CABINETS of CURIOSITY Rwunderkammers)
CO -'''"7" _ ,~'~~" ' .__... _. - '''" ^^ . ....i . -- o cö O ü ÖO- Fold-out engraving of Ferrante Imperato's CABINETS OF CURIOSITY Dell'Historia Naturale, Naples 1599. filled with curios, they became rWUNDERKAMMERS) known as cabinets of curiosity. In German, these are known as By Melody Amsel-Arieli wunderkammers, wonder-rooms or kunstkammers, art-rooms. 'ho among us has not slipped a whorled shell, an aufumn Creating cabinets of curiosity leaf, or a shiny pebble info her pockef? We have became increasingly popular as collecfed fhe rare, fhe beaufiful, and the wondrous since printed engravings, which illus- fime immemorial. trated them, and catalogs, which w listed their contents, were circu- Beginning in the 15th century, European inquisitive minds, in- lated. A catalog that first appeared Europeans, aided by strides in cluding physicians, aristocrats, and in 1593, "Chiefest Rarities in the cartography, astronomy, and ship royalty, assembled collections of Publick Theater and Anatomie-Hall building, explored and mapped dis- these natural and unnatural speci- of the University of Leyden," reveals tant African, Asian, and American mens, religious relics, and objets the eclectic nature of a cabinet's shores. In their travels, they en- d'art for their personal pleasure, contents. Conceived as a educating countered astonishing varieties to reflect their wisdom, power, endeavor, its entranceway featured, of flora, fauna, art, culture, and and prestige. They arranged them along with other astounding ex- customs. Along with exciting ac- subjectively organized in cabinets, hibits, a pair of "Polonian" boots, counts of their adventures, they a term that originally described the "bristly Skin of a Brazilian also brought home some of their chambers rather than pieces of Beast," the snout of an unknown credible and incredible discoveries.
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