Spolien der Frankfurter Altstadt / Spolia from Frankfurt's historical city centre
As interest in the Middle Ages grew in the 19th century, efforts got underway in Frankfurt to preserve and collect historically and artistically important architectural relics. They were reused in other buildings or placed in the holdings of the municipal library and later the Historisches Museum. The museum has been collecting them since its founding in 1878, and presenting selected pieces to the public in its lapidarium, or stone collection.
In twelve niches, the northern façade of the exhibition building displays architectural fragments from Frankfurt's historical city centre, selected for their high quality, uniqueness or representative value. Insignia, coats of arms or emblems frequently embellished portal lintels and shed light on a building's function or the resident's social status (niche 7). Balconies rested on ornamentally decorated corbels or figural atlantes, as in the case of Haus Reineck in Hasengasse (niche 8). The town insignia - the Frankfurt eagle – appeared on many public structures such as city gates and administrative offices (niche
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Mit dem wachsenden Interesse für das Mittelalter im 19. Jahrhundert begann
man auch in Frankfurt, historisch und künstlerisch bedeutsame Relikte von Bauwerken zu bewahren und zu sammeln. Man versetzte sie in andere Bauwerke,
überwies sie der Stadtbibliothek und später dem Historischen Museum. Seit
seiner Gründung 1878 sammelt und präsentiert das Museum der Öffentlichkeit
ausgewählte Stücke in seinem lapidorium, der Steinsammlung.
Die Nordfassade des Ausstellungshauses zeigt in den zwölf Nischen qualitätvolle, ungewöhnliche oder beispielhafte Relikte von Bauwerken der Frankfurter
Altstadt. Portalstürze zierten häufig Hoheitszeichen, Wappen oder Embleme,
die etwas über die Funktion eines Gebäudes oder die gesellschaftliche Stellung
des Bewohners verrieten (Nische 7). Balkone ruhten auf ornamental verzierten
Kragsteinen oder auf figürlichen Atlanten wie beim Reineck'schen Haus an der
Hasengasse (Nische 8) Des Hoheitszeichen der Stadt, der Frankfurter Adler,
war on vielen öffentlichen 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.
Location. 50° 6.59′ N, 8° 40.94′ E. Marker is in Innenstadt I, Hessen (Hesse), in Frankfurt am Main. Marker is at the intersection of Saalgasse and Roemerberg, on the left when traveling west on Saalgasse. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Innenstadt I HE 60311, Germany. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Nazi Student Book Burning of 1933 (within shouting distance of this marker); Rententurm, Fritz Unruh (within shouting distance of this marker); Römerberg 34: "Haus zum goldenen Rad" / House at the Golden Wheel (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Steinernes Haus (about 90 meters away); Eiserner Steg / The Iron Bridge (about 120 meters away); Joachim von Sandrart (1606 - 1688) (about 120 meters away); Paulskirche / St. Paul's Church
More about this marker. The marker is easy to miss, as it sits rather inconspicuously in the last of a series of niches on the north side of the Junges Museum Frankfurt.
Also see . . . Lebendige Boten des Vergangenen (Frankfurter Allgemeine, April 22, 2015, in German). "The magic of the spolia: historical relics point to the quality of Frankfurt's old town. A tour is worthwhile, and in many places there is an exciting past to discover...." (Submitted on December 30, 2019.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 28, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 120 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 30, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
