with
natural specimens in abundance. Here could be found stuffed
animals and skeletal remains of mammals, birds, fishes,
crocodiles, snakes, together with fossils, minerals, semi-precious
stones, coral, amber, shells, and freaks of nature from
humankind and the animal kingdom. The collection also included
a pair of Egyptian mummies and a painting of Eskimos
with
'artificially produced pieces'. Here were kept works of
art in the noble metals and semi-precious stones, magnificent
goblets, bowls, portraits and many other items carved in
ivory and rhino-horn, tankards of exotic woods, wax-reliefs
and needlework, together with a large collection of oil-paintings,
watercolours and drawings
was
extraordinarily wide-ranging. Alongside treasures of the
Catholic Church could be seen Eskimo costumes and hunting-gear,
a large collection of drinking-horns, and numerous weapons.
Here were both European and Turkish weapons, such as rapiers,
daggers, blunderbusses, air-guns, shields, chain-mail with
helmets, bow-cases and quivers, crossbows, and examples
of combination-weapons - a speciality of the Renaissance.
contained
both paintings and drawings; among the paintings a large
collection of portraits of contemporary Princes and famous
men. Here the so-called "perspective boxes" were
located. They serve to illustrate the keen interest in the
evolution and application of perspective in Renaissance
art.
with
examples of all sorts of instruments and inventions, such
as astrolabes, brass rulers, dividers, mapmaking rulers,
artillery-ranging quadrants, telescopes, microscopes, mirrors,
armillary-spheres, puzzle-pieces, games, clocks and watches.
All of these emphasize the extent of the period's interest
in scientific inventions and discoveries.
whose contents mostly came to Europe from overseas. Here
one could see Japanese lacquer-ware, caskets, trays, wickerwork
and papier-mâché boxes. From China there were
porcelain, mirrors, geomantic compasses, carved figures
and teapots, as well as watercolours; from the islands of
South-east Asia especially spears and other weapons. Here
were Indian sabres, daggers, ceramics and paintings; and
from Africa, weapons, raffia woven-work, hats, baskets and
other wickerwork. Especially noteworthy were the South American
feather head-dresses and clubs, that were displayed alongside
a collection of Russian wooden bowls.
with
Greek, Roman and Nordic antiquities, pilgrims' souvenirs
from Jerusalem, religious objects such as reliquaries and
portable altars, medieval ivory carvings, a collection of
gold rings, assorted manuscripts and books. A considerable
quantity of artefacts from the "Museum Wormianum"
were placed here.
contained
models of ships, fortresses, churches, houses, wind-mills,
sluices, ammunition-wagons, etc. These all illustrated developments
within the realm, such as new building works in the different
regions, as well as modern construction techniques and inventions.