Kunstkammer Cabinet

Kunstkammers are on display at the Nazional Museum in Munich and several other major European museums in the region. Measuring in size from diminutive cabinets with just a few drawers to cabinets that fill entire rooms, they date from the Renaissance to the Age of Enlightenment. Every noble, titled, moneyed or learned gentleman of the day was an assumed collector of unique and unusual objects. This culturally collective behavior was a favored topic of conversation. Individuals, as well as complete expeditions, were fitted out and sent to remote corners of the globe to collect. Old books were hoarded as well as shells, skulls, ivories, minerals, classical art creations and historical artifacts. A prepared crocodile was a highly desired specimen that might hang from the library ceiling.