The diverse and distinguished activities of the Rathgen-Forschungslabor (Rathgen Research Laboratory) are a credit to our staff’s unique competencies. Our work has also grown out of a close cooperation with the collections and institutes of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.
At the laboratory, chemists, physicists, biologists, mineralogists, geologists and conservation scientists work collaboratively on interdisciplinary projects in the field of cultural heritage research. Our overarching objective is to understand and preserve our cultural heritage as a limitless resource of knowledge. As a purely scientific institute at the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, the Rathgen-Forschungslabor seeks to meaningfully contribute to this vision.
The Rathgen-Forschungslabor is the oldest still working museum laboratory in the world. It was founded in 1888 as the Chemistry Laboratory of the Königliche Museen zu Berlin and was later renamed in honour of its first director Friedrich Rathgen, a chemist who specialised in the conservation and analysis of historical objects.
As the heritage science of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, the Rathgen-Forschungslabor provides support and advice on issues related to conservation, art technology and archaeometry. It offers its services not only to the museums in Berlin but also to institutions and organisations across the globe. The laboratory investigates museum objects and materials of all kinds, and conducts research on the preservation of historical monuments and archaeological sites.
As the main point of contact for conservation science at the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, the Rathgen-Forschungslabor is responsible for fundraising and conducting long-term research projects. It also provides services based on its theoretical and methodological expertise to its partners and clients within the Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz (the body that oversees the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin) and beyond.
Thanks to the many competencies at the disposal of the Rathgen-Forschungslabor, the institute has always been well-connected to both national and international research networks. Members of the Rathgen-Forschungslabor also work in various functions for international NGOs such as ICOMOS, ICOM or the DIN/CEN.