The permanent exhibition dedicated to weapons is complete!
Among the permanent collections of the Grand Curtius (Arms, Glass, Decorative Arts, Religious Art and Mosan Art and Archaeology), the Weapons Department occupies a special place, entirely dedicated to one of the most characteristic industries of Liège: the armory.
Initially integrated into the other collections in the main course, this exceptional arsenal deserved to be even more valued.
The reorganization of the weapons department initiated in 2018 is now finalized and ends with the inauguration of the component devoted to knives and protective equipment for military purposes. This section presents weapons ranging from the Final Bronze Age (1,200 ACN) to the present day: swords, swords, knives, bayonets, weapon masses, battle axes, spears, spears, spears, bows, crossbows, chest protectors, helmets, amurs and trading weapons.
It is in the Curtius Palace, jewel of Mosan architecture and former home of the famous armorer and munitioner of Liège, Jean Curtius, alongside the section dedicated to military weapons and civil weapons (hunting and sports shooting) that the new bladed weapons section has moved in.
Gathered in a single emblematic building of the museum, the entire permanent collection of the weapons of the Grand Curtius is to be discovered from November 24, 2023.
Publications: Catalogue and visitor’s guide
The exhibition is accompanied by two publications. The Department of Arms catalogue, as well as a visitor’s guide, The Essentials of the Department of Arms available free of charge at the museum reception.
Catalogue
This book was published on the occasion of the finalization of the redeployment of the weapons collections in the Curtius Palace, inaugurated on November 23, 2023. This initiative of the City of Liège, under the coordination of Loïc Servais, Curator of the Department of Arms of the Grand Curtius and designed in collaboration with the late Claude Gaier, Philippe Joris, Adrien Marnat, Arnaud Thiry and Loïc Servais.
This catalogue is available in English, French, Dutch and German. It is on sale at the Grand Curtius boutique and the La Boverie bookshop for €28.
Department of Arms, Liège, 2023, 235 pages. ISBN : 0978-2-930968-02-5
Visitor’s guide
Make sure to take full advantage of your visit by taking the Essentials of the Department of Arms, this guide containing, as its name suggests, most of the information concerning the permanent collection of the weapons of the Great Curtius. This free visitor’s guide is available on request at the museum reception. It is published in French, Dutch, German and English.
Prices and hours of access to the permanent collections.
Discover some pieces of the new section in the photo gallery above.
Captions and copyright of visuals: from left to right:
Canons and court of the Grand Curtius. © Grand Curtius, City of Liège
Photo 2 to 5 - Visuals of the rooms of the Great Curtius' weapons and protections section, © Grand Curtius, City of Liège
Cuirassier helmet, Belgian model 1843, manufactured by Fonson, Brussels Belgium, 1843. © Grand Curtius, City of Liège
«escoffia» joust helmet reinforcement, Augsburg, Saint-Empire, circa 1550. © Grand Curtius, City of Liège
Viking sword, Europe, 8th 9th century © Grand Curtius, City of Liège
Bombardier stylus, Italy, late 17th century. © Grand Curtius, City of Liège
Spanish Court Sword, Toledo, 1893. © Grand Curtius, City of Liège
Halberd of the bodyguards of Prince Augustus of Saxony (1553-1586). © Grand Curtius, City of Liège
Yatagan, Ottoman Empire, 19th century © Grand Curtius, City of Liège
Rapier by P.P. Rubens, England, 17th century © Grand Curtius, City of Liège
View of a room in the military weapons section of the Grand Curtius. © Grand Curtius, City of Liège
View of a room in the civil weapons section of the Grand Curtius. © Grand Curtius, City of Liège
Curtius Palace and Court of the Grand Curtius. © Grand Curtius, City of Liège