Ladies and Gentlemen,
'The story of rediscovery of the artistic furnishings of a former sanatorium in Trzebiechów' is indeed a peculiar one.
Although over the past 30 years I have been a frequent visitor to Trzebiechów and the Nursing Home, its treasures have gone more or less unnoticed to me. I am, therefore, particularly happy that our Polish-German team of authors is able to present to you the latest work of art by a universal European artist - Henry van de Velde. It may only be new in print, because some of you are already familiar with the newly rediscovered art.
It was only by accident that after 100 years of oblivion this work of art saw the light of day and became the focus of attention of European artistic circles!
Today we are talking about Trzebiechów. The village, located on the south - east outskirts of the former Brandenburg margraviate, was known as Trebschen until 1945. It is now situated 80 kms away from the German-Polish border in Gubin. The so - called border church in Trzebiechów once marked the border of Silesia.
Let me start the story with my grandfather on the distaff side, dr Curt Schelenz, as he played a key role in it and he was the one who passed on to me information that eventually led me to Henry van de Velde.
My grandfather was born into a Silesian family. His father was a chemist and a historian of pharmacy. As a young physician, my grandfather applied for the post of the head of the newly - organized 110 - bed tuberculosis sanatorium in Trzebiechów. He was to hold the post, with great dedication, from 1920 until January 1945.
My grandfather showed avid interest in the history of medicine and pharmacy as well as local nature. Once he settled down in Trzebiechów, he started to study his new homeland's history more thoroughly. In 1922 he established a country - lovers' association in Züllichau (now Sulechów), 12 kilometres away from Trzebiechów. In the years 1926 - 1941 he published 'a regional calendar', dealing mainly with historical, cultural and social issues. The articles published in the calendar constitute an important source of information on the region's history.
The Reuß family of Grand Dukes played a significant role in van de Velde's activity in Trzebiechów (it must be remembered that there were two independent Reuß duchies at that time). In 1765 the Reuß family bought Trzebiechów, including the palace and the nearby granges, to administer it for the next 180 years. One of the Dukes born and living in Trzebiechów was Henry XXIV (1855 - 1910), who made a name for himself as a musician and composer of chamber and orchestra music. He later moved to Dresden and Leipzig.
In 1861 the palace in Trzebiechów was purchased by Henry VII, Duke Reuß. Born in 1825 in Klippenhausen near Meißen, he studied law and agriculture, only to make it to the rank of general in the Prussian royal cavalry. Afterwards, he made a success in diplomacy in Paris, St. Petersburg, Constantinople and Vienna. He also was a member of The Prussian House of Lords as well as Adjutant General to Wilhelm I, the Emperor.
He was friends with Bismarck, who paid two visits to the palace in Trzebiechów (the plaque in the palace park commemorates one of those visits). Having finished his diplomatic service in 1894, he returned to Trzebiechów. In 1876 he married Marie Alexandrine, the Grand Duchess of Saxe - Weimar - Eisenach, a daughter of the Grand Duke Karl Alexander. It was especially during their reign that the Brandenburg village flourished. The palace owners were avid art - lovers and, more importantly, had unlimited personal wealth. They expanded the palace in 1880 and sponsored the construction of a new church in the nearby village of Podlegórz, equipping it with a Sauer's organ. The organ was funded by the Duke on the pretext of the silver anniversary of his wedding. It is in Podlegórz, 3 kilometres away from Trzebiechów, that the family vault of the Reuß family has been preserved.
Already in 1790 the owners of the palace took care of the villagers' health. The first health centre was established. Towards the end of the 19 th century the Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrine brought a convent of sisters to care for the sick and founded a small hospital - Sophienhaus. The name derived from the Sophienhaus Association in Weimar, established by Duchess Sophie in 1875.
However, the Duchess's plans were even more ambitious. Opposite the palace, where peasants' cottages once used to be, 'Her Highness' erected sanatorium Trzebiechów. The sanatorium, designed by Henry van de Velde, was meant for her private physician, dr Müller. This is the only published press mention of Henry van de Velde's involvement in the construction of the sanatorium.
Henry van de Velde's biography includes only one mention of 'the Reuß Duchess' and the artist's possible connection with the Reuß family in Trzebiechów (p. 202). For the non - cognoscenti it is not clear whether the reference is unquestionably to Marie Alexandrine of Trzebiechów because in the register she was mistakenly referred to as Karoline Reuß. It was probably because of this mistake that Henry van de Velde's connection with Trzebiechów has gone unnoticed.
