G. MATTHAES FAMILY

AT THE SERVICE OF ART
 
  

HISTORY

The Matthaes are an old family of the art city of Dresden, which around 1900 became a hub of modern European painting.

In 1906 the Gertrude Matthaes - Walter Kurau couple founded a school of painting.
   

 

 

 

The Matthaes-Kurau family in the garden of the Dresden school (1914)

  

 

The school was attended by well-known painters in search, above all, of new inspiration, but also attracted by the city’s African Art Museum, one of the first and foremost ethnological museums in Europe. The School also accumulated a substantial African teaching collection, which has survived and today constitutes the nucleus of the homonymous exhibition at the Museo d'Arte e Scienza in Milan.  

 

 

 

A part of the African collection before the Museum’s opening in Milan

 

In 1927, following the trend set by the painters themselves, the school moved to Berlin where the Matthaes established close contacts with the city’s archaeological  circles.


 

In 1930 M./K. were commissioned to decorate the great walls of the famous Pergamon Museum in Berlin.

 

It was during this period that the school put together a didactic collection on Graeco-Roman and Etruscan art, part of which on exhibit in the Milan Museum and declared by decree of 5.5.1997 of the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Environment a “Collection of exceptional historical and cultural interest”.

 

 

 

A part of the collection of excavated pottery before the Museum’s opening

 

After the death of the founders, the collections were assigned to their sole heir: Gottfried Matthaes.

 

In 1949, G. M., a physicist, whilst collaborating with Siemens Germany, discovered a technique for printing conductive mixtures onto ceramic substrates to create electrical resistors, conductors and condensers, better known as printed circuits (the first chip). Together with an Italian partner, he set up a factory near Milan to produce in series the world’s first chips, which were mounted in great quantities in the radios of the leading Italian brands. Italy – not America or Japan – was thus the first country to use the new technology until 1958, the year semiconductors were invented.

 
The factories of the family group (LARES, COZZI and RESCO) were also the first in Europe to develop and produce a new type of “printed circuit” to be found today in every kind of electronic apparatus.

 

  

The first chips assembled in a Telefunken radio (Italy 1956)

  

A printed circuit board celebrating the 50 years of Lares production in 1999


 

The manufacturing of an entirely new product required new machinery which had to be designed, built and delivered worldwide by the above group of Companies.

 
Two large production lines for etching printed circuit boards delivered to a German factory  
(Resco - Matthaes 1970)

 

G.M.’s interest in art was unceasing, however, and grew contemporaneously with his industrial commitment. This marriage of physics, science and art led Gottfried Matthaes to leave his industrial activities in 1990 to concentrate on a theme he felt to be of prime importance: the scientific determination of authenticity in art.


The boom in demand for authentic antiques and their waning supply has forced the market to admit a growing quantity of copies and fakes.

G.M.'s Family in 1977		  

 

 

 

 

 

The research for a new age-dating method was begun in 1980 because existing methods, the C14 method and dendrochronology, owing to their well-known intrinsic limitations, could not provide certain results for the scientific dating of the approximately 1,000 wood antiques belonging to the present Museo d'Arte e Scienza. This situation was common to almost everyone who has anything to do with antiques.

 

In 1990 G. M. acquired an 18-room exhibition space in the Bonacossa Palace in Piazza Castello in Milan to open up a museum called the “Didactic Museum for the Ascertainment of Authenticity in Antiques”, which, in the course of time, changed its name to “The Art Collectors’ Museum” and finally to “Museo d'Arte e Scienza” remaining, up to now, the only museum in the world dedicating itself to this important subject, i.e. authenticity in art.

 

 


The Sforzesco Castle and Palazzo Bonacossa, Milan


 

The affinity of views and intentions shared with Leonardo da Vinci, famed both as an artist and scientist, led to the decision in 2003 to devote three of the Museum’s rooms to the presentation and illustration of Leonardo’s most significant work: the “Treatise on Painting”. Leonardo jotted down his ideas on hundreds of pieces of paper which were gathered, after his death, in the “Treatise”, considered the most important book ever written on art, but little known because of its scant readability. The exhibition sets out to make the original Treatise more accessible, limiting itself to rearranging the subjects, shortening the text, avoiding the numerous repetitions and illustrating the salient concepts on painting and sculpture.

