[Translated by eTranslation]

The bouquet of gemstones in its vase of rock crystal consists of an arrangement of 61 glittering flowers and 12 sparkling insects, which are made of a total of 2,102 diamonds and 761 colored precious and gemstones. The base is made of wire, silk and cotton, which imitate plant stems and leaves. Precise flowers and a series of insect bodies with wings and feelers were collected from cut precious and gemstones of the imagination with great attention to detail. The result is a 50 centimetres large, unique work of art that represents not only craftsmanship, but also the diversity of an artistically interpreted nature.
 
A particularly enchanting animal object is located in the middle of the top part of the bouquet: It represents a cicadas whose wings are made of fortress agate and whose head is made of eye agate. In front of it are mouth tools made of small emeralds that hold a drop-shaped, yellow diamond reminiscent of a honey drop.
 
Even Johann von Goethe showed himself in "Aus meinem Leben. Dichtung und Wahrheit" from the bouquet of gemstones already in its creation phase (Frankfurt and Vienna, around 1760): "Everyone knew that Emperor Franz had a great inclination towards jewels, especially coloured stones."
 
In fact, the 2.8-kilogram and 50-centimetre-high flower bouquet was completed by jeweller Michael Grosser in Vienna around 1760. If Goethe is believed, the Frankfurt jeweller Johann Gottfried Lautensack did the preparatory work. According to tradition, Maria Theresa had the bouquet of gemstones placed in her mineral cabinet as a "small surprise on the day of her name" as a gift for her husband Emperor Franz I. Stephan of Lorraine. Maria Theresa supported her husband’s passion for mineralogy and mining as a way to promote the economic recovery of the empire. With the bouquet of precious stones, she laid the foundation for one of the most traditional and valuable collections of precious and semi-precious stones in Europe.
 
After his death in 1765, the object became part of the collection of the k.k. naturalist cabinets. The bouquet of gemstones has experienced a turbulent history over the centuries. In addition to considerations on the sale, he was not to be seen in the museum building on the Ring, but in the 1950s to 1970s after a decree of the Federal Ministry of Education in the Treasury in the Vienna Hofburg.
 
In 1954, the director of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Dr Ernst Heinrich Buschbeck (1889–1963), tried to win the bouquet of gemstones as a permanent loan on the occasion of the imminent reopening of the treasury. The permanent loan of the showpiece was firmly rejected by Dr Alfred Schiener (1906–1962), Director of the Mineralogical Department at the NHM Vienna. From his point of view, the object was a collection of miniature gemstones and more than an art-historical exhibit. He regarded his department as a legitimate successor to the imperial collection of minerals, as Maria Theresa assigned the bouquet to the Hof-Naturalienkabinett in order to "establish a collection of cut gemstones" with it. This clear rejection was followed by the decree of Federal Minister Ernst Kolb (1912–1978). He decrees that the bouquet of gemstones is to be left to the treasury as a permanent loan. On 1 July 1954, the object was officially handed over by Alfred Schiener under the "most explicit and sharpest protest". It was not until 1972 that Dr Gero Kurrat (1938–2009), then head of the Mineralogical-Petrographic Department, took up the subject and sought to return the "forced loan". Finally, after 23 years of absence, the bouquet of gemstones returned to the Natural History Museum at Maria-Theresien-Platz. This was celebrated with a ceremonial opening of the newly designed gemstone collection and newly built vault showcases on 8 November 1977 in the presence of Austria’s first Minister of Science, Dr Herta Firnberg (1909–1994).
 
It is not surprising that this outstanding object aroused the interest of the Association of Museum Friends at the beginning of 2025. As an important sponsoring association of the Austrian museum landscape, it supports the preservation of exceptional cultural-historical assets. Right from the start, the association decided to support important conservation measures that will not only carry the bouquet of gemstones analoguely, but also digitally into the future.
 
