Israel Museum and Theodor Herzl Museum Project

14 pieces from Herzl’s private residence in Vienna, Austria, many dating from the 19th Century and from his parents home in Budapest, Hungary, where he was born, were restored for the Israel Museum and the Theodor Herzl Museum in Jerusalem. All items were in various states of disrepair, and included armchairs, floor-to-ceiling bookcases, large ornate cabinets, a telephone stand, a wooden mail sorting cabinet with letters of the alphabet, an oak chair and the writing table where Herzl penned Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State). Over a period of 7 months missing and broken pieces were fabricated and repaired, damaged surfaces were repaired, and all items were restored to their original condition as they were in Herzl’s home.

Photos at right were taken in the Museum’s storeroom prior to the restoration process.

See David Rapp's article Alt Neuland that appeared in Ha'aretz in January 2004.