Term

A facsimile is a copy or reproduction of a document of historical value.
A high-quality facsimile differs from other forms of reproduction not only in its content, shape and coloration but also in its conservation. Discolorations caused by age, traces of usage and damages are also remade.

FIELDS OF APPLICATION

Original documents are often too valuable or sensitive to be exhibited. Sometimes they got lost over the years and do not exist any more. In such cases facsimiles offer the opportunity to allow the public and scientific research access to these historical documents.

IN MUSEUMS AND EXHIBITIONS

when the climatic and conservational conditions for a presentation of original documents are not adequate and their improvement exceeds the available budget
when the necessary original documents needed for a presentation are lent or not available because of conservational reasons
when the original is lost and there is only an illustration available
when the safety of the documents cannot be guaranteed, for instance at traveling exhibitions

IN COMPANIES

when documents and papers from public or private archives are needed for the presentation of a long-standing company tradition and their permanent lending is impossible
when the originals of valuable and unique documents are safely stored and protected in the company but should be permanently exhibited in a special room belonging to the company ( at low expense)

FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES

when you found some important historical documents regarding your family in archives while searching for your family tradition and you would like to offer to give up these ones to other family members
when you are descended from a wealthy noble lineage and would like to present the document verifying your nobility but do not possess the original
when manuscripts of your ancestors are stored in public archives and you would like to present them also in your personal sphere

SERVICES

Facsimilation of documents and papers as single sheets or sewings on the basis of digital prints
Reproduction of all original and authentic characteristics as folds, discolorations caused by age and stains and chips like holes etc.
Reproduction of seals in bees wax, sealing wax or lead seal
Reproduction of cords, ribbons , seal tins etc

Precondition is a digital pattern of the original in high resolution with exact measurements as well as a detailed description of the material and specific characteristics.

For a high color authenticity color coordination with the original or one of the client´s prefered color swatch is needed.
As a prerequisite for the estimate the client´s demands on the facsilmile should be expressed after previous consultation.

References

ArchaeoMontan (Wendy Eixler, Manager of the Exhibition)

The touring exhibition Silberrausch und Berggeschrey – archeology of the medieval mining in Saxony and Bohemia is the final highlight of the German – Czech Target 3 Project Archaeo Montan promoted by the EU. It is shown in the Ore Mountains Museum in Dippoldiswalde Castle from 24 October 2014 till 29 March 2015.

In this exhibition a document of Margrave Otto of Meissen about the borders of the cloister Altzella in 1185 is displayed. It is the only known document showing silver mining in the Ore Mountains and their foothills in the 12 century. Unfortunately, due to conservational and safety- related efforts it is not possible to show the original. The facsimile of the document made by Einhart Grotegut in combination of digital print process and crafted reworking is of such an extremely high quality that it cannot be distinguished from the original. So we owe Grotegut a debt of gratitude that this document that is so important for medieval mining can be exhibited in form of this brilliant facsimile.

Wendy Eixler, M.A.
Manager of the Exhibition

Albrechtsburg Meißen
Burg Eltz
Bürgerverein Konradsreuth e. V.
Erzdiözese München
Festung Königstein

Kreismuseum Oranienburg

Oranienburg
May 11, 2016

In the year 2016 the town Oranienburg celebrates the 800 anniversary of its first documentary mention. In honour of this occasion the museum of the district Oberhavel opens the exhibition 800 years of Boetzow/ Oranienburg in Oranienburg Castle.

The first part of the exhibition is dedicated to the Middle Ages, here the document of Bishop Siegfried II from Brandenburg is the most important exhibit.
It mentions not only Oranienburg as Bothzowe but also nine other places in the today´s federal state of Brandenburg for the first time.

The original document is stored in the archives of the cathedral chapter Brandenburg/Havel , so from a conservation perspective it can neither be borrowed nor exhibited.

For this reason we decided on a facsimile by Einhart Grotegut.

The result is extraordinary and looks strikingly similar to the original document. With excellent craftsmanship Einhart Grotegut reproduced the mentioned document true to scale, down to the last detail. This high-quality facsimile is the main exhibit in the mentioned part of the exhibition, attracts the visitors´attention and is object of their admiration.

Manuela Vehma
Museum´s director of the district museum Oberhavel

The Cultural Historic Museum Magdeburg

Landesamt für Archäologie Sachsen
Museum Burg Schönfels
Museumsverein Gemünden (Wohra) e. V.

