Demmin, August Friedrich

Collector, cultural historian

born: 01.04.1817 in Berlin

died: 17.06.1898 in Wiesbaden

Demmin worked as a merchant in Paris. He collected numerous art objects on his extensive travels through Europe and Asia. He lived in Wiesbaden from 1872, was a member of several art academies and wrote articles for various art journals. He was particularly interested in the ceramics of the Nassau Kannebeck region as well as weaponry. His "Guide des amateurs d'armes et d'armures" from 1869, which was translated into German and became a standard work, and his "Encyclopédie des beaux arts plastiques" (1872) are particularly worthy of mention here. Demmin also wrote literary works such as plays and novels. He donated his extensive collection of decorative arts and fine art to the Wiesbaden Museum.

According to his will, his house and property in Kapellenstraße in Wiesbaden were bequeathed to the German Writers' Association. The "Demmins-Hort" there was to serve as a place of recreation for members of the association. After the end of the First World War, the house was initially occupied and then served as a convalescent home again from 1921-33. Eventually, the association was dissolved and the house and park were sold and became private property. A street in Wiesbaden is named after Demmin.