Exhibits from the twenty-five German states filled two galleries and overflowed into the Rotunda itself. There were so many as to exhaust the visitor. German craftsmanship was epitomised by exhibits from the great city of Berlin. A considerable proportion of the silk fabrics on display were velvet tapestries with gorgeous colours and beautiful designs. This cloth is woven by a different method from that in France and Italy, and in the final analysis it is not the equal of French and Italian tapestries. There were very many cotton fabrics manufactured by the Tannenburg Company, but it was the textiles from Alsace, displayed in the Rotunda, which gained the highest reputation in Europe. These, however, could hardly be counted to Germany's credit as Alsace had only recently been annexed from France [after the 1870–71 Franco-Prussian War]. The artificial silk flowers were very beautiful. French silk flowers are unrivalled for their craftsmanship, while those made in Germany are unmatched for their faithfulness to nature. The Germans have also invented a process of drying fresh flowers by soaking them in a chemical solution, which preserves the vividness of the colours.

In the garden in front of the domed hall a small brick building had been erected. The eaves and walls were decorated with patterns in different-coloured tiles and with tiles with relief mouldings. Tiles are also used to adorn balustrades, the edges of pools, household fixtures and stoves.