Design
On one hand, the design of the exhibition commemorates the German immigrants, coming to the US by ships. On the other hand it symbolizes the teddy bears journey from Germany to America.
With the development of shipping, and especially steamships, the number of German immigrants, searching for new hope in America, increased. In the beginning 20th century, the newly invented teddy bears could join immigrant families on their journey.
Wardrobe trunks of wealthier passengers had the advantage, that they could stay in the cabin while travelling overseas. They took only very little space when opened and leaned to a wall. In opposition, larger pieces of luggage had to be stored in the hull.
Each of the exhibition’s wardrobe trunks contains two illuminated showcases. The ground is 80x100cm, at a height of 180 cm. In the exhibition, the rolling trunks can be opened and located in position.
Illuminated English and German texts in the trunk’s front faces present each topic and the objects. The texts could be in further languages on demand.
Overseas wardrobe trunk prototypes 2016 and 2020 will be tested in exhibitions.
The first overseas wardrobe trunk was manufactured in Dresden in December 2016. Since then he has accompanied many exhibitions in Germany.
The second prototype was manufactured in Thalheim in 2020. It was seen for the first time in the exhibition in the Pirna City Museum in 2020/2021.
In the Freital Municipal Collections at Burgk Castle, the presentation in historical trunks is planned for 2022.
Visitors are guided through the exhibition by five areas, which show the development of the teddy bear over time: characteristic teddy bears in appropriate pedal cars, dating from the year 1900 until the present.
Overall, the exhibition takes up an area of 60 - 300 square meters. But is adjustable for larger rooms.