Temporary Exhibition at the Lobkowicz Palace: From Inkwell to Typewriter

Writing Shaped History. And with it, so did the tools that captured human thought, from wax tablets to ornate fountain pens. The new temporary exhibition "From Inkwell to Typewriter" at the Lobkowicz Palace offers more than just a visual appreciation of writing instruments. It traces their transformation from everyday tools into cultural artifacts. The exhibition features inkwells, quills, seals, and other desk accessories that once ruled the writing table—objects that often bore witness to pivotal decisions, personal confessions, and historical turning points.

It's organized into six thematic sections, ranging from delicate 19th-century porcelain and ceramic inkwells to quirky pieces shaped like a chicken's head or stylized purple seashells from the Mannerist period. One highlight is the hand-carved writing set of Franz Joseph Maximilian von Lobkowicz, a testament to the Christian humility reflected in the prince's woodcarving hobby. Also on display is the pen once used by the ill-fated Crown Prince Rudolf, son of Emperor Franz Joseph I, during a visit to Roudnice.

The exhibition is a reminder that—even in the digital age—there’s something irreplaceable about the written word, crafted by hand.

Curated by: Mgr. Petr Slouka, Ph.D., Curator of the Lobkowicz Music Archive

Paper, Pen, Personalities – Letters from Remarkable Figures

But handwriting doesn’t just tell us what was said, it often reveals who said it, and why. That’s why the exhibition includes a special section devoted to the autographs of famous figures whose words once held the power to shape the world.

Among the letters on display are original manuscripts written by the Sun King Louis XIV, Rudolf II, Goethe, and Antonio Salieri—documents that connect towering figures of European culture and politics across centuries.

The original letters, from the extensive Lobkowicz archive—which holds over 1.5 kilometers of historical documents—will be regularly rotated for conservation reasons. A different letter will be exhibited each time, for a total of four showings.

In the Office of Max Lobkowicz

From the writings of centuries past, the exhibition flows naturally into more recent history. Specifically, the 20th century and the personal world of Maxmilian Erwin Lobkowicz, a prominent diplomat and devoted servant of the young Czechoslovak Republic. His desk was more than a place for paperwork—it was a bridge between nations, art, and politics.

This part of the exhibition invites you into his office, where you can view personal and official documents, letters, and photographs capturing his daily interactions with figures like Edvard Beneš and Jan Masaryk. Here, the pen, pencil, and typewriter become witnesses to a time when words—carefully chosen and written—helped shape the world.

"From Inkwell to Typewriter" isn’t just an exhibition about objects. It’s about the people who held them, the stories they wrote, and the marks they left—on paper, and in history.

Visit the Lobkowicz Palace from October 31, 2025, to October 29, 2026, and explore the world of historical writing instruments and their notable users.

Tickets

Planning a Visit to the Lobkowicz Palace?

Tour of the Lobkowicz Palace

Concert at the Lobkowicz Palace

Combo: Lobkowicz Palace Tour + Concert

Combo: Lobkowicz Palace Tour + Prague Castle Tour