Fondation Baur

About the museum

The collections of the Fondation Baur comprise around 9,000 art objects from China and Japan and are housed in an elegant late 19th-century town mansion. Their origin lies with the Swiss collector Alfred Baur (1865 to 1951), who was born in Andelfingen, built up a trade in organic fertilizer in Colombo and moved to Geneva in 1906. There he began collecting Japanese art and Chinese jades.

A turning point came in 1924 with the meeting of the Japanese dealer and connoisseur Tomita Kumasaku, through whom a large part of the pieces was acquired. From 1928 Baur also built up a significant collection of Chinese ceramics, ranging from the Tang to the Qing period. Shortly before his death in 1951 he acquired the town mansion in Geneva to house his treasures there; in 1964 the museum opened to the public.

The foundation displays imperial ceramics, jade and Chinese snuff bottles from the 8th to the 19th century, as well as Japanese ceramics, lacquerware, woodblock prints, netsuke and sword fittings. Since 1995 the museum has been expanded through donations, including old Chinese lacquerware, Chinese export porcelain, Chinese and Japanese textiles and a significant collection on the Japanese tea ceremony. In this field it holds the most important publicly accessible collection in Switzerland.

Highlights

• Around 9,000 objects from China and Japan, the most important publicly accessible East Asian collection in Switzerland
• Imperial Chinese ceramics, jade and snuff bottles from the 8th to the 19th century
• Japanese lacquerware, woodblock prints, netsuke and sword fittings
• Collection on the Japanese tea ceremony
• Japanese garden at the house

Permanent exhibitions

• Espace Chine – Imperial ceramics, jade and snuff bottles from the 8th to the 19th century.
• Espace Japon – Japanese ceramics, lacquerware, woodblock prints, netsuke and sword fittings; for conservation reasons the woodblock prints are changed about every two months.
• Salle des Donations – Donations since 1995, including old Chinese lacquerware, export porcelain, textiles and objects relating to the Japanese tea ceremony.

Founded

1964

Operated by

Fondation Baur

Admission & discounts

Prices according to the website before closing. Free admission for members of the Association of Swiss Museums (AMS/VMS) and ICOM, for the press, and with the Pass Musées Genève (reduced for special exhibitions there).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The main entrance is up 5 and a further 7 steps with a handrail. An alternative access via the technical entrance leads via a ramp to the basement; from there an elevator reaches all floors (no doorbell, please announce your visit). Folding stools and a wheelchair are available on request. There is no accessible toilet. A disabled parking space is located on Rue Émilie-Gourd, and passengers can be dropped off in front of the museum. People with disabilities pay the IV rate.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on Rue Munier-Romilly in Geneva.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Coat check

Museum shop and cloakroom at the entrance; no catering in the building.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit