History

The The Röhsska Museum of  Design and Decorative Arts was given its current appearance in 1961. The original building, clad in red, hand-made brick, designed by Carl Westman, was completed in 1916 when the museum was opened to the public. The articles of association of the museum were adopted by Göteborg City in 1904. The financial foundation was a donation from the estate of Wilhelm Röhss in 1901, and in the ensuing years, further donations were made by people including his brother, August Röhss.

The first collections consisted of older Swedish and European handicraft. A collection of Japanese objects was soon added and in 1912-13 Thorild Wulff, the botanist, made a collection journey to China on behalf of the museum. Several of the objects he obtained still have a prominent position in the museum.

Axel Nilsson was the Röhsska Museum's first curator in 1914, but as an advisor to the board, he had already contributed to designing the building as a functional and living museum. Axel Nilsson was also one of the people who promoted Thorild Wulff's journey to China.

During the 1920's, the museum began to collect unique handicraft objects. In 1937, an exhibition hall designed by Melchior Wernstedt was added to the building. As exhibition activities and collections expanded, the need for new premises increased and in the 1950's an extension was planned which resulted in the design hall and the  Brolid hall, which took its name from Sven Brolid, architect of the latest extension.
The University College of Arts & Crafts Design is located on the site adjacent to the Röhsska Museum. It was originally called the Slojd Society School, was already established when the museum was set up, and the two and the two institutions have always enjoyed close collaboration.

Photo: Röhsska museet




Photo: Röhsska museet.