Now that the Grand Ballroom and the Proposition Hall have been recreated as they appeared in the mid-nineteenth century, the second floor, or bel étage, of the Residenzschloss is at last complete. This adds a fitting final touch to the permanent exhibitions of the Rüstkammer, which have been planned and inaugurated over many years. Numerous objects in the collection have been extensively restored. The works of art are among the most precious testimonies to European festival culture and centuries of courtly display.
As in the time of the Dresden court, the English Staircase now leads once again to a unique suite of impressive interiors: from the Riesensaal with its tournament scenes, through the recreated Queen’s Audience Chamber and the magnificent Small Ball room, to the Grand Ballroom containing striking remnants of its original décor, thence via the light-filled Porcelain Cabinet and the dignified Proposition Hall to the Baroque State Apartments of August the Strong.
In the Grand Ballroom, the pageantry, masquera des and tournaments of the sixteenth to eighteenth cen turies are brought to life through lavish accoutrements, sumptuous costumes, and ceremonial weapons. A spec tacular highlight is the Sun Mask of August the Strong. Gilded helmets, silver armour, and horses decked out in luxurious trappings evoke the splendour of Baroque courtly festivities.
For over 200 years, the Tower Room was the most prestigious showroom for Meissen porcelain. Alongside silver candlesticks and exquisite vases from China and Japan, August the Strong showcased the finest products from his manufactory on gilded consoles set against red lacquered and mirrored walls.
The wood-panelled Propositionssaal (Proposition Hall) provides the backdrop for iconic symbols of power, the insignia of electors and kings. The exhibits range from the original electoral hat and the royal Polish coronation regalia to items associated with dignitaries of the Saxon monarchy. The presentation thus ties in with the history of this room: it was here in 1831 that the first Saxon constitution was proclaimed, paving the way for democracy and modernity.