"We are delighted that, as a private and independent association that has been promoting and communicating art and culture since 1912, we have been able to provide financial support to the Natural History Museum Vienna for this important project. It is in the interest of museum enthusiasts that such art historically valuable objects as the bouquet of gemstones are also preserved for future generations", emphasizes Mag. Alessandra Arseni, Managing Director of the Association of Museum Friends, expresses the commitment of her institution.
 
Thanks to the financial support, two measures are now optimising site conditions: A frontal lighting concept makes the gemstones sparkle with significantly reduced light intensity and protects the textile leaves. In addition, an air conditioner stabilizes the humidity at about 40 percent, which reduces the oxidation at rust spots.
 
Thanks to state-of-the-art 3D acquisition methods from the Viennese company geofront e.U., the filigree bouquet of gemstones has brought metamorphosis into modernity. In a detailed model, which was created from around one thousand high-resolution photographs from different angles, visitors can now discover new details. The display case conversion and the 3D scan were accompanied by a cross-departmental research project of the NHM Vienna on object history. Its results and the 3D model can be seen from 24 April 2026 to the beginning of 2027 in a temporary showcase in Room IV.
 
 

Mediation program for the bouquet of gemstones

New Details about the Gemstone Bouquet I Theme Guide

Victoria Kohn (Department of Mineralogy, NHM Vienna)
Wednesday 20 May, 5:00–6:00 p.m.
 
Discover the highlights of the object history of the gemstone bouquet and experience details that have never been shown before! The gemstone bouquet consists of textile leaves with silk as well as flowers and insects, which are made of a total of 2,102 diamonds and 761 precious and gemstones. Among them are treasures such as diamond, emerald, sapphire, ruby, noble opal, turquoise and coral. The bouquet of precious stones was a gift from Maria Theresa to her husband Emperor Franz I. Stephan of Lorraine, an enthusiastic collector of minerals. Together we look back on 260 years of object history. Click here for the event.
 
 

NHM Mini-Treff from 3 years: crystals

Sa–Mo, 23–25 May
Sat/Sun, 30/31 May
Thu–Sun, 04–07 June
Sat/Sun, 13–14 June        
11:15–11:45 a.m.
 
Discover, marvel, research – for our youngest museum visitors aged 3 and over. Discover the world of crystals with us – it is colourful and full of different shapes. Click here for the events.
 
Guide ticket only required for children. In addition to a guided tour or show ticket, a valid entrance ticket is required. Meeting point on deck 50.
 
 

NHM Kids & Co from 6 years: Crystals and Gemstones

Thu-Sun 4–7 June
Sat/Sun, 13–14 June
2–2.30 p.m.
 
Join us in the world of crystals – it is colourful and full of different shapes. Discover pointed rock crystals and oblique calcites in our show collection and marvel at the bouquet of gemstones, which is over 260 years old. Short guided tour in the exhibition collection and activities for research and self-discovery. Click here for the events.
 
Guide ticket only required for children. In addition to a guided tour or show ticket, a valid entrance ticket is required. Meeting point in the entrance hall.
 
 

NHM Open Deck: crystals

Sa–Mo, 23.–25 May
Sat/Sun, 30/31 May
Do-Sun, 4.–7 June
Sat/Sun, 13-14 June
11:45 a.m.–3:15 p.m.
 
In the laboratory, you can get to know, arrange and determine different crystals yourself and make a giant crystal out of colorful magnetic shapes. Be inspired by the 260-year-old bouquet of gemstones and create your own small "gemstone" flowers. Click here for the events.
  

High-resolution press photos of the gemstone bouquet you can find here. 

Inquiry note
 
Mag. Irina Kubadinow
Head of Press & Public Relations, Press Spokesperson
Tel.: +43 (1) 521 77-410                                                          
irina.kubadinow@nhm.at                                                         
 
Mag. Klara Vakaj
Press officer
Tel.: +43 (1) 521 77-626
klara.vakaj@nhm.at