The institution was at first called the "Museum Japonicum". It was the first museum in Europe which was designed to demonstrate that collecting the artefacts of humans could mean more than the mere accumulation of curiosities. From the very outset, the institution incorporated at least four basic principles: collecting, scientific research, presentation to the public, and educational guidance.[1]
In 1816 the Koninklijk Kabinet van Zeldzaamheden was formed in the Hague as an attempt to start a museum of scientific artifacts from around the world, based on royal collections and a large group of Chinese artifacts from private collections. Thanks to the early efforts of this organization, in the early 1830s, when Philipp Franz Balthasar von Siebold abandoned the political turmoil of revolutionary Belgium for the relative calm of the University of Leiden, he was inspired by the first museum director R.P. van de Kasteele to collect Japanese objects for his collection.[2] The resulting gift of about 5,000 objects became the heart the new museum's holdings.[3] Siebold's home in Leiden—and the objects he brought to Europe after eight years in Japan—was opened to the public in the early 1830s (today his collection is preserved in the SieboldHuis). The Dutch crown had previously purchased the smaller collections of Jan Cock Blomhoff in 1826 and Johannes Gerhard Frederik van Overmeer Fischer in 1832. These which were merged with what Siebold bestowed on King William I; and they became crucial elements in the creation of what became the Museum voor Volkenkunde, or Ethnographic Museum in Leiden in 1837. This institution would later evolve into the National Museum of Ethnology.[4]
In 1843, Siebold also encouraged other Europeans to create ethnographic institutions similar to what was developing in Leiden. He urged "the importance of their creation in European states possessing colonies because these institutions could become a means for understanding the subject peoples and of awakening the interest of the public and of merchants -- all of which are necessary conditions for a lucrative trade which benefits all."[5]
The collection today contains a large number of objects from Africa, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Latin America, North America, Oceania, and Asia. In developing the collection, the museum has devoted significant attention to acquiring material which illustrates the historical development of world cultures; but the genesis of the museum's holdings began with material garnered during the years Japan was officially closed except for one small island in Nagasaki harbor -- Dejima.
Blomhoff collectionEdit
As Opperhoofd (or chief trader) for the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie or VOC) at Dejima island in Nagasaki harbor from 1817 through 1823, Jan Cock Blomhoff was unique. Despite the Japanese "closed door" policy for Westerners (sakoku), he did transport his wife, Titia, and children to join him.[6] The Japanese predictably responded by ejecting both Blomhoff and his family; but that experience did broaden the range of household goods and other objects he accumulated across the span of his stay in Japan.
Fischer collectionEdit
Johannes Gerhard Frederik van Overmeer Fischer began as a clerk at Dejima and he was later promoted to warehouse master (pakhuismeester). During the span of his stay in Japan, Fisher's access to Japanese culture was limited; but within his universe of contacts, he was able to amass a considerable collection of "ordinary" objects which were plausibly overlooked by others. This material was brought back to the Netherlands in 1829. In 1833, he published Bijdrage tot de kennis van het Japansche rijk (Contribution to the knowledge of the Japanese Empire).[7]
Siebold collectionEdit
As a physician practicing Western medicine in Nagasaki (1823-1829), Philipp Franz von Siebold received payment in kind with a variety of objects and artifacts which would later gain unanticipated scholarly attention in Europe. These everyday objects later became the basis of his large ethnographic collection, which consisted of everyday household goods, woodblock prints, tools and hand-crafted objects used by the Japanese people in the late Edo period. Further information relating to this material was published in Siebold's Nippon. His professional interest was especially drawn to implements used in the practice of traditional Japanese medicine.[8] As of 2005, a separate museum located in one of Siebold's former houses, the SieboldHuis, houses part of the collection.
Buddha statues from Japan, acquired by the museum in 1883 at the International Colonial Trade Exposition in Amsterdam
Yakushi Nyorai (the Healing Buddha) – This Buddha (and two other center pieces) originate from a mausoleum for the Togukawa shoguns at the Zōjōji temple in Edo.
