On the Hunt for Lost Treasures

Behind the Scenes of the Princely Treasury in Darmstadt (Part 3)

Like the divine Diana, Wolfgang Glüber also has a hunter’s instinct—albeit in a figurative sense. He regularly searches for new objects for the museum’s collections or special exhibitions. He may not have a large budget at his disposal, but he has an even larger network: if the museum does not already have a suitable piece, he seeks advice from other museums, well-known collectors, or even auction houses. The digital world, of course, is now also a great help. Once he has discovered an object of desire, he contacts its owners. “Then hopefully, at some point, I’m sitting in their home asking whether they might at least lend us their treasure.” When it comes to acquisitions, the question of funding always arises. Here, the Museum’s Friends Association often steps in to help.

He delights in the knowledge of the various treasures in the collection and likes to reveal the richness of craftsmanship and share a bit of his own fascination with visitors. When designing an exhibition, he has a clear philosophy: “I don’t want to lecture people; I want to inspire them to appreciate the craftsmanship of past eras. If they enjoy the exhibition, their interest in the details will come naturally.” For that reason, Glüber avoids lengthy descriptions—he wants the objects to speak for themselves and, ideally, to spark conversation. Conversation pieces, indeed.

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