A capsule of German cultural history in London
Art from Dürer to Richter; technology from book printing to VW-Beetles; the renaissance to reunification: "Germany: Memories of a Nation," exhibited at the British Museum, examines German identity over time.
Cult favorite: The VW Beetle
"The New York Times" named the VW-Käfer car a "Beetle" at the world premiere of the vehicle for everyone in 1938. Conceived as an affordable car for widespread use, workers commuted with it daily and managers drove theirs to the opera. Today it's a classic, both in the automotive and cultural realms.
Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire
From the 15th century onward, the crown was housed in Nuremberg - until 1796, when the priceless relic was brought to Vienna to protect it from Napoleon. The crown remained in Vienna until 1938 when Hitler returned it to Nuremberg. In 1946, American soldiers brought the piece back to Vienna, where it has remained ever since. The British Museum is exhibiting one of several replicas.
Floor vase by Grete Marks
Hitler's regime classed this floor vase by ceramic-artist Margarete Marks as "degenerate art," the term it used for works claimed not to fit with Nazi ideology. The artists who created these pieces were subject to sanctions that included being removed from their job and being banned from exhibiting their work. In 1936, after being threatened by the regime, Marks emigrated to Great Britain.
Art from rubble
A symbol for the reconstruction that began in Germany after 1945: This bust, crafted by Max Lachnit, is made of hundreds of pieces of marble and basalt that the artist collected from the destruction littering Dresden's streets.
Meissen porcelain
In the year 1515, Albrecht Dürer created a woodcut of a rhinoceros. Centuries later, a group of craftsmen working for Meissen's famed porcelain manufactory created this piece, using Dürer's original woodcut as a template. Germany is considered the origination point for European porcelain, and the original manufacturer located in the town of Meissen is still in business today.
Iron for the fatherland
"I gave gold for iron" was a Prussian propaganda slogan during Napoleon's invasion in the 19th century. Women were encouraged to exchange their gold for iron to help fund the war efforts. In return, they were given bracelets and rings, often inscribed with the saying, or featuring portraits of King Frederick William III, made from iron - symbols of patriotism at the time.
Citizen of the world: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
This portrait of Goethe, sitting in the Roman Campagna, is the most famous portrait by German artist Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein. Art historical treasures like this illustrate the cultural achievements of the people of Germany.
Faith in Germany
The Luther Bible, the first Bible in the language of the people, was translated by Martin Luther. Courtesy of Gutenberg's printing press, created in the 15th century, fast copying and distribution helped spread the bible throughout Germany. Its dissemination marked a revolution.
Artistry and precision
This astronomical clock - otherwise located inside the Strasbourg Cathedral - proves that time can go by in a beautiful fashion. Works from cities such as Strasbourg, Basel, Kaliningrad and Prague - though no longer belonging to German territory - are also included in the exhibition.
Turning point
"Wendekultur" is a term Germans use for the turning point in their own history marked by the fall of the Berlin Wall. This poster survived demonstrations in the fall of 1989, when East German residents filled the streets demanding German unity. On November 9, 1989, the wall fell as the world looked on. The British Museum in London will show the exhibition from October 16 to January 25, 2015.