Museum Hameln

The town of Hamelin is world known for the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin and that´s why there is a special permanent exhibition in our museum. In addition there is the special exhibition Pied Piper International, on the traces of the Pied Piper from 26 June 2020 till 26 June 2021. It deals with the national as well as international spreading of the legend.

For this we were very pleased to have got the Catena Aurea from the 15 century as a 3 months loan from the council library Lübeck, the Ratsbibliothek Lübeck. As this manuscript is the oldest preserved source for the Pied Piper and so of very high importance, a facsimile of the both relevant pages in a suitable corpus should be made. The aim was to replace the original by a facsimile and exhibit it in the permanent exhibition.

During the first preliminary talk Mister Grotegut accepted our needs to our complete satisfaction. He found a suitable book and adapted it to the size of the original book which he could fit the both pages into. So it was not necessary to make a facsimile of the complete manuscript and our costs were considerably reduced. We are highly satisfied with Mister Grotegut´s work and the fast processing.

Also for future projects we would like to take him into consideration at any time.

Stefan Daberkow
Curator
Museum Hamelin

Sächsisches Staatsarchiv Chemnitz
St. Gotthardkirchgemeinde Brandenburg an der Havel
smac – Staatliches Museum für Archäologie Chemnitz

State-owned Palaces, Castles and Gardens non-profit close corporation

As an important institution of all Saxon museums the state–owned Palaces, Castles and Gardens of Saxony non-profit close corporation places great demands on the transfer of knowledge by museums. In our exhibitions we therefore pay attention to authentic objects. Because of conservational reasons especially scripts with diverse sealings cannot be shown very often.

Einhart Grotegut`s photothermal facsimile production technique connecting digital printing processes and excellent craftsmanship is an alternative much better than a simple duplicate. In comparison to traditional facsimile reproduction done by restorers Grotegut´s technique is not only less expensive but the display of the products does not need any special climatic conditions. We are glad about the opportunity to use this special technique for our exhibitions.

Dr. Dirk Welich
Deputy Head

State-owned Palaces, Castles and Gardens non-profit close corporation

Albrechtsburg Meissen

Stolpen Castle

Stolpen Castle exhibits two documents about the beginning of its history; from the first half of the 13 century, the first mentioning of Stolpen by documents in 1222 and from the first mentioning of the castle in a document of 1227.

Both documents are hand-made facsimiles of high quality made by the artist Einhart Grotegut from Dresden. For the reproduction only a digital photo with high resolution as well as the measures of the original document are needed. These prerequisites are very favorable in the face of the limited access to the original documents and their handling without touching them. Especially the three-dimensional molding of seals, without any cast only with the help of a photo, is done in an astonishing craftsmanship, which the aura of the Gothic era comes alive again with and which is in favor of the atelier´s historic concept of time.

The facsimiles of Einhart Grotegut represent an astonishingly reasonable option to a more lavishly restored replica.

Jens Gaitzsch
Curator Burg Stolpen
Staatliche Schlösser, Burgen und Gärten Sachsen gemeinnützige GmbH

Schloss Colditz
Schloss Nossen
Schloss Pillnitz
Schloss Weesenstein

Stadtarchiv Bochum
Stadtarchiv Chemnitz
Stadtarchiv Dresden

Stadtarchiv Freiberg

Stadtmuseum Meißen
Stadtverwaltung Kamenz
Stiftung Deutsches Hygiene-Museum

CONTACT

Einhart Grotegut
Alte Meißner Landstraße 67 01157 Dresden

Telefon: +49 (0)351 422 33 01
Telefax: +49 (0)351 422 33 02
E-Mail: grotegut.e@web.de

Facsimile – Einhart Grotegut

Term

FIELDS OF APPLICATION

SERVICES

Examples

Credityf-zedels

Document of Brandenburg´s Bishop Siegfried II.

Luca Pacioli “Summa de arithmetica …”

Permanent Exhibition

Letter of Indulgence of Bishop Withegos I.

Catena Aurea

The Division of Leipzig

Document of the Ceremonial Enfeoffment

Document of the Pope Bonifaz IX.

Feudal book of Margrave Friedrich III., the Strict of Meissen

Emperor Otto determines the borders of the diocese Meissen

Margrave Heinrich offers the Monastery Marienthal his protection

References

CONTACT