^RVM website: Home...>Collectie...>Collection History 2008-01-04 at the Wayback Machine
^Carbonell, Bettina. (2004). Museum Studies: An Anthology of Contexts, p. 134, citing Siebold, Philipp. (1843). Lettre sur l'utilité des Musées Ethnographiques et sur l'importance de leur création dans états européens qui posèdents des Colonies, p. 10.
^Bersma Rene. (2002). Titia, the First Western Woman in Japan.
^Frederiks, Johannes. (1888). Biographisch woordenboek der Noord-en Zuidnederlandsche letterkunde, p. 250.
^Alpen, Jan. (1995) Oriental Medicine: An Illustrated Guide to the Asian Arts of Healing, p. 7.
Alpen, Jan van and Anthony Aris. (1995) Oriental Medicine: An Illustrated Guide to the Asian Arts of Healing. Chicago: Serinda Publications. ISBN0-906026-36-9
Bolitho, Harold. (2003) "Book Review: Titia: The First Western Woman in Japan by Rene P. Bersma," Pacific Affairs, Vol. 76, No. 4. pp. 662-663. University of British Columbia.
(in Dutch) Frederiks, Johannes Godefridus and F. Jos. van den Branden. (1888). "Johannes Gerhard Frederik van Overmeer Fischer," Biographisch woordenboek der Noord- en Zuidnederlandsche letterkunde. Amsterdam: L.J. Veen.
Otterspeer, W. (1989). Leiden Oriental Connections, 1850-1940, Vol. V: Studies in the History of Leiden University. Leiden: E. J. Brill. ISBN978-90-04-09022-4 (paper)
(in French) Siebold, Philipp Franz von. (1843). Lettre sur l'utilité des Musées Ethnographiques et sur l'importance de leur création dans états européens qui posèdents des Colonies. Paris: Librarie de l'Institut.
Rudolf Effert: Royal cabinets and auxiliary branches : origins of the National Museum of Ethnology, 1816-1883. Leiden, 2008. ISBN978-90-5789-159-5
Edo-Tokyo Museum exhibition catalog. (2000). A Very Unique Collection of Historical Significance: The Kapitan (the Dutch Chief) Collection from the Edo Period—The Dutch Fascination with Japan. Catalog of "400th Anniversary Exhibition Regarding Relations between Japan and the Netherlands," a joint project of the Edo-Tokyo Museum, the City of Nagasaki, the National Museum of Ethnology, the National Natuurhistorisch Museum and the National Herbarium of the Netherlands in Leiden, the Netherlands. Tokyo.
(in Dutch)Topstukken van Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde. KIT Publishers, Amsterdam, 2013. ISBN9789460222535
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Museum Volkenkunde (Leiden).