The commission to design the sanatorium in Trzebiechów was one of a few that van de Velde was working on at that time, including the famous Friedrich Nietzsche archives in Weimar and Villa Esche, a property of a tights manufacturer from Chemnitz. Already on July 8 th, 1903 (well before the other two structures were completed) the doctor's house was opened with due ceremony. Van de Velde was not present at the ceremony and the main building was not fully completed and commissioned for use until 1905.
I owe the ultimate discovery that the interior furnishings in Trzebiechów were designed by Henry van de Velde to the fact that at that time German press was reporting on the completion of renovation work in Villa Esche in Chemnitz (the villa had been converted into a museum). The museum was opened with due ceremony in 2002 by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Johannes Rau. That particular press mention drew my attention towards Henry van de Velde.
In April 2002 I read a page - long report on Villa Esche entitled 'The Revival of Villa Esche, the Most Beautiful Monument of Secession, a Work of Art of Modern Design by Henry van de Velde.' I was intrigued by the publication because I heard my grandfather mention the name before. I had not explored the subject ever since, however. Suddenly, the publications sparked my interest. I searched through my late grandfather's archives for documents, photographs and articles on the tuberculosis sanatorium in Trzebiechów. I asked myself the question: 'What could be the link between Trzebiechów, the Nursing Home and van de Velde? What else is there left to see?'
I have visited the buildings in Trzebiechów on many occasions. It was not until August 2002, however, that I began to pay attention to the details of the interior design. Together with both the former and the present directors of the Nursing Home, Mr Henryk Brzostowski and Mrs Agnieszka Szel±g respectively, I carefully examined the different rooms in the doctor's house and the hospital itself and, indeed, I noticed certain details in their design and furnishings that might point to an artist of the Secession style. At that time, however, I was not familiar with van de Velde's artistic style. Therefore, I focused my efforts on collecting information and taking photographs.
On my way back to Germany I paid a visit to the Mayor of Schenkendöbern near Guben - Trzebiechów's partner commune, Mr Jeschke. I shared my probable discovery with him and asked him to establish contact with the commune governor in Trzebiechów and the people in charge of the Nursing Home.
Having returned home - near Heildelberg, 750 km away from Trzebiechów, I searched the Internet and learnt about the European Association of Henry van der Velde's Friends in Gera. I called them and inquired whether Henry van de Velde was in any way related to the sanatorium in Trzebiechów. Mr and Mrs Kielstein, great connoisseurs of van de Velde's art, firmly replied that it was impossible. They expressed the opinion that all major works of art by van de Velde to do with interior design and furnishings are already widely known and it is unlikely that there could be any object that the experts are unfamiliar with.
The matter never ceased to occupy my mind. However, I had too little information to move forward! Mr and Mrs Kielstein told me that they had a villa in Gera designed by van de Velde. I made a prompt decision to visit the villa in September 2002 on 'the open doors' day, an occasion when one can visit monuments of history remaining in the hands of private owners. I went there and showed them old photographs of Trzebiechów. Indeed, one could see elements of Secession in the photos but could they be attributed to van de Velde? The Kielsteins were unable to establish that. I returned home as quickly as I left it. My curiosity was hardly satisfied!
Just then coincidence intervened. I suddenly recalled a letter by the last parish priest in Trzebiechów, who, in 1984, informed my mother that in the archives in Berlin some church documents from Trzebiechów are kept. I wasted no time and quickly went to Berlin hoping to find not only church documents but also others. It paid off! I managed to unearth piles of documents concerning the sanatorium in Trzebiechów.
I spent three whole days in the archives, making maximum use of the opening hours. As a result, I discovered 38 letters by either van de Velde or his office to the mandator, Marie Alexandrine, Duchess Reuß, concerning details of planning and progress in the construction work. Working on my own, I achieved my goal more quickly than I had expected! I also had direct confirmation of van de Velde's authorship. I became his fan right away! Further archival work was done in Berlin, Wilków and Stary Kisielin.
In October 2002 together with Mr and Mrs Kielstein we came to Trzebiechów. The Commune Governor, Mr Stanis³aw Drobek, the former County Governor and official administrator of the Nursing Home, Mr Krzysztof Romankiewicz, as well as the director of the Nursing Home, were looking forward to welcoming us.
Initially, Mr and Mrs Kielstein were unconvinced by the architectural style of the building. Then, as we proceeded towards the main entrance, we got a big surprise! The decorative handle metalwork looked the same as in the Nietzsche Archives in Weimar and the stairs reminded us of those in Villa Esche. We were more than happy! With every further step we discovered a variety of preserved details. It was fantastic!
The visit was followed by further meetings with the County Governor and the Lubuskie Provincial Conservator of Monuments, Mrs Barbara Bielinis-Kopeæ, who proved to be invaluable allies, frequently working on their own initiative.
