The Glass Chamber. A new display for Palazzo Madama

Ten years after the reopening of the Palazzo Madama, the Glass and Ivory Gallery – one of the most precious in the museum, with about 400 decorative artefacts of all types – has been completely renovated. Thanks to the support of the Rotary Club Torino, the gallery has been transformed into a modern Wunderkammer, an authentic cabinet of wonders with blown, painted and gilded glass from ancient times through to the nineteenth century, today presented in a particularly clear manner. The objects are now arranged in thematic displays, and the lighting and internal layout of the showcases have been changed, as have the supports and the graphics, and we have also added new panels explaining the techniques and stories of the objects. Even the works themselves are not exactly what they were ten years ago. During this period, new scientific research and analysis of the glass, enamel and ivory artefacts in this gallery have made it possible to reassess the selection of works on display, adding some stunning new pieces that have been taken out from storage and subjected to special restoration. The partial dimming of the large windows and the exhibition of the grand Murano chandelier – purposely hung at a low height to allow close examination –  both aim at creating a special atmosphere in the Gallery.

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