A GERMAN COLLECTOR'S CABINET FROM 1630

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V13 2010 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 13, Number 25, June 20, 2010, Article 13

I don't know if The E-Sylum technology is up for it, but this a collector's cabinet of rare fineness.

Harry included a link to a page on the Getty Museum web site. It's an animated Adobe Flash page allowing viewers to examine all sides and the insides of a beautiful collector's cabinet circa 1630. Rather than attempt to embed the Getty code in our newsletter I'll just include the link so readers can check it out themselves. But I extracted a few images and some text to present the flavor of the online experience.

It's very well done - a great example of using technology to its fullest to present a "better than being there" museum experience. In the real world one isn't allowed to touch the artifacts, but in this virtual world visitors can spin the cabinet around, open drawers and poke around the contents. Check it out - it cool! -Editor

Called a Kabinettschrank ("display cabinet" in German), this type of furniture is also referred to as a cabinet of curiosities or wonders. It was conceived to store items of artistic, natural, and intellectual interest.

Created in about 1630, this example from Augsburg, Germany was probably designed by the merchant-collector Phillipp Hainhofer, who customized it according to the interests of its intended, but now unknown, owner.

To visit the Getty web page, see Augsburg Display Cabinet (www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/north_pavilion/cabinet/index.html)

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