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Cabinet of Curiosities Travel

1 Home and travel medicine chest in a case divided into 16 compartments for medicine bottles, probably 1st quarter of the 19th century, Walterswil BE, RS-13.354
2 Passport for the architect Christoph August Robert Roller (1805-1858), 1829, Burgdorf, RS-10.1564.d
3 Rosary with two medallions, image of the Virgin Mary indicates origin from the Wallfartsort Lourdes in France; Mexico, North America; gift of Eléonore Sennwald 2002, ES-21486
4 Tin box with mountain picture, for colour pencils Prismalo of the brand “Caran d’Ache”, 20th century, Burgdorf, RS-36.52
5 Red tin box for first aid material, labelled “Notverband”, 20th century, Bern, RS-28.207
6 Travel domino: 33 ivory game pieces in small metal box with glass lid, Basel, RS-13.997
7 Camera of the brand “Voigtländer” in leather case, Made in West Germany, 2nd half of the 20th century, Wynigen, RS-23.474
8 Small black binoculars in metal case, undetermined date, Hasle bei Burgdorf, RS-25.190
9 Sundial and compass in a metal frame, probably 1st quarter of the 20th century, Burgdorf, RS-13.1046
10 Wooden walking stick, the handle carved with figures by Christian Gehri (1808-1882), 19th century, Burgdorf, RS-13.464
11 Stock flute in C made of wood, with ivory and metal rings, after 1800, Sumiswald, RS-13.1109
12 Thorens” travel record player in case with carrying strap, 20th century, Burgdorf, RS-20.455
13 Hermes Baby” travel typewriter in grey case, 20th century, Burgdorf, RS-30.78
14 Model of an outrigger boat; origin unknown; gift from Henri Schiffmann 1904, ES-2302
15 Toy: Steamboat made of wood, without inv.no.
16 Model of a barge; Borneo, Southeast Asia; Gift from Arthur Speyer Ethnographica-Handel Berlin 1929, ES-1914
17 Boat model made of beech bark; Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, South America; gift from Henri Schiffman 1904, ES-801
18 Boat model with oarsmen, SIO IV 29
19 Revolving map of the starry sky made of black cardboard with gold-coloured lettering, ca. 1900, Burgdorf, RS-37.36
20 Sea chart (staff map) of the Ralik Islands; Marshall Islands, Pacific Ocean; gift of curator Arnold Kordt 1936, ES-4686

Orientation artists
Sailors of Marshall Islands had a reputation in the Pacific Island world for being experts in astronomy, oceanography and meteorology. Without a compass, they could navigate using constellations, clouds, flocks of birds, waves and light at sea.
With “maps” formed of sticks, the sailors taught their children how to find an island and avoid atolls. The shells and corals represent islands, the sticks represent the movements of the sea. Only those who had trained with these stick cards had the right to sail at sea. Each Marshallese chief employed his navigation experts who passed on their knowledge only to a chosen few.
21 Coloured copper engraving: Map of the Asian continent, 1608 created by the Dutch geographer, mathematician and astronomer Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638), 1608, Burgdorf, RS-11.640.a
22 Coloured copper engraving: Map of the Americas, 1608 created by the Dutch geographer, mathematician and astronomer Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638), 1608, Burgdorf, RS-11.640.c
23 Coloured copper engraving. Continental map of Europe, 1608 created by the Dutch geographer, mathematician and astronomer Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638), 1608, Burgdorf, RS-11.640.d
24 Coloured copper engraving: Map of Africa, 1608 by the Dutch geographer, mathematician and astronomer Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638), 1608, Burgdorf, RS-11.640.b
25 Toy: Rider on horseback, plaited; origin unknown; gift from E. Schläpfer, year unknown, ES-12248
26 Model of a cart with water buffalo; origin unknown; gift from Albert Kappeler 1920, ES-2311
27 Toy: colourful wooden locomotive with coal wagon for tipping, 1st half 20th century, Burgdorf, RS-25.18
28 Toy: gold-coloured tin racing car, with the English coat of arms, 20th century, Thun, RS-29.215
29 Photo of the ride in a hot-air tethered balloon, on the occasion of the 1896 National Exhibition in Geneva, 1896, Burgdorf, RS-34.122
30 Account of the great railway accident in Münchenstein on 14 June 1891, which caused 73 deaths and 170 injuries, 1891, Burgdorf, RS-11.833

