German Ethnographic Museums

[Tim Simmons]

I may have the good fortune to make a long weekend trip to one of the German ethnographic museums. The only problem is that on the web they all seem excellent which I am sure they are; Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt and Berlin.

As you may know my main interest is Africa and the South Seas. I will only be able to do one. Is there one that is gernerally thought of having the best collection of these two areas? Any recomendations and comments?

[Tatyana Dianova]

Tim, I have visited ethnographic museums in Munich, Berlin, Leipzig and Dresden. In Dresden the museum building is still under the reconstruction, so they have only some exhibitions and no regular museum rooms.
In Berlin I have had only 2 hours for the Dahlem museum, so I haven't visited the rooms that may be of interest to you. I have looked only at the Indian and South-Eastern exposition, and, well, I was more disappointed than impressed. For example, the Indian arms shown at the Indian museum you may count on the fingers of one hand :-( The same for Munich (but I was lucky to see there a Japanese exhibition :-)
The Grassi museum in Leipzig is my favorite: it has very well made and interesting exposition, with many arms shown, among them many African arms. Although this museum was newly restored, its exposition resembles by its style old museums, unlike Berlin (or Leiden, which was another disappointment to me – a lot of museum space - and not so many items shown…)

[Tim Simmons]

Thank you Tatyana. There must be other people who have more information? To narrow it down I would be most keen to see what might be thought as the best collection of South Seas, Bismark Archipelago material?

[Sajen]

Hello Tim,

i am a little bit shamed, because I don't have visited one of the german museums. But I have listen that the musem in Cologne have a good collection.
Sorry that I can't give you a better advise.

Detlef

[Tim Simmons]

Hamburg web site looks good. Cologne is easy to get to by train. Kolsch + Himmel un Äd

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Hamburg web site looks good. Cologne is easy to get to by train. Kolsch + Himmel un Äd

Prost!

[stekemest]

There is a nice ethnographic museum in Stuttgart:
http://www.lindenmuseum.de/html/english/home/home.php

Not many weapons, but a lot to see nevertheless. I'd recommend it.
(There are other good museums in Stuttgart as well - the Württemberg State Museum has a nice collection of Bronze and Iron Age weapons: http://www.landesmuseum-stuttgart.de/en/index.php)

The Museum in Berlin has a very nice South Sea collection with complete huts and boats!

Peter

[Wodimi]

my favourite museums in Germany are also in Berlin/Dahlem, next the Linden museum in Stuttgart as Peter say. The third place for me have the Überseemuseum in Bremen. It is direct beside the railway station and they have a magazine, which is public and show most of their stuff.
In any case, if you look for weapons, it will be not really successful. But no problem, if you're near Hannover, you're welcome in my privat African museum with a lot of weapons. Only let me know Tim, you're very welcome.
Best
Wolf

[Tim Simmons]

Well I finally got to Berlin last weekend and great fun was had. The most excellent beer and once found the most delicious "German" food. I have taken a few pictures of things that people might find interesting. Sadly there is not a lot of weapons on display but the Dalham has very fine objects. Whole ocean sailing craft from Tonga and other islands. The most wonderful eye popping sculpture from New Ireland. I even took a picture or two of Indian weapons as I know most members are in that groove. Lots to crop and show so it will be a series of replies. Frist lovely things from New Caledonia. The biggest with the brown colour jade like stone is at least 15 inches in diameter. Super! I am now think of Koln in the very near future.

[Tim Simmons]

Large heavy staff. I did not take notes but I would say it was Admiralty islands. You might need to put some cream on that!

[Tim Simmons]

Its that women again? She keeps doing that, I just do not know where to look!

[Billman]

Don't know how you are travelling, but if by car from the UK to Germany, you may want to detour via Leiden in Holland - if their on-line collection is anything to go by, you may not even get to Germany....

Its about 30km north of Rotterdam

see: http://www.rmv.nl/index.aspx?lang=en

[migueldiaz]

Hello. If ever anybody will stumble upon any Philippine object, kindly please post the info in this thread. If I'll have the chance to be in the region one of these days, I'll surely find time to visit those museums. Regards to all!

[TimW]

I have visited the Klingenmuseum in Solingen several times. It is not an etnic museum, but shows an incredible collection on edged tools from all ages / origins. You'll find pieces dating from stone age, luristan, celtic / viking / till modern times. If you're fond of knives, it is a must see!

More info on http://www.klingenmuseum.de/cms/index.php

cheers

Tim

[Tim Simmons]

Trying out a new PC so I have no idea what this picture is like untill it is post. Mexican stone blade. Very fine work sorry this is the only view I could capture. It is a big blade at the very least 30cm.

[Tim Simmons]

Solomons!

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Solomons!

Especially for the kids... Brush your teeth ! and visit the dentist at least once a year, preferrably twice !

Ps. I visted Berlin about 8 years ago.
I remember that they had wonderfull African objects at that time
Also I remember the goods food and beer, and bratwurst sellers
Have they already put a ban on the bratwurst selling on the streets ? there was a plan to do so a few years ago..

[Tim Simmons]

A few Indian pieces to follow just to keep a wider interest. You can eat wurst every km or so in some places and to my surprise the the "locals" backstreet pub you can still somke untill next year and enjoy beer. In one way I was saddend that I no longer smoke. I enjoyed the street wurst but I would never buy a street hotdog in London?

[Tim Simmons]

More heads.

[Tim Simmons]

Cameroon.

[Tim Simmons]

Nice work on the scabbard fittings.

[Tim Simmons]

Lovely stone work on the grip. Just think the gaudy gold and ruby addition is ugly.

[Battara]

Oh....I don't know......I love the gold and ruby stuff..

[Tim Simmons]

Something not often seen. Indigenus weapons North Argentina. Curious finish to the distal end, perhaps female?

[Tim Simmons]

This picture is from the Linden museum Stuttgart. There is a similar sculpture in the Dalhem but on my visit, the New Guinea Sepik section it is housed in was roped off so I was unable to get a picture. It is also fixed to the gable end of the mens house and is said to be for the display of trophy skulls/ancestor skulls { that is my translation using a pocket English/German dictionay }

What is most stricking is the similarity to Micronesian "Dilukai" Is there a cultural link? google Dilukia and you could be lead to believe not? However one seems to be the heavy version and the other, scary lady lite to use a marketing term.

[Tim Simmons]

Not your usual talwar but no scabbard. In spite of the poor photo the blade does look quite nice?

[Tim Simmons]

Very nice, New Guinea. Anybody got one like it?

[Tim Simmons]

I like this New Guinea pole club, very simple beauty.

[Tim Simmons]

Last two, so you see it was jolly nice in Berlin.