Cabinets of Curiosities

                         

I'm obsessed with Cabinets of Curiosities - also called Wunderkammern.  They preceeded the advent of museums, or rather, eventually evolved into museums.  They were collections of marvels and unusual objects - a bric-a-brac of rare items generally obtained through travel or trade.  Originally maintained by the wealthy and the eccentric (which often go hand in hand), they later became popular among scholars and scientists.  Two great books on the topic are Cabinets of Curiosities by Patrick Mauries, and Mr. Wilson's Cabinet Of Wonder by Lawrence Weschler.  Unfortunately, many of these cabinets were broken up, their items being auctioned off or sold individually to private collections and institutions.  There are some still to be found, however.  Kunstkammer Georg Laue in Germany, Le Chateau d'Oiron in France, The Museum of Jurassic Technology in California, the Mutter Museum in Pennsylvania, The Pitt Rivers Museum, and bits of the Ashmolean Museum - both in Oxford, England.  Sadly, one of my favorites here in New York closed down recently:  Freakatorium.  Some other places here in New York with a Wunderkammern feel:  De Vera, John Derian & Co, Evolution, and Obscura - four gorgeous shops, all downtown.  Currently, the gallery Kathleen Cullen Fine Arts has an exhibit called Children of the Cabinet (on through 1/2/06) - can't wait to see it! 

Comments

[Suzanne]

Hello there!

I just stumbled upon this entry as I was browsing through your fascinating blog's archives. I thought you might be interested in my little feature on "cabinets de curiosités". You can find a small collection of links at the end. Maybe you'll like one or the other: http://www.wurzeltod.ch/?page_id=282.

Enjoy. :)

[Pam]

Thanks, Suzanne! This is phenomenal.

[Jim Stewart]

I thought you and your readers would enjoy my own left coast museum, which is in the Wunderkammer tradition:

The Zymoglyphic Museum
http://www.zymoglyphic.org

[Pam]

Thanks, Jim - this is great! Pam

[marie]

I just read "the cabinet of curiosities" and became intrigued.I found your site both fascinating and very informing.read this book it is fantastic

[marie]

I just read "the cabinet of curiosities" and became intrigued.I found your site both fascinating and very informing.read this book it is fantastic

[Blue]

The Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, MA is now showing, for the first time since Harvard acquired the collection in the late 19th c. Sea Creatures in Glass, models marine animals such as octupus, anemones, jellies, created by the same glass artists in Germany who crafted the thousands of 'Glass Flowers' on display there. More at www.hmnh.harvard.edu.

[Sue Platt]

I also am intrigued by Cabinets of Curiosities My studio and art work is my very own Wonder Room. Please take a look at my website. www.sue-platt.com
Regards,
Sue

[Pam]

Very cool, Sue! Thanks for sharing.