In 2004 three other rooms were dedicated to the 20 years of intense activity carried out by the great Master in Milan: "Leonardo Da Vinci Citizen of Milan"

 

 

Gottfried Matthaes’ current activity is focused on perfecting the already existent Scientific Laboratory of the Museum, dedicated to new methods and techniques for the study of antique art works.

 

 
 

A scientific laboratory at the service of art


The Museum laboratory’s mission is to improve existing scientific methods and elaborate new methods for the ascertainment of the authenticity of art objects. The laboratory’s instruments and know-how for determining authenticity are at the disposal of collectors, art experts, restorers, art galleries and museums.
(The staff of the laboratory, who speak the main European languages, are at your disposal for any explanations).

A collection of art objects is generally an assortment of authentic items, copies and fakes. Today, more than ever before, buying art is considered also an investment for the future. Therefore determination of authenticity by state-of-the-art scientific methods can offer every collection a guarantee for the future and contribute to bringing transparency to the market.

But there is an understandable tendency for dealers, including auctioneers and institutes at the service of the market, to be sceptical about the recent conquests of science in most cases.
 

The laboratory of the Museo d'Arte e Scienza is a non-profit facility and is independent from every point of view.
 


 

Tests carried out by the laboratory:
 

 

Spectroscopic dating and characterization of wooden objects

  

Microscopic tests on paintings, antique bronzes, excavated pottery, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

Examination of underlying layers using infrared reflectography

 

Analyses of paint layers with a duroflexometer

 

Analyses with Wood’s light, UV and IR

 

FURTHER ANALYSES PERFORMED IN THE LABORATORY:

Spectroscopic chemical analyses on pigments, glues, encrustations, patinas, products of corrosion. Scientific, practical and instrumental tests of authenticity on: ivory, amber, archaeological glass, pigments, metals, stones, carpets, tapestry, prints, books, clocks and watches, china.

 

WHAT IS MORE, in the Museum rooms there are 9 interactive test stations
at the disposal of visitors for simple tests for ascertaining the authenticity of antiques.

test station room 8:
sniff test on excavated pottery

test station room 9:
test for revealing use of plastic

identification of glues and other synthetic materials with Wood’s light

test station room 9: examination with a magnifying glass of signs of wear and decorations on china

 

optical examination of signs of wear to identify an authentic piece of silverware

shadows reveal the industrial or handcrafted manufacture of glass

the microscope distinguishes authentic patinas and encrustations from faked ones

the dull sound of a porcelain item reveals hidden restoration work
 

For more information contact:
Dr. Chem. Peter Matthaes (laboratory director) or Silvia Mayer (customer contacts)
Tel. 0039-02-72022488  -  Fax. 0039-02-72023156 -  Email: info@museoartescienza.com

 

PRICES: the average cost of analyses is Euro 100 per test; some tests are conclusive in telling fake and authentic items apart, such as wood dating and tests on the encrustations on pottery and bronzes.

 

 

 

NOW OPERATIVE !

Branch of the Milan scientific laboratory for determining the authenticity
of valuable antique art objects


The announced laboratory in Germany to serve central Europe is
now operative for the taking of samples from wooden objects to be dated and for the issuing of certificates.
 
 Please contact Dr. Martin Matthaes
 +49 (0) 173/5853707 - mm@museoartescienza.com
 Uferstrasse 27 D-88149 Nonnenhorn

The house, which has belonged to the Matthaes Foundation (Museo d’Arte e Scienza) for 45 years, is situated on the shores of Lake Constance, near Lindau.
 

Other requests may be sent, as always, directly to the Milan laboratory at the following address:

Museo d’Arte e Scienza
Via Q. Sella 4 – 20121 Milano
Tel. 0039 02 72022488
Fax 0039 02 72023156
e-mail: info@museoartescienza.com

  
 

For further info:  

www.Museoartescienza.com     www.AntiqueFurnitureAuthenticity.com
www.Spectroscopyforart.com        www.AfricanArtAuthenticity.com and other sites

 


 

THE FOUNDERS AND STAFF
of the Museo d’Arte e Scienza

   
 
   
 

Gottfried Matthaes
 Founder

Giovanna Cozzi Matthaes
 Co-founder

  
 
     

Dott. Chim. Peter Matthaes
 Lab. Director and CTU

 Patrizia Matthaes
 Administration		 Silvia Mayer
 Languages and Communication		 Dott. Martin Matthaes
German Lab Director
 
     
  Chiara Civardi
First lab assistant		 Marta Cugnasca
 Data processing		  

 

 



 

Books written by G. Matthaes during the past 30 years
 
   

1972 Die Philosophie des Interregnums

1973 Die Philosophie der Verantwortung

1978 Pre-Roman Pottery
 


Two small books published in German in a limited edition on the theme “The responsibility of man in times of uncertain religious guidance ”.

