The only museum for enamel art in Germany is located in the “Alte Mühle“ (old mill) of abbey of Himmerod. The museum was initiated in the 90’s by the foundress of the CKI Gertrud Rittmann-Fischer.
The wrought-iron handrailing in the foyer of the old mill was designed together with architect Peter van Stipelen from Trier and decorated with enamel plates, from the ground floor to the attic. By invitation of Gertrud Rittmann-Fischer, 38 artists from many countries came together to design the 64 rectangles based on Cistercian motifs. In addition, there are 17 freely designed rhombs. The rectangles and rhombs are framed by plates in the colours red, black and green, as a tribute to the Eifel with red magma, covered by black lava and overgrown with living green. A total of 564 copper plates were enameled and installed, and 40 more copper strips were added later.
In 1998, the opening ceremony took place in the presence of numerous artists and art enthusiasts. On this occasion, two weeks of workshops were held in the museum’s own studio by chummy and internationally acknowledged artists from all over the world.
In 2007, Getrud Rittmann-Fischer retired from the museum. At that time, administration of the museum was in the hands of the monastery, which unfortunately was dissolved in 2017. After a few years in which nothing happened, the museum was completely redesigned in 2019, all artworks were inventoried and a book about the museum and enamel art was designed (by Ingeborg Martin and Brigitte Westemeier).
Besides the extensive enamel collection on the ground floor, the museum houses a bronze collection of the Eifel sculptor Johann Baptist Lenz in the attic, and an exhibition about the history of the Cistercians and the foundation and development of Himmerod on the first floor. The foyer and the gallery offer space for temporary special exhibitions like the annual exhibition of CKI artists.
Furthermore, the museum offers a small studio where workshops and seminars are held.
Today, the association “Museum Alte Mühle – Himmerod Forum e.V.” is responsible for the museum. It is financed, among others, from visitor revenues, as well as donations.
The museum is open during whole summer, from Easter Monday till October. From November till Easter, there’s a winter break.
Information on our special exhibitions, as well as offered workshops are provided in our annual program.
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