Zunfthaus zur Meisen

The Guildhall zur Meisen at Muensterhof is one of the traditional guild houses in Zurich. It is one of the most historically valuable buildings of the old town and houses the porcelain and Fayencensammlung the Swiss National Museum.

History

The building was in 1757 ' built in the style of a representative baroque town palace as a meeting house of the guild to tits on the left bank of the Limmat, in the immediate vicinity of the Women's Cathedral. The original " guild to Winlütten » ( innkeepers ) owned a house in the late Middle Ages to the market street. This was enough in the 18th century the then claims no more, and so the guild by the experienced architect David Morf ( 1700-1773 ) left a Rococo palace in the French style - with courtyard and elegant schmiedeiserenen Gate - built. Paid particular attention to the builders of the interior construction of the representative: The ceiling and wall paintings were painted by Johann Balthasar Bullinger, the Turmkachelöfen by Leonhard punch and Hans Jakob Hofmann and ornate stucco ceiling by the Tyrolean master Johann Schuler. The facade designed in 1755 by the sculptor Franz Ludwig wind.

The origins of the Urania Observatory go on a first observatory back on the roof of the guild house. From this location it was possible the " Astronomical Commission " in 1759 for the first time, to calculate the Culminatio solis and thus the exact location of the Zurich city on the globe.

Gottfried Keller and Ferdinand Hodler included in the 19th century the most prominent guests of the former " Café zur Meisen »; in the 20th century lodged Gustav of Sweden, Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II and Jimmy Carter in the Guildhall zur Meisen. In the building there is still a restaurant business upmarket.

Porcelain and Fayencensammlung

The guild house is one of the seven locations of the Swiss National Museum and houses the porcelain and Fayencensammlung. The permanent exhibition provides an overview of the Swiss porcelain and faience of the 18th century and the development of shapes and designs of tableware and miniatures.

One of the focal points of the exhibition is in the products of the porcelain factory Schooren (1763-1790) in Kilchberg. Changing special exhibitions explain the history and the work of well-known Swiss manufacturer of porcelain or deepen cultural and historical topics, such as the anniversary exhibition " Women, Men and guild world - 250 years Guildhall zur Meisen ».

Trivia

For a sequence of the American television series Chuck, Episode 3: Chuck Versus the Angel of Death, the building (image processing with Scan) no location was the message of the fictitious country " Costa Gravas ". .

Pictures

View from Muensterhof

Detail view of courtyard and wrought iron gate