The German Leather Museum showcases a unique collection of over 30,000 pieces spanning a period of six millennia and a vast geographic area. In 1912, the architect and museum founder Hugo Eberhardt decided to make his personal collection of historic objects available for teaching purposes for craftspeople. Today, this is known as the University of Art and Design (HfG) Offenbach. The German Leather Museum’s collection is truly unique, with its earliest exhibit of an Egyptian receptacle dating from the fourth millennium B.C. There is also a vast collection of leatherworking tools, luxury objects, warfare and hunting items, clothing, everyday items, and objects of religious and ceremonial significance.

Those interested in bags and shoes will find themselves delighted in discovering the museum’s collection of over 10,000 objects spanning historic pieces to present-day designs. The artisans showcased at the museum include Renate Müller, Ignatz Wiemeler, Otto Fratzcher, Ludwig Enders, Stephen Sprouse, Christian Dior, Josef Hoffmann, Hans Christiansen, Kaspar Meuser, Martin Margiela, and many more. Guided tours and workshops in German for children and adults will make your visit even more informative.