Glasmuseum

The Glasmuseum Immenhausen stands in the small town of Immenhausen, on the edge of the Reinhardswald forest near Kassel. It occupies the former generator building of the Süßmuth glassworks, a structure converted for its new purpose in 1987. The museum is run by the town and supported by the ‘Gesellschaft der Freunde der Glaskunst Richard Süßmuth e.V.’ The museum traces glassmaking from its origins in the Near East nearly 6,000 years ago to the forest glasshouses of the 16th century. Its most important piece is a painted electoral goblet from 1597. The exhibition centres on the glass industry in Immenhausen, showing tools, machines and photographs from the local works. It tells how the glassworks moved to Immenhausen in 1898 after being founded in 1809 by two entrepreneurs. Richard Süßmuth’s work links the museum to the glassworks in Penzig, Silesia. After the Second World War he re-established his studio in Immenhausen and created colourless glassware with his distinctive cut designs. The permanent display also covers everyday glass from Art Nouveau to the present, with pieces by major designers. A section is devoted to modern studio glass, including works from the 1960s onwards. The museum hosts the triennial Immenhäuser Glaspreis competition and runs workshops, concerts and talks.