The Kunstkamera

Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (the Kunstkamera) celebrated its 300 anniversary in 2014. One of the richest ethnographical museums in the world, it is a scholarly center of an international fame. The museum's unique collections, acquired through the efforts of thousands of persons, participants of the great academic expeditions, circumnavigations of the Russian fleet, and numerous donators, are rightfully admired both in this country and abroad. Indeed, they were assembled by entire Russia, and today the nation is proud of its first museum.

When we speak about the Kunstkamera, the first association of a modern person, especially in Russia, would be of a collection of something abnormal, a collection of "freaks" or "monsters." However, in the 18th century, the perception of the first public museum in Russia was quite different. The secrets of nature, hidden deep in the earth, forests and fields, on the bottoms of the seas and oceans, in myriads of stars above our heads, and even inside our own body, were revealing to a Kunstkamera visitor. The Museum was not a mere collection of items but also a repository of man's knowledge about the world and human beings.

The establishment of the Kunstkamera is related with the experiences and impressions that the Russian Tsar received during his trips abroad (his first trip in 1697–1698, and the second one in 1717–1718). As it is well known, the trips originated from political and military interests of Russia. One of the major political goals was creation of a new image of the changing Russia. Russian diplomats, commissioners, publishers, and journalists' efforts were focused on its completion. Articles about the new Russia were appearing on the pages of European magazines. Already in 1706, Journal de Trevoux wrote that muses and sciences were moving up-North, where "presently ruling Tsar Peter Alekseyevich has a strong intention to enlighten his state". From this point of view, establishment of a museum, for which collections had been acquired that made the entire Europe wonder, in the best possible way served the new image of Russia emerging in the opinion of European public.

A special Tsar's Edict of February 13, 1718, ordered to send "born freaks" for a fee to St. Petersburg, while for concealing them, a fine was levied: progress in anatomy contributed to the development of medicine, including the military. The same Edict prescribed to collect and donate for a fee old things found in the earth, remarkable stones, human and animal bones, old inscriptions on stones, iron or copper, old rifles, pottery, and everything that was "very old and extraordinary."

The direct connection of the Kunstkamera with progress in the sciences resulted in a situation that it ceased to exist as an encyclopedic museum in the early decades of the 19th century. Differentiation of sciences led to changes in the museum operation: specialized museums superseded universal museums. Collections of Peter's Kunstkamera formed the basis of the Zoological, Botanical, Mineralogical, Asiatic, and Ethnographical Museums, and the Anatomical, Numismatic, Egyptian, and Memorial Peter the Great's Cabinets. A substantial part of the collections, including the Numismatic and Egypt ones, scientific instruments, paintings, and the Memorial Peter the Great's Collection were handed over in different years to the Hermitage.