Website for Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde (in English)
September 02, 2023
national, museum, ethnology, netherlands, national, museum, ethnology, museum, volkenkunde, ethnographic, museum, netherlands, located, university, city, leiden, 2014, museum, along, with, tropenmuseum, amsterdam, africa, museum, berg, together, make, national. The National Museum of Ethnology Museum Volkenkunde is an ethnographic museum in the Netherlands located in the university city of Leiden As of 2014 the museum along with the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam and the Africa Museum in Berg en Dal together make up the National Museum of World Cultures National Museum of EthnologyThe National Museum of Ethnology in LeidenEstablished1837LocationLeiden NetherlandsCoordinates52 09 47 N 4 28 57 E 52 163056 N 4 4825 E 52 163056 4 4825Visitors76 315 2008 DirectorWayne Modest amp Marieke van BommelWebsitehttp volkenkunde nl Contents 1 First ethnographic museum in Europe 2 Museum holdings 2 1 Blomhoff collection 2 2 Fischer collection 2 3 Siebold collection 3 Leiden plate 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksFirst ethnographic museum in Europe EditThe institution was at first called the Museum Japonicum It was the first museum in Europe which was designed to demonstrate that collecting the artefacts of humans could mean more than the mere accumulation of curiosities From the very outset the institution incorporated at least four basic principles collecting scientific research presentation to the public and educational guidance 1 In 1816 the Koninklijk Kabinet van Zeldzaamheden was formed in the Hague as an attempt to start a museum of scientific artifacts from around the world based on royal collections and a large group of Chinese artifacts from private collections Thanks to the early efforts of this organization in the early 1830s when Philipp Franz Balthasar von Siebold abandoned the political turmoil of revolutionary Belgium for the relative calm of the University of Leiden he was inspired by the first museum director R P van de Kasteele to collect Japanese objects for his collection 2 The resulting gift of about 5 000 objects became the heart the new museum s holdings 3 Siebold s home in Leiden and the objects he brought to Europe after eight years in Japan was opened to the public in the early 1830s today his collection is preserved in the SieboldHuis The Dutch crown had previously purchased the smaller collections of Jan Cock Blomhoff in 1826 and Johannes Gerhard Frederik van Overmeer Fischer in 1832 These which were merged with what Siebold bestowed on King William I and they became crucial elements in the creation of what became the Museum voor Volkenkunde or Ethnographic Museum in Leiden in 1837 This institution would later evolve into the National Museum of Ethnology 4 In 1843 Siebold also encouraged other Europeans to create ethnographic institutions similar to what was developing in Leiden He urged the importance of their creation in European states possessing colonies because these institutions could become a means for understanding the subject peoples and of awakening the interest of the public and of merchants all of which are necessary conditions for a lucrative trade which benefits all 5 Museum holdings Edit nbsp Design on the front of the Leiden Plate a famous Maya belt plaque made of jadeite from Guatemala held by the museum The collection today contains a large number of objects from Africa China Indonesia Japan Korea Latin America North America Oceania and Asia In developing the collection the museum has devoted significant attention to acquiring material which illustrates the historical development of world cultures but the genesis of the museum s holdings began with material garnered during the years Japan was officially closed except for one small island in Nagasaki harbor Dejima Blomhoff collection Edit As Opperhoofd or chief trader for the Dutch East India Company Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie or VOC at Dejima island in Nagasaki harbor from 1817 through 1823 Jan Cock Blomhoff was unique Despite the Japanese closed door policy for Westerners sakoku he did transport his wife Titia and children to join him 6 The Japanese predictably responded by ejecting both Blomhoff and his family but that experience did broaden the range of household goods and other objects he accumulated across the span of his stay in Japan Fischer collection Edit Johannes Gerhard Frederik van Overmeer Fischer began as a clerk at Dejima and he was later promoted to warehouse master pakhuismeester During the span of his stay in Japan Fisher s access to Japanese culture was limited but within his universe of contacts he was able to amass a considerable collection of ordinary objects which were plausibly overlooked by