Various woods, bone, marble, copper, textile, ivory, gemstones, glass, silver, paper
60 x 52 x 44 cm
"In the 16th and 17th centuries wealthy merchants and scholars often collected rare and curious objects. These collections would often be housed in cabinets: special cupboards made for the collector, sometimes entire rooms. In fact, a cabinet of curiosities is a miniature museum. Sixteenth- and 17th-century collectors aimed at encapsulating the whole cosmos in their collection. A collection would generally contain fossils, old coins, precious stones, preserved organisms, ostrich eggs and manmade objects." (from the Rijks Museum in Holland)
Philipp Hainhofer (1578-1647)
"Philipp Hainhofer was a man of many talents. As well as being a merchant, a banker and an art dealer, he was also a diplomat for his home city of Augsburg. He travelled widely in Europe, spoke five languages fluently and read Latin. During his travels, Hainhofer met many artists and formed friendships with numerous European rulers. Hainhofer was also a collector; his own collection in Augsburg was known far and wide. Many monarchs who visited Augsburg went to see Hainhofer's famous cabinet of curiosities."(from the Rijks Museum in Holland)
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