Sammlung von Lemmers-Danforth im Palais Papius

About the museum

Wetzlar pediatrician Irmgard Freiin von Lemmers-Danforth (1892–1984) began collecting historical furniture in the late 1920s. The passion grew into a collection that includes, besides furniture, decorative arts, paintings, sculptures and textiles; up to her death she assembled around 450 pieces.

In 1963 she donated a large part of it to the city of Wetzlar. Since 1967 the collection has been housed in the Palais Papius, the aristocratic palace of the Kameral-Assessor (chamber assessor) Johann Hermann Franz von Pape, known as Papius (1717–1793). The collector herself moved into the house in 1976 with her partner Hildegard Pletsch and led visitors through the rooms.

The objects are shown in period rooms, each devoted to an era and an art region, similar to the "period rooms" of major museums in the early 20th century. On the first floor the tour goes through Italy, France and the Netherlands; on the upper floor through the German regions and Switzerland. The reopening in 2012 also followed this concept; the route tells the story of courtly and middle-class living from the 16th to the 18th century.

Highlights

• Around 450 objects of European domestic culture from the Renaissance to the Rococo
• Period rooms by era and art region, such as the Italian Renaissance Hall and the Flanders Hall
• 17th-century Antwerp cabinet
• Laocoön plaque by Pierre Courteys, c. 1570
• Floor-standing clocks as well as pewter, glass and enamel work
• Festive hall of the baroque palace

Permanent exhibition

• Europäische Wohnkultur in Stilräumen – Furniture, decorative arts, paintings and textiles from the Renaissance to the Rococo, arranged by era and art region in period rooms of the Palais Papius.

Founded

1967

Operated by

Städtische Museen Wetzlar (Stadt Wetzlar)

Admission & discounts

Individual visitors pay on a "pay what you want" basis. For groups, a recommended price of €2.00 per adult or €1.50 per child, young person, trainee or student applies (for groups of 10 or more). Free admission for children under 6, severely disabled people (with ID), accompanying teachers of school groups and school classes from Wetzlar.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Barrier-free entrance in the rear annex with an accessible parking space; elevator, stair lift on the first floor and a ramp in the area of the ticket desk and cloakroom. Accessible toilet in the annex, loaner wheelchair at reception.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A 45 (exits Wetzlar-Süd, Wetzlar-Ost, Wetzlar-Nord) or on the B 49 from the direction of Limburg and Gießen to the Wetzlar Forum exit, then toward the city center.

Amenities & dining

• Coat check

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit