Special exhibitions

From 23 May 2024

The upcoming special exhibition is dedicated to historical mining treasures from the Slovakian Ore Mountains. The centrepiece is one of the most extensive and important collections of Herrengrund vessels from private ownership. In combination with the splendour of the hand stones and other mining artefacts, the richness of the cultural region and the sense of status of the miners in the areas around Herrengrund (Špania Dolina) are expressed.

The "Miracle of Herrengrund" refers to copper mining in the Slovakian Ore Mountains. Around 400 years ago, the miners must have noticed that iron objects left behind in the mining water were transformed into copper after a few weeks, a process that must have seemed mysterious and miraculous to the miners. They skilfully used this discovery to manufacture cement copper and use it to produce artefacts, that made this manufacturing process widely known.

The production of hand stones began in the 16th century in the Bohemian Ore Mountains, and in the 18th century the art of creating hand stones was taken up in the Slovakian Ore Mountains, especially in the towns of Banská Štiavnica, Kremnica and Banská Bystrica. These baroque hand stones are characterised by their composition of many different minerals in combination with the mostly displayed mining scenes.

From 19 February 2024

The focus of this exhibition is on artisan craftworks from the Middle Ages to the present day, organised according to materials such as rock crystal, ibex horn, gold, silver, iron, ceramics, wood and bone, which were produced or used in Salzburg. In addition to their artistic value, the objects on display often possess a mystical power that was attributed to them depending on the material. Our aim for the exhibition is to express the richness, beauty and mysticism of the artefacts from our cultural region.

The exhibition is open until October 31, 2024. 

From May 2023

In addition to Gothic sculptures, some valuable Romanesque works of art can be admired in Leogang. A good example for this period of art is a figure of Saint Anne, which is considered to be one of the earliest sculptures of this type. It dates back to the final phase of the Romanesque period around 1200 and was made in the Pustertal valley, which was part of the former ecclesiastical province of Salzburg. The figure's significance is not only linked to it's great age, but also to the iconographic uniqueness created by the crowning of both figures. A gilded bronze crucifix from the 2nd half of the 12th century is also part of the exhibition, as well as a selection of enamel works from Limoges, which reflect the importance of arts and crafts in the Romanesque period.

From 12 June 2021

In the Middle Ages, Salzburg was one of the four most important European principalities as regards religion, culture, economy and politics. Archbishops, abbots and abbesses commissioned the best artisans to create art from exquisite materials for the Salzburg Cathedral, the abbeys and their treasuries.

The highlight of this exhibition is a Virgin and Child from Salzburg, about 1400. It is 14 cm high and made of boxwood. Today, the statue’s charm lies in its exquisite woodcarving, but originally it was painted in precious gold with blue mantle lapels. Many thanks to the donor, a close friend of the Museum of Mining and Gothic Art, and to all lenders of the exhibition “Ecclesiastical Treasury of Salzburg”.

The precious objects of this exhibition visualize the significance of the Archbishopric of Salzburg in the Middle Ages. There is no labelling in this exhibition in order to emphasize the uniqueness, exceptional quality and sanctity of the exhibits. The motto is see and be amazed.

From 27 May 2021

In Renaissance and Baroque Europe, many rich princes had representative cabinets of curiosities. They were supposed to demonstrate the owner’s wealth, artistic understanding and zeitgeisty spiritual level.

Nora von Watteck was Salzburg’s most prominent folklorist. Her interest in art history was fostered early on by her grandfather, an antique dealer who had a cabinet of curiosities of his own.

Nora von Watteck started to add to her grandfather’s cabinet of curiosities located in the Brodgasse Alley in Salzburg. After Nora von Watteck’s death in 1993, her son Arno replenished the collection und organised it.

Thanks to close ties between Arno von Watteck and museum director Hermann Mayrhofer, this cabinet of curiosities now forms part of the Museum of Mining and Gothic Art Leogang. The exhibition aims at preserving the memory of Nora von Watteck as well as the outstanding collection, making it accessible to the public.