© dpa
One display case in the exhibition contains gifts with gold.
© dpa
Many gifts are made of porcelain.
Gold creations, bears, or porcelain figurines: when international politicians, crowned heads, or other celebrities visit Berlin on official visits to the Red City Hall, they often bring gifts with them.
500 of them, spanning more than seven decades, are now on display in a new permanent exhibition. Previously, some of them had been lying dormant in the town hall attic for a very long time.
The exhibition is entitled " Berlin Unpacks – Gifts from 75 Years" and was opened by Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU). Interested visitors can view it free of charge during the opening hours of the Red City Hall, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The exhibition was put together by the Berlin City Museum. According to reports, many of the gifts can no longer be attributed to specific visitors or exact dates of visits because this information was not documented. They are therefore sorted by country, for example. The eye-catcher is a collection of artistic pieces made of real gold. Some of the most bizarre items are the various versions of Berlin bears that guests brought with them. One of the display cases shows a changing selection of current gifts.