Page "Cabinet of curiosities" Paragraph 9

In 1587, Gabriel Kaltemarckt advised Christian I of Saxony that three types of item were indispensable in forming a " Kunstkammer " or art collection: firstly sculptures and paintings ; secondly " curious items from home or abroad "; and thirdly " antlers, horns, claws, feathers and other things belonging to strange and curious animals ".

When Albrecht Dürer visited the Netherlands in 1521, apart from artworks he sent back to Nuremberg various animal horns, a piece of coral, some large fish fins and a wooden weapon from the East Indies.

The highly characteristic range of interests represented in Frans II Francken's painting of 1636 ( illustration, left ) shows paintings on the wall that range from landscapes, including a moonlit scene — a genre in itself — to a portrait and a religious picture ( the Adoration of the Magi ) intermixed with preserved tropical marine fishes and a string of carved beads, most likely amber, which is both precious and a natural curiosity.

Sculpture both classical and secular ( the sacrificing Libera ) and modern and religious ( Christ at the Column ) are represented, while on the table are ranged, among the exotic shells ( including some tropical ones and a shark's tooth ): portrait miniatures, gem-stones mounted with pearls in a curious quatrefoil box, a set of sepia chiaroscuro woodcuts or drawings, and a small still-life painting leaning against a flower-piece, coins and medals — presumably Greek and Roman — and Roman terracotta oil-lamps, curious flasks, and a blue-and-white Ming porcelain bowl.