Collecting Pieces of History: The Latest Discoveries of Estonian Manorial Architecture from the City of Marburg

Abstract

One of the most important research topics in Estonian art history
writing is manorial architecture, which Estonian researchers have
actively focused on for the last couple of decades. While substantial
progress has been made, the last few years have challenged previously
known results, brought new perspectives, and introduced new
research questions that await further investigation. Research on
the manorial period nevertheless continues to be constrained by the
fragmented historical development of the region, which has resulted
in a considerable portion of relevant source material – particularly
that related to Baltic-German culture – being preserved outside
Estonia. In this context, the city of Marburg in Germany stands out
as a place where two world-renowned research centres – the Herder
Institute and the Foto Marburg Image Archive – hold material related
to the topic complements, and in some cases expands, the sources
already available in Estonia.
Based on research conducted during a fellowship at the Herder
Institute at the end of 2024, this article provides an overview of
Baltic-related collections held at both institutions and presents
recent discoveries concerning Estonian manorial architecture, with
a particular focus on wooden manor houses, which has been a
relatively under researched topic for decades. Drawing on previously
underexplored archive and visual sources – particularly historical
photographs from the beginning of the 20th century –, the article
addresses several questions related to noble residences, associated
economic buildings, interiors: to the ensembles as a whole. In doing
so, attention is drawn to several manors and buildings that have
been destroyed, on which there is no material evidence in Estonia.
This brings to the fore buildings that were not previously known
to research on the topic. In addition, the article pays attention to
other related material, such as libraries and memorabilia, and
to the memories that await researchers, thus emphasising the
methodological value of combining compatible material from both
institutions for future research.