Step inside the Gipsformerei. This isn’t just a workshop. It’s a living testament to artistry. Founded in 1819 by King Friedrich Wilhelm III the Gipsformerei began as the Royal Prussian Institute of Plaster Casting. It’s the oldest institution within the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.
The Gipsformerei’s creation was part of Prussia’s post-Napoleonic revival. Neoclassicism fueled a demand for antiquities. Previously expensive imports from Italy were a problem. The Gipsformerei aimed to solve that providing a new source of income. Christian Daniel Rauch a leading Neoclassical sculptor became its first director.
Initially operating from Rauch’s own workshop the Gipsformerei eventually moved. It first resided in the Altes Museum’s basement. Later it occupied the Royal Casting House. Finally in 1891 it found its permanent home in Charlottenburg. A purpose-built building on Sophie-Charlotten-Strasse houses its mould-making workshop painting studio and vast collection of historical moulds and models.
The Gipsformerei’s collection grew alongside Berlin’s museums. New museum acquisitions were always reflected in the Gipsformerei’s catalogue. The 19th century was a particularly fruitful time. Collaborations with the Akademie der Künste and Berlin universities enriched its holdings. Archaeological expeditions and exchanges with European museums further expanded its incredible collection.
The Gipsformerei boasts over 7000 models. This makes it the world’s largest institution of its kind. Its oldest piece is the 25000-year-old Venus of Willendorf. The largest is a cast of the 42-meter-high Marcus Aurelius Column from Rome. The smallest is a tiny Egyptian scarab the size of a fingernail. These plaster casts are not merely replicas. Many are the only remaining witnesses to originals lost to war or environmental damage. The Gipsformerei continues to produce casts today. They use traditional methods alongside cutting-edge 3D scanning technology. This ensures the preservation of artistic heritage. It’s a remarkable place a true treasure of Berlin and of art history.