Magazine R753 An exhibition at the British Museum shows off some of the vast collection of objects collected by Henry Wellcome, marking the 150 anniversary of his birth. Wellcome was someone who recognized the importance of scientific research in developing new medicines and who established the first research laboratory linked to a UK pharmaceutical company. His pioneering activities have proved to be an enormous benefit to UK science, through the current Wellcome Trust. Wellcome cared deeply about the past, believing that previous ways of life acted as a vital spur to progress. This passion — awakened at the age of four when his father explained to him how a Neolithic stone implement was more important in its time than the invention of the steam engine or electric telegraph — kindled lifelong interest in human history. Wellcome’s collecting began in earnest at the turn of the last century and escalated after World War 1, when he employed an international network of buying agents. By his death in 1936, he had amassed one of the UK’s largest collections of objects - five times the size of that of the Louvre in Paris. Now, 150 years after his birth, a selection of objects are on display in the Medicine Man exhibition at the British Museum in London. His great vision was for a Museum of Man. He wanted to show the development of humanity from primitive times to civilization through our material culture. To this end he collected more than one million objects from around the globe and across the centuries. Together in bewildering variety, they mirrored the diverse ways in which, throughout history, people have sought to obtain food, fight disease and other enemies, and ultimately ward off death. After Wellcome’s death in 1936, it became clear that his vast concept of a Museum of Mankind could never be realised and the museum would have to limit its scope to medical history. Between the 1930s and the 1970s, therefore, many non- medical artifacts were distributed to other institutions in the UK and and in other countries. The exhibition at the British Museum brings together some of the key components of this vast collection for public view. Medicine man Life and death: The picture shows a mummified male body from the Chimu people of Peru from around 1200–1400. The body would have been wrapped in layers of fabric and buried with personal possessions, ritual objects and food offerings.

Medicine man

Download PDF Report

Upload
nigel-williams
View
213
Download
0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

MagazineR753

An exhibition at the BritishMuseum shows off some of thevast collection of objectscollected by Henry Wellcome,marking the 150 anniversary ofhis birth. Wellcome wassomeone who recognized theimportance of scientific researchin developing new medicinesand who established the firstresearch laboratory linked to aUK pharmaceutical company.His pioneering activities haveproved to be an enormousbenefit to UK science, throughthe current Wellcome Trust.

Wellcome cared deeply aboutthe past, believing that previousways of life acted as a vital spurto progress. This passion —awakened at the age of fourwhen his father explained to himhow a Neolithic stone implementwas more important in its time

than the invention of the steamengine or electric telegraph —kindled lifelong interest in humanhistory.

Wellcome’s collecting beganin earnest at the turn of the lastcentury and escalated afterWorld War 1, when he employedan international network ofbuying agents. By his death in1936, he had amassed one of theUK’s largest collections ofobjects - five times the size ofthat of the Louvre in Paris.

Now, 150 years after his birth,a selection of objects are ondisplay in the Medicine Manexhibition at the British Museumin London.

His great vision was for aMuseum of Man. He wanted toshow the development ofhumanity from primitive times tocivilization through our material

culture. To this end he collectedmore than one million objectsfrom around the globe andacross the centuries. Together inbewildering variety, theymirrored the diverse ways inwhich, throughout history,people have sought to obtainfood, fight disease and otherenemies, and ultimately ward offdeath.

After Wellcome’s death in1936, it became clear that hisvast concept of a Museum ofMankind could never be realisedand the museum would have tolimit its scope to medical history.Between the 1930s and the1970s, therefore, many non-medical artifacts weredistributed to other institutions inthe UK and and in othercountries.

The exhibition at the BritishMuseum brings together some ofthe key components of this vastcollection for public view.

Medicine man

Life and death: The picture shows a mummified male body from the Chimu people of Peru from around 1200–1400. The bodywould have been wrapped in layers of fabric and buried with personal possessions, ritual objects and food offerings.