others This material was brought back to the Netherlands in 1829 In 1833 he published Bijdrage tot de kennis van het Japansche rijk Contribution to the knowledge of the Japanese Empire 7 Siebold collection Edit As a physician practicing Western medicine in Nagasaki 1823 1829 Philipp Franz von Siebold received payment in kind with a variety of objects and artifacts which would later gain unanticipated scholarly attention in Europe These everyday objects later became the basis of his large ethnographic collection which consisted of everyday household goods woodblock prints tools and hand crafted objects used by the Japanese people in the late Edo period Further information relating to this material was published in Siebold s Nippon His professional interest was especially drawn to implements used in the practice of traditional Japanese medicine 8 As of 2005 a separate museum located in one of Siebold s former houses the SieboldHuis houses part of the collection Leiden plate EditThe Leiden plate is a Maya belt plaque and important historical artifact from Guatemala It is depicted on the reverse of a one Guatemalan quetzal banknote Gallery Edit nbsp Stone Ganesha sitting on a ring of skulls nbsp Buddha statues from Japan acquired by the museum in 1883 at the International Colonial Trade Exposition in Amsterdam nbsp Yakushi Nyorai the Healing Buddha This Buddha and two other center pieces originate from a mausoleum for the Togukawa shoguns at the Zōjōji temple in Edo nbsp Mountain of the Immortals from China nbsp Pueblo Kachina dolls southwestern United States nbsp Nkisi nkondi Mangaaka Central Africa 1880 1900 CE nbsp Nkisi nkondi nbsp Book of Wizards of the Batak Toba people of Indonesia nbsp Men with a live lion in Iran Photograph by Antoin Sevruguin 1830s 1933 See also EditNationaal Museum van Wereldculturen Tropenmuseum Amsterdam Edo Tokyo Museum National Museum of Ethnology Japan The Virtual Collection of MasterpiecesReferences Edit Otterspeer W 1989 Leiden Oriental Connections 1850 1940 p 391 Koninklijk Kabinet van Zeldzaamheden on Leiden University webpage Otterspeer p 289 RVM website Home gt Collectie gt Collection History Archived 2008 01 04 at the Wayback Machine Carbonell Bettina 2004 Museum Studies An Anthology of Contexts p 134 citing Siebold Philipp 1843 Lettre sur l utilite des Musees Ethnographiques et sur l importance de leur creation dans etats europeens qui posedents des Colonies p 10 Bersma Rene 2002 Titia the First Western Woman in Japan Frederiks Johannes 1888 Biographisch woordenboek der Noord en Zuidnederlandsche letterkunde p 250 Alpen Jan 1995 Oriental Medicine An Illustrated Guide to the Asian Arts of Healing p 7 Alpen Jan van and Anthony Aris 1995 Oriental Medicine An Illustrated Guide to the Asian Arts of Healing Chicago Serinda Publications ISBN 0 906026 36 9 Bolitho Harold 2003 Book Review Titia The First Western Woman in Japan by Rene P Bersma Pacific Affairs Vol 76 No 4 pp 662 663 University of British Columbia Carbonell Bettina Messias 2004 Museum Studies An Anthology of Contexts New York Wiley Blackwell Publishing ISBN 978 0 631 22830 1 in Dutch Frederiks Johannes Godefridus and F Jos van den Branden 1888 Johannes Gerhard Frederik van Overmeer Fischer Biographisch woordenboek der Noord en Zuidnederlandsche letterkunde Amsterdam L J Veen Otterspeer W 1989 Leiden Oriental Connections 1850 1940 Vol V Studies in the History of Leiden University Leiden E J Brill ISBN 978 90 04 09022 4 paper in French Siebold Philipp Franz von 1843 Lettre sur l utilite des Musees Ethnographiques et sur l importance de leur creation dans etats europeens qui posedents des Colonies Paris Librarie de l Institut Rudolf Effert Royal cabinets and auxiliary branches origins of the National Museum of Ethnology 1816 1883 Leiden 2008 ISBN 978 90 5789 159 5 Edo Tokyo Museum exhibition catalog 2000 A Very Unique Collection of Historical Significance The Kapitan the Dutch Chief Collection from the Edo Period The Dutch Fascination with Japan Catalog of 400th Anniversary Exhibition Regarding Relations between Japan and the Netherlands a joint project of the Edo Tokyo Museum the City of Nagasaki the National Museum of Ethnology the National Natuurhistorisch Museum and the National Herbarium of the Netherlands in Leiden the Netherlands Tokyo in Dutch Topstukken van Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde KIT Publishers Amsterdam 2013 ISBN 9789460222535External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Museum Volkenkunde Leiden Website for Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde in English International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property ICCROM Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title National Museum of Ethnology Netherlands amp oldid 1167861118, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
