The reclusive German mega-collector Peter Schaufler unexpectedly died yesterday in Salzburg, Austria aged 74. Together with his wife Christiane Schaufler-Münch he built one of the most impressive private collections in Germany comprising over 3,000 works.

Schaufler made his fortune after taking over the Bitzer Group, his father’s refrigeration and air conditioning company, turning it into a multinational corporation.

In the 1980s, the Schauflers started collecting art, buying works from the Zero Group, as well as minimal and conceptual art.

Peter Schaufler and his wife Chrisiane Schaufler-Münch made their collection publicly accessible at SCHAUWERK Sindelfingen in 2010.
Photo: SCHAUWERK Sindelfingen

Their passion culminated in the inauguration, in June 2010, of a 6,000 sqm exhibition space in a converted factory called SCHAUWERK, in the town of Sindelfingen, located about 20 kilometers southwest of Stuttgart.

In the same year, Schaufler was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his contribution to academia and culture.

Schaufler lived a reclusive life and seldom appeared in public. His vast collection was virtually unknown until he opened his private museum in 2010.

The private museum presents a variety of rotating exhibitions including a well-received recent show titled “Ladies First,” which focused on works by female artists from the collection such as Sylvie Fleury, Isa Genzken, Rosemarie Trockel, and Katharina Grosse.

The private museum shows rotating exhibitions with works chosen from the Schaufler’s collection.
Photo: SCHAUWERK Sindelfingen

“The Entire Bitzer Group, the Schaufler Foundation and SCHAUWERK Sindelfingen is mourning Peter Scahaufler” the Director of SCHAUWERK Sindelfingen, Barbara Bergmann, said in a statement. “Since 2010 the museum has made a name for itself both locally and internationally. SCHAUWERK Sindelfingen will continue to be a place of engagement with contemporary art, as envisioned by Peter Schaufler,” she added.