Several furniture from Achilleion palace were unanimously recognized as monuments yesterday, January 11, by the Central Council of Modern Monuments. Achilleion is a palace in Corfu, Greece , which was built by Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi. This marks the fourth consecutive time that artifacts found in Achilleion have been recognized as monuments. In the past, a total of 61 marble sculptures, 50 paintings and engravings, as well as the archival material and bronze sculptures hosted at the palace were also declared national monuments. The Central Council of Modern Monuments announcement concerns 45 pieces of furniture, eight mirrors and a pipe organ that are on display in the halls and gardens of Achilleion. The furniture can be divided into two categories. The first includes the furniture commissioned by Achilleion’s first owners, Empress Elizabeth, reflecting her aesthetic choices, during the late 19th century. The pieces belong to the second Rococo and Historicism style movements. This category includes a library with embossed decorations and marquetry, a desk and a chair with embossed griffins, a carved double wardrobe and mirror featuring sculpted dolphins. Furthermore, this category includes several furniture from inside the palace chapel, such as the walnut altar with black lacquer and two prayer benches. The second category includes furniture ordered by Achilleion’s second owner, the Kaiser of Germany, Wilhelm II. His style is completely different, featuring simple lines and functional furniture. All the pieces are made from oak wood and white lacquer with bronze decorations. Some of the furniture classified as monuments are a desk with a swivel chair, a dresser with bronze and red marble finishes and an iron bed that used to be considered one of Elizabeth’s belongings, but recent research showed that it belonged to Wilhelm.
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