Puppentheatersammlung Dresden, Puppet theater collection in Dresden, Germany
The Puppet Theater Collection in Dresden holds over 50,000 objects including figures, stages, props, and documents spanning three centuries of the art form. The exhibition features mechanical world theaters from the 19th century, marionettes, hand puppets, and various stage designs and technical equipment.
The collection was founded in 1952 but originated from objects gathered by Leipzig teacher Otto Link beginning in 1913, when he established one of Germany's earliest private puppet theater collections. His founder collection became the foundation for what is now the museum in Dresden.
The collection displays stage designs and puppets created by notable artists like Carl Schröder and Otto Griebel, reflecting different artistic movements in puppet theater. You can observe how regional styles and creative approaches shaped the craft over time.
The museum is located at Lichtwerk in Kraftwerk Mitte since September 2024 and offers interactive exhibitions and educational programs. Plan time to explore both the collection and any workshops or demonstrations that might help you understand how different puppet techniques work.
The museum maintains a specialized library about puppet theater worldwide and published the only puppet theater journal in East Germany until 1990. These publications provide a rare documentary record of how the art form developed differently in the Eastern European context.
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