The collection of nearly 500 objects associated with Otto von Habsburg is remarkably diverse. During his visits and travels to almost every corner of the world, and on special occasions – such as his birthday – he was often presented with various objects and certificates by towns or communities as a token of their esteem. Thus, our Foundation preserves, for example, city keys, commemorative plaques, university student caps and many other types of mementos. The Foundation’s collection also contains personal items linked to his family and childhood, as well as objects he used in the course of his work.
Among the curiosities are the hairpins of Marie Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI (and daughter of Maria Theresa) – which were tucked into a small envelope attached to a letter – Queen Zita’s coronation kneeling cushion, the trousers and gold-embroidered belt belonging to the ceremonial Hungarian costume worn by our namesake in his youth, and a typewriter he used later in life. Several items in the collection attest not only to the family’s commitment to carefully preserving the memories of their past, but in many cases, correspondence reveals that these objects were returned to Otto von Habsburg by people for whom respect for the Habsburg family – and for Otto himself – held great significance.
The collection expanded further in 2024, when the Habsburg family entrusted to our Foundation the estate of Count Heinrich von Degenfeld (1890–1978), who had been Otto von Habsburg’s tutor and, until his death, his colleague and confidant. The material arrived in 37 crates, suitcases and boxes, and contains countless objects relating to the Habsburg family, especially Emperor Charles I and Empress Zita, as well as their children, with particular focus on Otto’s childhood and their years spent in exile. This part of the collection, comprising several hundred items, is still being processed.
It is important for our Foundation not only to preserve the intellectual legacy of the former heir to the throne, but also to locate and collect the objects associated with him. For this reason, we strive to expand our own collection linked to Otto von Habsburg and his memory. Through various purchases and donations, we have assembled a group of nearly 200 objects of diverse genres and materials: badges – including some from the legitimist movement –, plaques, porcelain and ceramic memorabilia, as well as printed items (for example, the menu card of an Otto birthday dinner), which we are delighted to present in our exhibitions.
