TabakCollegium - Collector’s House Permanent exhibition in Schloss Oranienbaum

Schloss Oranienbaum has an additional valuable asset: „Collector’s House – TabakCollegium“ can be visited in the newly restored northern Cavaliers’ Pavilion.

Long-standing tradition
Regarding the long-standing tradition of cultivating and processing tobacco in Anhalt, Kulturstiftung Dessau-Wörlitz, council of Oranienbaum-Wörlitz and local society AGORA e. V. decided to implement a permanent exhibition about this important part of local history. On the basis of the so-called Tabakskollegien that originated from Prussian’s court in the 17th century, the „Collector’s House“ got the byname „TabakCollegium“. It was installed in the newly restored northern Pavilion of Schloss Oranienbaum that once housed the court’s kitchen. Henriette Catharina (1637–1708), wife of Fürst Johann Georg II. von Anhalt-Dessau (1627–1693) and a born princess of Oranien-Nassau, used to spend her summers here form 1683 onwards. In 1693 she granted a farmer the privilege of cultivating tobacco, presumably due to its financial success in the Netherlands, her native country. Subsequently the cultivation of tobacco was successful in Oranienbaum aswell, not least because a lot of residents of Oranienbaum were involved in this trade.

Numerous historical tobacco utensils
The tobacco production in Oranienbaum increased enormously over the centuries. It reached its height at the end of the 19th century with 24 tobacco factories with up to 166 employees. In addition there were numerous home workers who rolled cigars for supplementary income. Tobacco utensils like boxes and tins, account books, letters, photographs, even equipment – mostly porcelain, ceramic, wooden or horn pipe bowls – could be found in a lot of households in Anhalt. The exhibits inform about the origin of cultivating tobacco, the tobacco plant itself, its cultivation methods and the history of processing it. They all belong to collections of AGORA and Kulturstiftung Dessau-Wörlitz.

A new life in „Collector’s house“ thanks to an unusual concept
Deviating from the usual presentation in museums, the collection is presented in a fictional private surrounding. The design agency from Berlin, gewerk design, implemented the concept from Kulturstiftung Dessau-Wörlitz excellently in 8 rooms. Visitors will be surprised about features that are unexpected in historical stately homes. A cozy interior with inviting chesterfield sofas and discreet installed or put up exhibits – without display cabinets and the usual description of rooms and objects – create a private atmosphere that matches a collector’s home. Visitors can sit down in a comfortable piece of furniture and read in small, exquisitely designed albums about the history and stories of the local cultivation and production of tobacco or wander through the apartment und look at interesting and exceptional exhibits. The kitchen with an open hearth is especially inviting to stay and linger. In ideal circumstances, the hearthfire is burning and meals are prepared and eaten on special occasions.

Investment programme National UNESCO Heritage sites
„TabakCollegium“ was significantly financed by UNESCO’s national investment programme „Project: Heritage site Oranienbaum“. The meaning of Oranienbaum as a unique place combining German and Dutch heritage in Germany is emphasised with the implementation of the aforementioned project. The last visit of HRH Princess Beatrix, former HM The Queen of the Netherlands, illustrates the respect and appreciation that the Dutch royal family have for this place – a place that is the origin of today’s Dutch royal family.