Hakone Glass Forest Museum to Host Collection Exhibition "Cabinet of Curiosities Revealed Through Venetian Glass ~The Creation of the World~"

The Hakone Glass Forest Museum (940-48 Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture) will host the collection exhibition "Cabinet of Curiosities Revealed Through Venetian Glass ~The Creation of the World~" starting April 18, 2026.

■Collection Exhibition: Cabinet of Curiosities Revealed Through Venetian Glass ~The Creation of the World~

In the latter half of the 15th century, Italian princes and nobles began to create natural history display rooms, housing flora, fauna, minerals, and crafts from outside Europe, obtained through Eastern trade via Venice. Eventually, as these display rooms became popular throughout Europe, particularly in Germany, they were called "Cabinets of Curiosities" and became the prototype for modern museums and art galleries.
Venetian glass artisans, whose intellectual curiosity was stimulated by objects from unknown worlds, developed new techniques such as glass imitating jewels and minerals, and glass mimicking Chinese white porcelain. The diverse colors and patterns created through these efforts captivated all of Europe, establishing the fame of Venetian glass. This exhibition introduces the "Cabinet of Curiosities" that enthralled royalty, nobility, and literati with the numerous techniques and skills born from the glass artisans' spirit of inquiry.

■Concurrently Held: Takashi Tsuboya Photo Exhibition

The tradition of collecting, which began around the Renaissance period in Venice, shifted its focus from precious items to more curiosity-stimulating objects from the 16th to 17th centuries.
This included costumes from various countries, which also influenced the masquerade costumes of the Venice Carnival.
Even today, many tourists from around the world visit the Venice Carnival, creating a scene reminiscent of the 18th century, a period of cultural maturity.
Photographer Takashi Tsuboya revives the Venice of yesteryear in his photographic works. We will introduce the glamorous atmosphere of the Carnival, which was admired by the upper classes throughout Europe and influenced various arts such as poetry, painting, and theater, through Takashi Tsuboya's photographic works.

Exhibition Period and Other Details

April 18 (Sat) – July 12 (Sun), 2026

Open daily during the exhibition period (temporary closures may occur due to weather)

Opening hours: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM (Last admission at 5:00 PM)
Admission fees: Adults ¥1,800 | University/High School Students ¥1,300 | Elementary/Junior High School Students ¥600

About Hakone Glass Forest Museum

Back to Newsroom (54)