Curious about folk art and faraway lands? Then Museum Rade is the place to be. This museum holds the vast collections of Rolf Italiaander. He was a writer and ethnographer.
The Museum Rade at Reinbek Castle safeguards cultural heritage. It promotes understanding between all people. This includes all nations, races, and religions.
Let’s journey back to 1970. Rolf Italiaander and Hans Ludwig Spegg created a special place. It was located at Rader Weg in Tangstedt. They restored a thatched-roof farmhouse. It became “Museum Rade in the Oberalster Nature Park”. Italiaander filled it with his folk art collection. He displayed many objects from his travels.
In 1983, the “Stiftung Sammlung Rolf Italiaander/ Hans Spegg” became its new sponsor. After being closed for two years, big changes happened. In May 1987, the collection moved to Reinbek. It found a new home in a beautiful villa. This villa was across from the castle by the Muehlenteich. The city of Reinbek provided the villa to the foundation. Rolf Italiaander arranged the rooms himself.
After Italiaander and Spegg passed away, the foundation inherited everything. This included Italiaander’s large art collection and his wealth.
Museum Rade presented a diverse permanent exhibition. This exhibition spread across four floors. It also hosted regular special exhibitions. The museum focused on international naive paintings. It also displayed African folk art. Works by artists like Gustaf Gründgens were featured. Pieces from Anneliese Rothenberger, Hermann Hesse, and James Krüss were also on display.
Sadly, Museum Rade has been closed since summer 2017. This is due to planned renovations. The community eagerly awaits its reopening. It will again showcase Rolf Italiaander’s treasures. The Museum Rade is a cultural gem. It connects us to art and culture.