Modern History I

It is a cross-sectional historical collection that predominantly covers the period 1526–1848 with occasional items from the 20th century. It was founded in 1961, but its core is made up of the oldest museum items acquired already in the 19th century, shortly after the museum’s establishment.

What does the collection document?

• City life and administration: economic, social and cultural life of Bratislava, as well as the functioning and transformations of city administration, justice and self-government.

• Crafts and trade: development of the blacksmithing and locksmithing craft from the Modern Era to the 20th century including working tools, historical measures and weights. At the same time, the collection documents visual aspects of trade and public space represented by historical signboards from façades of burgher houses.

Valuable items with supra-regional significance:

• items related to the activities of Bratislava guilds (e. g. seals, chests, vessels or flags),

• a collection of historical flags and textiles from the 18th and 19th centuries,

• a unique collection of shooting targets from 1791–1912,

• historical musical instruments related to the personalities of Johann Nepomuk Hummel and Johann Nepomuk Batka the Elder.