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East Asian Works of Art in a Castle in Lower Franconia. The Collection of Count Karl von Luxburg (1872-1956)
Schloss Aschach (Aschach Castle) in Lower Franconia, near Bad Kissingen, was the summer residence for two generations of the Count von Luxburg family. In 1955, the family donated Aschach Castle to the district of Lower Franconia to open it to the public as a museum. Since then, the Graf-Luxburg-Museum (Count Luxburg Museum) has housed the former living quarters of the count's family, along with their impressive collections of European and East Asian art.
Count Friedrich von Luxburg (1829-1905), the former district president of Lower Franconia and Aschaffenburg, acquired Aschach Castle for his family in 1874. As an avid art collector, he furnished the castle with numerous works of art in the following years, predominantly European pieces. However, the Count also purchased individual East Asian works of art from the local art market in Würzburg and Bad Kissingen, which had been produced for export to Europe. Additionally, he received further Japanese and Chinese objects as gifts from his brother and sister. Count Friedrich shared his passion for art with his sons, one of whom was Count Karl von Luxburg (1872-1956).
After studying law, Count Karl initially served in the Prussian judicial and administrative system. Following several postings, he took a different route and transitioned to the diplomatic service. His career saw him stationed in the United States, Italy, the United Kingdom, Egypt, the Tsarist Empire, India, China, and Argentina. During his time in China, he gathered an extensive collection of East Asian artefacts. Count Karl served as a diplomat for the German Empire, which occupied the Kiautschou region in China in 1898, compelling China to sign a so-called protection treaty. He lived in Beijing during 1905/06 and from 1909 to 1912. During this period, he acquired numerous East Asian objects, frequently visiting antique dealers in Hatamen Street (chin. Hada Dajie 哈德门大街) and Soochow Alley (chin. Suzhou Hutong 苏州胡同). Dealers would also come to the legation in Beijing to offer their goods for sale. In the 1920s, Count Karl enriched the furnishings of Aschach Castle with the East Asian antiquities he had collected. His diplomatic activities and art acquisitions in East Asia were significantly influenced by the prevailing currents of colonialism and imperialism.
The virtual exhibition created in 2023 marked a preliminary step in exploring the life of Count Karl von Luxburg and the conditions surrounding the acquisition of his collection. To date, little is known about the specific circumstances of how the collection was acquired, and research is still ongoing.
The collector and the history of Aschach Castle, along with its significant collection of East Asian art, are showcased through 39 objects. Count Karl von Luxburg's extensive travels during his professional career are highlighted with accompanying photographs and letters from his journeys through China. By featuring selected East Asian items from China and Japan, the exhibition offers insight into Count Karl's acquisitions in East Asia and presents examples of the rich history and tradition of Chinese and Japanese arts and crafts.