In the meantime, though actually at the right time, in February 2003, a letter arrived from dr Brigitte Reuter and Antje Neumann. They were working on a research project entitled 'Henry van de Velde - List of Works' by the Foundation of Weimar Classics. The letter was addressed to the Country - Lovers' Association Sulechów - ¦wiebodzin (Züllichau - Schwiebus) and inquired about the fate of the sanatorium in Trzebiechów. Since after WWI my grandfather was the founder of the Country - Lovers' Association for the former county of Sulechów - ¦wiebodzin (Züllichau - Schwiebus) and for years was its Chairman, the letter was addressed to me. This is how contact with Weimar was established. In April 2003 I went to Weimar for the first time to present all documents and photographs of Trzebiechów in my possession. Among those was a small leaflet concerning the sanatorium, most probably one of Henry van de Velde's designs. A little later, in May 2003, we made a trip to Trzebiechów, which resulted in official confirmation of the originality of the design and putting it on Henry van de Velde's list of works. Our further activity met with great support from the Office of the Zielona Góra County Governor, the Lubuskie Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments, the Commune Governor, the director of the Nursing Home, Belgian embassies in Berlin and Warsaw, Polish embassy in Berlin as well as received international press and television coverage. In October 2003 - almost exactly 4 years ago - the first scientific conference '100 Years of Henry van de Velde in Trzebiechów' was held.
In August 2004 Arte Television broadcast the first programme on Henry van de Velde's newly - discovered work of art.
August 2004 saw the establishment of the Association for Renovation and Revitalization of Henry van der Velde's Work chaired by the director Agnieszka Szel±g, with its seat in the current Nursing Home.
In October 2004 in Museum Bröhan a discussion evening was held, during which papers were delivered by experts from Poland, Belgium and Germany. There was no end to the sensation when the first painting patterns were discovered. They are the largest original preserved paiting patterns by van de Velde - 8 different motifs altogether. They were presented to the public in February 2006.
This is how our bilingual book 'Henry van de Velde in Poland' completes the project (started in 2004) on the famous interior designer's only work in Poland. On 25 th October this year, which marks the 50 th anniversary of van de Velde's death, the book will be published and his newly-discovered work could be appreciated. The numerous conferences on Henry van de Velde held here will certainly make a name for Trzebiechów as a place associated with this universal artist and an eminent propagator of Secession in the world of art.
Therefore, today - 5 years after the re - discovery - I would like to express my thanks and appreciation for the meticulous efforts aimed at restoring and renovating this exceptional work of art.
May I give special thanks to the County Governor, Mr Edwin £azicki as well as his predecessor, Mr Krzysztof Romankiewicz, the Lubuskie Provincial Conservator of Monuments, Mrs Barbara Bielinis - Kopeæ, the director of the Nursing Home, Mrs Agnieszka Szel±g, the Commune Governor of Trzebiechów, Mr Stanis³aw Drobek, and naturally to professor Dariusz Markowski, an expert in pattern painting by Henry van de Velde. I also wish to thank Belgian experts on van de Velde, who supported us with their expertise.
Special thanks go to the German Forum for the Culture of Central and Eastern Europe in Potsdam, which made the publication of this book possible. The Forum is being represented today by the director, dr Klaus Harer and Mr Thomas Schulz, who, as a specialist in art and culture in Poland, has worked with great dedication to bring the project to a successful end.
What would the book be without our ladies: prof. Ma³gorzata Omilanowska, Barbara Bielinis - Kopeæ, dr Brigitte Reuter and Antje Neumann. Let me thank all of you for your contribution in the preservation of this unique German - Polish - Belgian cultural heritage in Trzebiechów!
My dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
Would you please allow me to depart for a while from the subject of Henry van de Velde in Trzebiechów. It is quite possible that somewhere in Poland, buried in oblivion, there are other undiscovered works of art by Henry van de Velde. With a watchful eye, you may contribute to the discovery of yet another of van de Velde's works of art.
In a small German town of Niesky, north of Görlitz, just a few kilometers from the Polish - German border, a building firm specializing in wooden structures operated until 1945. At that time, the firm, Christoph & Unmack,was the biggest and the most important producer of prefabricated wooden structures, with branches in f.ex. Wroc³aw, Gliwice, Katowice, Szczecin and Gdañsk. One of the designers of the houses and of their interiors was Henry van de Velde. As yet, however, not a single house designed by him has been found. Perhaps, on your travels you will happen to encounter one of those unusual houses. Perhaps one of them is already under the protection of the conservator of monuments, only its designer remains unknown.
Help us find a house like that. It would greatly enrich Henry van de Velde's already varied artistic output and would mean another discovery in Poland!
Thank you for your attention!
