Ausstellungsfähig

Ausstellungsfähig is a German adjective that describes an object, artwork, or collection that is suitable for exhibition or display. The term combines the noun Ausstellung (“exhibition”) with the suffix -fähig, meaning “capable of” or “able to”. It is therefore best translated into English as “exhibitable” or “displayable”.

The word is primarily used in art‑history, museum studies, and cultural heritage fields. It denotes that a piece meets the technical, conservation, or aesthetic criteria required for public display. For example, a painting might be ausstellungsfähig if its varnish is stable, its frame is intact, and its subject matter is appropriate for a museum context. The term also applies to objects in archives or private collections that are being prepared for a public show.

Ausstellungsfähig can refer to physical attributes—such as dimensions, weight, fragility—or to non‑physical aspects like provenance, documentation, and legal clearance. Conservation reports often state whether an item is ausstellungsfähig after restoration. In this sense, the word is a key part of the workflow from acquisition to museum placement.

Although derived from modern German, the concept parallels terms in other languages (e.g., English “exhibitable”, French “exposable”). It is used mainly in written communication; spoken German speakers may simply say “ausstellbar” for brevity. The term is formal and is found in catalogues, scholarly articles, and institutional guidelines rather than everyday conversation.