Wunderkammer – A Universe in Your Closet

Crocodiles were considered quite an oddity back then! For the people of the 15th and 16th centuries, they were intriguing creatures that looked a little bit like monsters. Collections like this one, which hosted all kinds of animal species, stones, or shells, primarily served the nobles and rich merchants as status symbols and to make others admire them. Who else could have shown off with a real crocodile?

This engraving shows the collection of Italian Ferrante Imperato. However, most of the Wunderkammers were to be found in central and northern Europe.

Turtle Shells

The Wunderkammer, that is the wonder rooms, were meant to showcase the universe within them, symbolically and literally. For this reason, the collectors amassed all types of objects of different dimensions and provenance. Their collections grew and grew, and with time the disorganized rooms began to be systematized as you can see here. Ole Worm divided his collection into sections, a shelf per each. Moreover, the shelves were labeled and the objects were described in Worm’s notes. Ladies and gentlemen, you’re looking at the predecessor of a modern natural history museum!

Skulls

Look at the amazingly broad range of objects kept in this cabinet. From drawings to medallions to precious stones… One could have found virtually anything in these closets. This is why the collectors began to share their wonderful collections with others. Not only did they show their wealth, but they also facilitated people’s studies and the advancement of science.

Art in All This

If you wonder why on earth I’m writing about collections of bizarre objects in DailyArt Magazine: the Wunderkammers often hosted many works of art, too. The greatest collectors, like the emperor Rudolph II, were also great art sponsors. And after all, the history of art is linked to the histories of collecting and of museums, isn’t it?