The Story of Berlin's Giant Granite Bowl on Museum Island

Have you visited Museum Island in Berlin and been confused by the giant bowl sitting outside the front of the Old Museum (Altes Museum)? Read on to find out what it is and why it’s on Museum Island.

The giant granite bowl in front of the Old Museum in Berlin, known as the "Granitschale," was commissioned by King Frederick William III of Prussia in 1826.

The king wanted to outdo the 6th Duke of Devonshire, who had recently acquired a large granite bowl for his estate.

This trend of commissioning massive granite sculptures was popular at the time because working with such hard materials showcased your wealth and perseverance.

The bowl was designed by Christian Gottlieb Cantian, who carved it from a massive red granite boulder weighing 700 tons.

The boulder was found in the Rauen Hills near Berlin, it then took six weeks to transport it to the city.

The bowl was eventually completed in 1831, and ended up being much bigger than King Frederick William III was expect. It measured a whopping 6.91 meters in diameter.

The King had planned for his bowl to be put on display in the Old Museum. However, due to its size, the architect of the Museum, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, decided that it wouldn't fit in the museum's rotunda (the room designed specially for it), so it was placed outside where it still stands today.

Over the years, the bowl has endured a lot, including damage from shell fragments during World War II, and you can still see bullet holes and shrapnel damage today. It was briefly relocated in the 1930s due to Nazi parades but was eventually returned to its original spot in 1981 to mark Schinkel’s 200th birthday. However, exposure to the elements over nearly 190 years has dulled its once-glossy surface​.

If you found this story interested, you might be interested in our Off-the-beaten-path Tours!