Between gold and glass: The special exhibition "A class of its own" presents for the first time an overview of the entire history of nobility on the Rhine and Ruhr from the early Middle Ages to the present day. Until July 31, 2022, the Ruhr Museum is presenting magnificent cultural treasures, some of which have never been exhibited before, in a spectacular "glass palace" on the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the mine "Zollverein".

On display are more than 800 objects from around 160 museums, archives, libraries and private collections. Together, they have an insurance value of almost 30 million euros. Many noble families are providing exhibits that have never been on display before: Portraits of their ancestors and other paintings, precious silver and porcelain tableware, and glass goblets and collectables that have remained in the family until today. Documents, family trees and illustrated books from their libraries, some of which date back to the 16th century, provide insights into their former lives.

The Arenberg Foundation also lends out items that have never been on display before.

https://ruhrmuseum.de/ausstellungen/aktuell/eine-klasse-fuer-sich-adel-an-rhein-und-ruhr