Mineraliensammlung SCHWETHELM

In the organizer's words:

Since May 2004, visitors to the Erfurt Natural History Museum have been able to admire the magnificent mineral specimens donated by Godehard Schwethelm (*1899 in Erfurt until 1992 in Lucerne) in the deep barrel under the former Waidspeicher.

This presentation, installed as a permanent exhibition, provides an insight into Schwethelm's collection, which once comprised 6,500 mineral specimens, and gives an idea of the beauty and variety of the shapes and colors of the minerals.

The selection is organized according to seven crystal systems. From highly symmetrical cubic to low-symmetrical triclinic crystal types, the characteristic minerals are presented.

Years ago, following the death of her husband, Mrs. Ruth Schwethelm decided to donate a representative selection to the Natural History Museum in Erfurt, the city of her birth, in accordance with his will.

This generous donation was linked to the obligation to make this collection permanently accessible to the public.

The mineral specimens are displayed in 12 showcases and have been selected as the architect Schwethelm himself might have arranged them according to the forms.

Godehard Schwethelm had not only a geometric and rational relationship to minerals, but also an artistic one.

We consider ourselves fortunate that these "Treasures from the Mineral Kingdom" were opened on May 14, 2004 in the presence of Mrs. Schwethelm following the structural renovation of the vaulted concrete barrel.

Mrs. Schwethelm died on November 8, 2004, leaving behind the memory of a warm-hearted and generous patron.

Gerd-Rainer Riedel