Full steam ahead into the abyss
When Switzerland celebrated 600 years of Confederation in 1891, many people travelled by train to take part in festivities. Emil Aeschlimann de Burgdorf was a railway controller and on June 14, he was working on the train from Basel to Délemont. When crossing a steel bridge built by Gustave Eiffel, the weight of the train with its 550 passengers, made the bridge collapse and the front part of the train fell into the River Birs. 73 people died and more than 170 people were injured. Emil Aeschlimann survived and was saved two hours later with injuries to the head, arms and legs. This remains the greatest railway disaster in Switzerland to this day.
Two months later, the young father was sufficiently recovered that he felt able to travel as a passenger on a train journey from Biel to Bern. That day, there were festivities for the anniversary of the city of Bern and special trains were put on, one of which was waiting in Zollikofen station when the express trainfrom Biel ran into the rear of it. Fourteen travellers died in the rear carriage and many others were seriously injured.
Emil Aeschlimann was physically well but, according to doctors, suffered a “traumatic neurosis” and could no longer work full time. He filed a complaint against the Jura-Simplon Railway Company and the Federal Court awarded him compensation for his partial inability to work.
31 4 photos from the ethnol. collection, without inv.no.
32 Woven doll’s pram, painted white, with painted flowers, 1930s – 1940s, Burgdorf, RS-32.96
33 Children’s sledge with curved seat, made of green painted wood, 1840s, Burgdorf, RS-13.612
34 Shells from all over the world as travel souvenirs. The shells are partially decorated and inscribed., 20th century, Corsier-sur-Vevey, RS-47.1
35 Souvenir porcelain: Small jug in the shape of a cow, spotted white and black, with an image of the village of La Côte-aux-Fées NE, 1st half of the 20th century, Corsier-sur-Vevey, RS-44.154
36 Souvenir porcelain: Small jug in the shape of a cow, spotted white-brown, with an image of Thun Castle, 1st half of the 20th century, Corsier-sur-Vevey, RS-44.155
37-40 Souvenir porcelain Switzerland, without inv.no.
41 Knife with decorated handle made of bone material, undetermined date, origin unknown, RS-0.5540
42 Tourism souvenir, bone letter opener with marabou; Lambaréné, Gabu, West Africa; gift from Renate Striffeler 1999, ES-20178b
43 Tourism souvenir; Tanzania, East Africa; gift from Max Zürcher 1999, ES-20051k
44 Tourist souvenir, ashtray; origin unknown; gift from Max Zürcher 1999, ES-20028
45 Tourism souvenir, leather key ring; West Africa; gift from Walter Staub 1995, ES-20297
46 Tourist souvenir, coconut carved into figure; Indonesia, Southeast Asia; gift of Walter Staub 1993, ES-20237
47 Tourism souvenir, scene of Jesus Christ birth carved into shell, Palestine, ES-21492
48-51 Tourist souvenir; Tanzania, East Africa; gift from Max Zürcher 1999, ES-20051b, d, e, o
52 Tourist souvenir, Massai figure made of wood; origin unknown; gift from Max Zürcher 1999, ES-20020
53 Tourism souvenir; Tanzania, East Africa; gift from Max Zürcher 1999, ES-20051i
54 Black fan with depiction of a peacock, promotional gift of the airline “Swissair”, 2nd half of the 20th century, Burgdorf, RS-23.234
55 Elephant tusk with carvings, tourism souvenir; Burkina Faso; gift from Paul. W. Burkart 2002, ES-20451
56 Bag with postcard, ES-21135
57 Tourist souvenir; origin unknown; gift from Max Zürcher 1999, ES-20051c
59 Train tickets (printed cardboard panels), mainly from Swiss railway companies, 20th century, Burgdorf, RS-32.289
60 Overshoes of transparent plastic, 20th century, Burgdorf, RS-25.447
61 Women’s shoes with velvet and gold embroidery; origin and provenance unknown, ES-12188a-b
62 Metal crampons for mountaineers, with leather cords to attach them to the shoes, undetermined date, Burgdorf, RS-25.128
63 Children’s sandals in rubber, leather and fabric, ES-20462a-b
64 Straw sandals (waraji) with cloth straps; Japan, East Asia; gift of curator Arnold Kordt 1912, ES-2644 and ES-2645
