Johannes Mikkel (1907–2006) came from southern Estonia, studied various subjects (including art) at the University of Tartu and worked, after World War II, in Tallinn as a manager in several antique shops.

The nucleus of the collection is the large amount of Western graphic art from the 16th to 19th centuries, with a special focus on the Dutch Golden Age.

The part of the collection devoted to graphics include works by Albrecht Dürer, Lucas Cranach, Rembrandt, Claude Lorrain, Adriaen van Ostade, Jacob van Ruisdael and Félicien Rops.

A substantial part of the collection is also devoted to paintings from roughly the same time span; including works by Melchior d'Hondecoeter and Jean François de Troy, as well as a portrait from the studio of Anthony van Dyck.

[3][4] In addition to pictures, the collection also displays a set of European ceramics and Chinese porcelain.