Language: English
Date: Sept 17, 2021
Listening to: Survivor by 

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

 

“The Ashmolean Museum: From Curiosity Cabinet to Public Museum”

In 17th century Europe, where could you go to see cultural artifacts, new medical treatments, and mystical objects from faraway lands? You would have to know a guy… and most likely be a guy. European colonization of Asia and the New World  created a demand for “exotic” objects that flowed into the private homes of wealthy, educated men. Curio cabinets were a sign of wealth and gentlemanly scholarship, as it was in vogue to be familiar with many scientific disciplines. The most popular scholarships were natural history, medicine, mathematics, alchemy, astrology and magic. An upperclass sub-culture sprung up around acquiring valuable “rarities” and then welcoming friends and scholars into your house to tour the collection (Ntoulia). When the Ashmolean Museum opened its collection of rarities to the public in 1683, it set into motion museum practices that continue to echo in our contemporary institutions.


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