James Loeb's Collection of Antiquities
– A major private collection of its time
– Small-scale ancient art
– An outstanding collection from the State Collection of Antiquities in Munich
From an early age, James Loeb developed a deep passion for classical antiquity, which he further cultivated during his studies at Harvard University (1884–1888). His fields of study also included classical studies. After retiring from active banking in 1901, he devoted himself with great passion to building his own collection of antiquities.
A collection of exceptional quality
Within just a few years, his private collection became one of the most significant of its time. Characteristic of Loeb was his deliberately personal perspective on antiquity. Instead of large, imposing sculptures—which wealthy collectors of his era tended to favor—he was primarily interested in small works of ancient art. He acquired vases, bronzes, terracottas, gold jewelry, gemstones, glassware, and terra sigillata, thereby creating a collection of exceptional quality and coherence.
His collection reflected his keen appreciation of art though his scholarly interest. Loeb collected with the eye of a connoisseur and focused on the select subject areas he researched in depth. Like many prominent collectors of his time, he combined a love of beauty with serious scholarly inquiry. On the advice of his friend, the art and cultural historian Aby Warburg, he went to Munich to study under Adolf Furtwängler, who was Germany’s leading archaeologist at the time. Furtwängler was also the director of the Glyptothek and shaped classical archaeology of his era like few others.
For James Loeb, art was never merely a private possession, but always also a part of cultural heritage. That is why he saw it as his duty to make his collection accessible to the public. Consequently, upon his death, he bequeathed it to the Museum of Ancient Art, now known as the State Collection of Antiquities in Munich.
The Loeb Collection remains one of the museum’s most outstanding collections. It serves as a tribute to a patron who exemplified a passion for collecting, scholarly curiosity, and social responsibility.