Schatzkammer and the Freud Museum

Before Prague, we visited the Freud Museum. Seeing as we're studying Freud at the moment, it seemed appropriate. Freud was convinced his notoriety would exempt him from serious damage from the annexation of Austria and Germany; to his dismay, he was questioned within a few days. After a scare, his followers raised enough money for him to purchase the ability to flee the country. Leaving for London with all their belonging, the Nazi's quickly seized his rather large flat. It rooms were filled with Jews before their deportation to concentration camps. It was eery and disturbing to walk those rooms knowing who inhabited them and what their fate was. Dually, Freud himself living there added another dimension of oddity.

 His game chest.

A self portrait. Always revealing of one's perception of one's self.

 His original office sign.

 His famous hat. Previously, a visiting Freud enthusiast nicked the hat from the museum. A few years later it was shipped back from America. Supposedly, the thief suffered great guilt and went to see, ironically, a psychoanalyst, whom convinced him giving back the hat would alleviate his guilt. It did.

Freud collected small Grecian and Roman statuettes. He called them his "dirty gods" and after acquiring a new one would carry it around with him everywhere. At meals, it would be placed in front of him, and silence was expected so he could adequately contemplate.

His parlor

In front of his desk, he hung a mirror. What a startling and symbolic thing to do. The tour guide mentioned his brief addiction to cocaine. Being curious as to it's effects, Freud ordered cocaine from Germany and experimented on himself. It's debated if he ever stopped, but he freely suggested it to his friends. A fellow colleague who was actually addicted to morphine was convinced by Freud to try cocaine to help him stop taking morphine. The colleague became addicted to both, and died from substance abuse.

After a quick tour, we headed for the Schatzkammer. Originally, we were to have no tour of the treasury, but the tour guide from the Kunsthistoriches museum was enchanted with our group and offered to do a tour. I was rather chagrined since I had planned to do this by myself, and more so as she marched by rooms of the biggest diamonds, opals, rubies, and emeralds I had ever seen. Consistent with her last tour, she had her own opinions about what we would find fascinating.

 These are the crown and scepter of the Austria-Hungary Empire. Crafted in the 1630s in Prague, the above jewels were splendid.

Various robes. The embroidery on this was exquisite.

The coronation robe and sword. Sword dates back to Roman times. There were numerous tabards, a kind of smock for the senschels of the rulers some dating back to the 16th century. They were stunning.

This was a gift to Emperor Napoleon upon the birth of his son. There were golden bees all over the cradle, which were ancient symbols of the French Merovingian ruling line. The eagles were also symbolic but I zoned out while she was talking. In my defense, diamonds the size of my fist were in the next room. I could see the glitter!

See? Pretty.

This robe was created in the 10th century. I couldn't believe what I was hearing!

This is the Holy Roman Empire Crown. Created the middle ages, the stones are not faceted. Several panels depict Christian scenes etched in gold. It was beautiful.

 The jewelry was breathtaking. To possess such wealth is mind boggling. I think could manage however. In a fitting gesture, the schatzkammer is within the oldest part of the Hofburg, where the kings that wore such jewels lived.