Twelve thousand items – The beginnings of the European collection

Between 1900 and 1930, a collection of European ethnography began to take shape in the museum. Items of everyday life, as well as such pertaining to faith and festivities were assembled. Notably, not only bourgeois museum men were involved in this process. Caretakers, hotel staff and children also contributed; even moths, war, and chance played a part, albeit unintentionally. On their way to the museum, some of the items experienced bizarre, even tragic stories. The exhibition explores these circumstances.