65 Leather shoes with gold and silver embroidery; origin unknown; gift from Arthur Speyer Ethnographica-Handel Berlin 1930, ES-7064
66 Wooden shoe lasts, with brass attachment for adjusting the shoe size, undetermined date, Utzenstorf, RS-24.73
67 Birch bark shoes; Finland, Europe; gift from Susi Staub 1998, ES-20115a-b
68 Metal skate blades, for attachment to shoes, so-called “heel cutters”, undetermined date, Hasle bei Burgdorf, RS-22.407
69 High felt shoes with leather cap and wooden sole, worn 1944/45 in the German concentration camp Haslach in Alsace, 1940s, Burgdorf, RS-26.247
70 Red leather sandals embellished with white leather strap, ES-20460a-b
71 Pink and transparent plastic rain shoes with white heel, 20th century, Bern, RS-29.177
72 Women’s leather shoes, ES-o.Nr._244
73 Children’s shoes (geta) made of wood and lacquered fabric; Japan, East Asia; gift from E. Schiller 1922, ES-2685
74 Black leather toddler’s shoes, size 18, ca. 1917, Altdorf UR, RS-30.385
75 Silk mandarin boots; China, East Asia; provenance unknown, ES-20378
76 Clog shoes (geta) with fabric toe band; Japan, East Asia; gift of Marie Schafroth 1911, ES-2642 and ES-2643
77 Leather Circassian boots; North Caucasus, Russia, Europe; gift of Max Wüst 1918, ES-1743 and ES-1744
78 Wooden shoes with mother-of-pearl inlays; origin unknown; gift from Henri Schiffmann 1904, ES-1266 and ES-1267
79 Leather sandals; North Africa; anonymous donor, ES-20160a-b
80 Sandals in red leather, decorated, with white and brown leather stripes, ES-20461a-b
81 Dark Leather Moccasins, ES-21004
82 Military shoes of the Women’s Auxiliary Service FHD in blue cloth bags, worn by Red Cross driver Marion van Laer-Uhlmann (1905-2004), 1940s, Burgdorf, RS-31.311
83 Women’s leather shoes, ES-o.Nr._243
84 Snowshoes of the Sami; Northern Scandinavia and Northern Russia, Europe; Gift of Susi Staub 1998, ES-20114a-b
85 Sandals in fibres, braided sole, upper sole in woven and embroidered ribbons in white, black, pink., ES-20463a-b
86 Fabric boots with leather soles of the Saami; Finland, Europe; gift from Susi Staub 1998, ES-20116a-b
87 Men’s high shoes of brown leather, for work use, 20th century, origin unknown, RS-44.159
88 Lotus shoes, women’s shoes of embroidered silk fabric; China, East Asia; gift of Marie Schafroth 1911, ES-2609
89 Infant’s shoes of white fabric, with leather sole, undetermined date, Burgdorf, RS-24.273
90 Embroidered boots; origin unexplained; purchased by curator Arnold Kordt from Mr. or Mrs. Hegner 1921, ES-2676 and ES-2677.
91 Children’s boots made of fabric and leather; origin unknown; gift from Mrs. Schultheiss 1970, ES-20109a-b
92 Leather shoes; origin and provenance unexplained, ES-7034 and ES-7035
93 High men’s shoes made of black leather. Made by master shoemaker A. Gammeter for the 1883 National Exhibition in Zurich, 1883, Burgdorf, RS-12.939
94 Ladies’ shoes in black fabric, with platform sole, 1998, Burgdorf, RS-31.454
95 Basa wood sandals, Guatemala, ES-20389
96 Shoes of leather and velvet with glass bead embroidery; origin unknown; gift from Arthur Speyer Ethnographica-Handel Berlin 1930, ES-2696
97 Gold embroidered cloth shoes; Iran, Near East; gift from Annemarie Braun 1936, ES-01812a
98 Winter shoes made of blue plastic, so-called “moon boots”, made in Italy, 1990, Burgdorf, RS-38.111
99 a pair of children’s shoes with rubber sole, ES-22286
100 Gold Look Shoe, 2007, Italy, HGM-03.73
101 High children’s shoes of black leather, with button fastening, c. 1902, Mötschwil, RS-33.28
102 Klotzschuhe (Geta); Japan, East Asia; gift from Arthur Speyer Ethnographica-Handel Berlin 1932, ES-2700
103 Braided plant fibre slippers, ES-20464a-b
104 Roller skate bases with stoppers, for strapping on shoes, 2nd half of 20th century, Burgdorf, RS-22.415
106 Swift (taxidermy)
107 Pigeon (taxidermy)

 

This information has been machine translated. In case of doubt, the German version is valid. We apologise for any errors and are grateful for your feedback.

 

Legend of inventory numbers:
ES = Burgdorf Ethnological Collection
HGM = Swiss Gold Room Collection
RS = Historical Collection of the Knights’ Hall Association
SIO = Im Obersteg Collection (belongs to ES)