Tag Archives: Material Culture

B. Besler, Fascicvlvs Rariorvm Et Aspectv Dignorvm […], Nürnberg 1622

“Sensing the Naturalienkabinett”

By Lisa Brunner, MA

Full title: Sensing the Naturalienkabinett. Apothecaries and their Collections in Early Modern Germany

Stepping into an early modern Naturalienkabinett was a unique (sensory) experience: exotic fruits of every shape and colour hanging from the ceiling, winding snakes on wooden walls, and countless boxes filled with minerals and shells.

During this period, not only aristocrats, clergy, and scholars curated sophisticated collections but also apothecaries. Figures like Basilius Besler or Johann Ambrosius Beurer crafted these cabinets to reflect the expanding European knowledge of nature and engage multiple senses. Their collections, rich with exotic and regional specimens, were designed not just for display but as interactive tools for scientific education. By utilizing collection catalogues, correspondence, and images, apothecaries made complex scientific knowledge accessible to a diverse audience. These cabinets acted as dynamic contact zones, promoting knowledge exchange and cross-cultural interactions. The PhD project explores these strategies of knowledge transfer and the role of material culture in early modern science.

Personal website (Universität Innsbruck)

Project Instagram