Visit the Amsterdam Rijksmuseum in-depth with 3 specialty tours, each about 2 hours:
- Dr Fritz Mannheimer as a Fine Art collector, 1400 items now in the Rijksmuseum.
- Christian Mediaeval Art and later Christian art. How faith permeated all aspects of daily life.
- Enjoy world-class Applied Art including top-class furniture, goldsmithing, crystal work, and Delft Blue (on this page).
VIP entry, tour with an excellent art historian guide
Rijksmuseum Specialty Tour 1: Dr Fritz Mannheimer, 1400 items of Fine Art
The elk, died the year 1000, probably shot by a King or and Emperor, and then carved around 1100. Ended up in the grave chapel of Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne,
1400 works of art now displayed in the Rijksmuseum were all collected by Dr Mannheimer, who lived in Amsterdam from about 1920. He was the essential Central Banker to most of the the Central banks of Europe. Thus he dealt in all European currencies in millions. Known as having the best collection of art in private hands in Western Europe. Amassed Fine Art but paid for it not by himself but by his bank. An incredible 007-movie story of money, blingbling, secrecy, greed, by a single-minded, over-enthused collector, bank fraud, then Goebbels, Hitler, Storage in German cellars and Salt Mines, the Monuments Men (as in the movie), heaps of lawyers, various sales and finally the unexpected windfall for the Rijksmuseum. The Rijksmuseum now owns the famous Elk Antler, part of the items once belonging in the Grave Chapel of the son of Charlemagne. As an art object this item had an incredible pedigree.
Drs Kees Kaldenbach, your guide, spent over half a year in libraries and archives in Holland to get to the bottom of this story.
Dr Fritz Mannheimer, the Larger Than Life Fine Art collector. Hitler bought all of his art from the bank and lost all of it after 5 years!
Mannheimers direct descendants looking at the 1400 objects amassed by their forefather.
Abraham Roentgen, The very best single piece of furniture ever produced in Germany.
Drs. Kees Kaldenbach with Japanese film team. He has worked with dozens of TV teams from all over the world.
Larger images are available on this old school site. Visit Rijksmuseum with Children.
Private Guided Tour by professional Art History Scholar with excellent teaching skills. Specialist in Vermeer and Rembrandt. VIP entry. Avoid crowds: Best entry time is 9 AM.
Explaining the unique Elks Antler, dating from 1000 – 1100
Elk Antler, front page news in this art magazine.
Nativity by Kamensetzer, with full blown emotional qualities and intact polychromy.
Limoges metalwork chest.
Nativity by Kamensetzer, detail.
One of the finest pieces of goldsmithing from Paris, a reliquary. Solid gold!
Mary Magdalen, by Carlo Crivelli, one of the best in the entire world.
Buglioni, formerly labeled Della Robbia, Madonna with saints.
An aquamanile, for washing hands at a fine table.
Drs Kees Kaldenbach: „…he is wildly overqualified to be a guide . That is his secret… Trust me on this.” Gabe. Statement made February, 2017.