Ochsenkopf und Meerjungfrau: Exploring Medieval Watermarks at Schottenstift Museum

This special exhibition explores the history and significance of watermarks in medieval paper production. It delves into the motifs used, their reproduction methods from tracing to radiography, and their importance in manuscript research.

The exhibition 'Ochsenkopf und Meerjungfrau' (Ox's Head and Mermaid) sheds light on 'Watermarks of the Middle Ages.' Since the production of paper in Europe began, watermarks have been an integral part of it. This exhibition investigates how these marks were incorporated into paper, the various motifs employed, and their crucial role in the study of manuscripts. Methods for reproducing watermarks, ranging from simple tracing to advanced radiographic imaging, are presented. The exhibition also showcases how these watermarks are displayed in both printed and digital formats. Originating from a long-standing collaboration between the Commission for Script and Book Studies of the Middle Ages and the Main State Archive Stuttgart, which houses the world's largest online watermark database, this exhibition was previously shown in Stuttgart and is slated for international showings in Italy and Great Britain. The exhibition is also part of a research project that has examined numerous paper manuscripts from the Schottenstift archive for their watermarks. The findings have been integrated into the 'Watermarks of the Middle Ages' database, with a new version of the database, enabling queries of these results, launched concurrently with the exhibition opening.

Opening hours are Thursday to Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm. A catalog is available for purchase via email from the Klosterladen for 10 Euros plus shipping. Further details on ordering can be obtained from [email protected]. Admission details beyond opening hours are not specified on this page beyond it being a museum exhibition venue of the Schottenstift Museum and its collaborators, Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart and Kommission für Schrift- und Buchwesen des Mittelalters, ÖAW.