Virtual exhibition “Donation to the Museum”

At the end of 2019, the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation received an outstanding gift – a total of 298 cultural and historical items belonging to the Grosvalds-Grīnbergs family, one of the most prominent Latvian families in 19th-20th century Riga.

The virtual exhibition provides a brief insight into the range of gifts received, which includes a group of Biedermeier-style furniture, English faience dinnerware, applied arts and household items, books with dedication entries, a luxurious illustrated edition of the Bible, photo albums, Christmas tree decorations, rare children’s toys – coloured toy soldiers and other items used in the family, in grandfather Fr. Grosvalds’ nine-room apartment on Teātra Boulevard 2 (today – Aspazijas Boulevard 20), as well as in Mērija Grīnberga’s art salon on the first floor of the building.

The family of Grosvalds-Grīnbergs: Frīdrihs Grosvalds (lawyer, diplomat), Jānis Grīnbergs (pastor), Mērija Grīnberga, senior, b. Grosvalde (ethnographer), brothers Jāzeps Grosvalds (painter) and Oļģerts Grosvalds (diplomat), Emanuels Grīnbergs (researcher), Mērija Grīnberga, junior, (museologist, participated in the safe-keeping of the valuables of Latvian museums and archives at the end of the Second World War).

Set of business cards. 1930s

Stamp with initials “M. G.”. Late 19th/ early 20th cent.

The Grosvalds family photo album. 1860s -1890s

“Sprīdītis” by Anna Brigadere. Illustrated by Janis Rozentāls. Riga: J. Brigaders’ publishing house, 1904

“The Path of Pain” by Kārlis Skalbe. Illustrated by Erna Geistaute.  1940s

“Loaf of Bread”. A Latvian folk tale. Illustrated by Erna Geistaute. 1940s

Wall plate. Artist A. Cīrulis, 1910

Plate. Great Britain, Staffordshire, “T. C. Brown-Westhead, Moore & Co.”, latter half of the 19th cent.

Spaniel figurine. Great Britain, Staffordshire, “T. C. Brown-Westhead, Moore & Co.”, latter half of the 19th cent.

Coaster. Artist M. Zaurs. 1944

Coaster. P. Bēms’ tiles factory, Latvia. 1930s

Toys, coloured toy soldier figurines. Europe, early 20th cent.

Toys, coloured toy soldier figurines. Europe, early 20th cent.

Ansis Cīrulis (1883-1942). Sketch of a national-style playing card. 1926. Paper, pencil, watercolour, gouache, Indian ink