  

Published in English, 180 pages with numerous photos and brief scientific descriptions of the excavated objects of the Kurau-Matthaes collection.
 

 

 

1979
How to Recognize
an authentic antique vase

1994 - 2001
The Art Collector’s
Illustrated Handbook

2003
Appreciating Art through
the Eyes of Leonardo
     

A guide in English and German with many detailed photos.

 

Three volumes published in English, German and Italian with 2,000 photos and 530 pages.
 

An abridged edition of the famous “Treatise on Painting” of Leonardo da Vinci. 157 pages and numerous colour photos. In Italian and English.


 

L'arte buddista dell'Asia Orientale   East Asian Buddhist Art

Nuova pubblicazione!
In occasione del ventesimo anniversario dalla fondazione del Museo d'Arte e Scienza, il proprietario G.Matthaes, ha pubblicato il catalogo della collezione d'arte Buddhista.
Oltre 200 immagini di opere d'arte proveniente da tutto l'oriente, in un'opera bilingue (italiano-inglese), dedicata a tutti, appassionati e collezionisti.
                                                                               
     
Bellezza e autenticità nell'arte africana   Beauty and Authenticity in African Art

Oltre duecento grandi fotografie a colori di pregiati oggetti appartenenti alla storica collezione Matthaes, in parte esposti e conservati in cinque sale del Museo d'Arte e Scienza a Milano. 
Unica è la seconda sezione di questo volume, dedicata al riconoscimento dell'autenticità nell'arte africana.
380 pagine in 4 Lingue (Italiano, Inglese, Tedesco e Francese)
                                                          

 

In addition, numerous articles in many magazines around the world publishing detailed reviews regarding scientific methods and the Museum.

 

 

OTHER SITES OF THE MUSEO D'ARTE E SCIENZA:

www.MuseoArteScienza.com - Sections of the "Museo d'Arte e Scienza": 6 rooms dedicated to the ascertainment of authenticity in art and antiques, 5 rooms on Leonardo da Vinci's "Treatise on Painting" and his activities in Milan, 5 rooms dedicated to African Art and Buddhist Art, 2 Scientific Laboratories.

www.LeonardoDaVinciMilano.com - Two permanent exhibitions: "Leonardo Citizen of Milan" and  "Appreciating Art through the Eyes of Leonardo" from his "Treatise on Painting".

www.AuthenticAfricanBronzesandCeramics.com -  Dedicated to the authenticity of African artworks in bronze, stone and pottery. The scientific laboratory of the Museo d’Arte e Scienza has developed valid methods for telling authentic African objects from copies and fakes.

www.ArtAndScienceHandbook.com - The most complete and scientifically valid guide to ascertaining the authenticity of European and non-European antiques on an objective basis (540 pages and more than 2,000 colour illustrations in 3 volumes and 3 languages).

www.Paintingsauthenticity.com - Information on the authenticity of modern paintings and antique paintings.

www.AntiqueFurnitureAuthenticity.com - A list of possible methods for determining the authenticity of furniture based on objective factors.

www.Excavatedartauthenticity.com - "A list of all the possible ways of determining, on the basis of objective factors,  the authenticity of excavated pottery, glass or bronze items from Southern Italy, the Mediterranean Basin, China and South America.".

www.AfricanArtAuthenticity.com - "Art and Life in Black Africa", The African Art didactic section of the Museum (5 rooms and over 350 objects).  

www.SpectroscopyforArt.com - A scientific method for the dating of wood and identification of the wood type used for art objects. Determination of their authenticity through analysis of colours, binders, pigments and other organic substances.  

www.CopiesAndFakesInArt.com - Ample further descriptions for ascertaining authenticity in art in the individual fields of antiques.

www.IvoryAuthenticityAndAge.com - Ivory, bone and horn can now be spectroscopically dated and accurately identified.

 


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Museo d’Arte e Scienza di Gottfried Matthaes S.R.L.
 Sede legale e amministrativa: Via Q. Sella 4 – 20121 Milano
Partita IVA e Codice Fiscale 03191710106
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