Green Vault, with the rooms resembling the style they were originally built in.

"He was a fanatical collector and loved beautiful things – diamonds, gold, jewels," Green Vault director Dirk Syndram told Bloomberg. "He wanted to show everyone in Europe he is a great king, a great collector, and one who has money to spend on jewellery. It belonged to his job."

Among the items on display will be the "Obeliscus Augustalis", an ornament made up of marble, gold, silver and ivory and containing a portrait of the man himself.

Members of the public will be able to visit from September 15th.

 

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