Twelve thousand things: Beginnings of the Europa Collection

About

Twelve thousand items from Europe were collected in the Museum der Kulturen Basel between 1900 and 1936. Recorded in a so-called collection book. Visitors can leaf through a copy of this at the beginning of the exhibition and act as researchers. They discover what was bought, exchanged or given as a gift. Where the items came from, at what price and from whom.

Visitors meet some people again afterwards. For example, the museum caretaker, who was advised to look for folklore items during his holidays in the Jura and to bring some back with him. Or Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer, the head of the European department at the time. He basically "smuggled" his own multi-piece men's suit into the collection. And the little girl from Uri, who had a lot on her conscience - but in a good way. 

Eternal Love
The approximately 370 objects in the exhibition give a vivid picture of life in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. They are everyday objects, beliefs and superstitions. Around 130 amulets show what people were afraid of, what they wore to ward off evil, to protect their health or as a lucky charm.

One thing that seems unremarkable at first glance is a dough pretzel from Serbia that came to the museum in 1919. But appearances are deceptive: the pretzel is made from women's milk and flour. If such very rare pretzels were given to husbands to eat, it was supposed to guarantee the couple eternal love.

The First World War
The First World War had a significant impact on those years and on the museum. Tight finances and closed borders made collecting difficult. A large Buddha from Japan, for example, got stuck in a safe harbor.

But people needed money and were more likely to sell things. Like the hotel employee from Uri who sold toys or a certain Anina Grass from the Engadin, who brought parade towels and other home textiles to the museum man with great commercial skill.

It is also interesting that collectors were sent to war zones, for example the couple Julius and Anna Konietzko to the Balkans. They brought many things back with them. And thanks to items made by soldiers, new collecting areas were opened up.

Some of the things receive special attention: they have been turned into comics, tell monologues about themselves, or appear in stories that have been prepared especially for children. And visitors can even chat with five things.