Anthropology - Horniman Museum and Gardens
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Our ethnographic collection is one of the most significant in the United Kingdom.
The collection comprises approximately 80,000 objects from around the world, and includes artefacts of major national and international significance. Through the anthropology collection you can find a path into understanding the everyday lives and beliefs of people from all over the world, including ourselves.
The quality, diversity and beauty of the objects in the collection are testament to the technical, aesthetic and practical skills of people throughout the world. The collection is constantly being researched and added to.
African
There are an estimated 22,000 objects from Africa in our collection. It covers the whole of the continent, with virtually every modern African state represented.
In recent years, we have concentrated on the development of collections to illustrate contemporary masquerade from countries that are not well represented in other national and local museums. Fieldworkers are encouraged to commission new works by acknowledged makers rather than remove existing works from circulation.
American
The core of our American collections was built from purchases. Primary amongst these are the Inuit and Northwest coast collections made by A.C. Haddon and donated to the Museum by Emslie Horniman.
During the last 50 years, the main focus of research and collecting has been on the American Southwest, in particular Navajo textiles, Pueblo ceramics and Hopi Katsinam.
Asian
There are approximately 32,000 items in our Asian collection. The collection is particularly rich in art, including carvings of gods, masks and puppets, and other items of material culture from India, China, Japan, Sri Lanka and Burma.
In recent decades the Horniman has developed the collection in the area of performance, acquiring puppets and masks from Nepal, Japan, Sri Lanka, China and Central Asia.
European
The Horniman contains substantial and important collections from western and central Europe, as well as Scandinavia.
Frederick Horniman was an avid collector of European material, acquiring examples of items which were in danger of being lost as a result of industrialisation and urbanisation. Since then, donations from England, Romania and the Balkans (amongst others) have greatly enhanced the collections.
Oceania
There are around 3,000 objects from Oceania in the collections.
They contain material from each of the region’s three sub-areas, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, with a particularly strong focus on Papua New Guinea. With few exceptions, the items in the Oceanic collections are of outstanding quality.
Archaeology
The Horniman’s collections include a substantial amount of archaeological material from all over the world. British prehistoric material forms a large proportion of collection, as well as prehistoric objects from Europe, some parts of Africa, ancient Peruvian pottery and Caribbean stone tools.
Textiles
There are more than 6,500 items in the Horniman’s textile collections, from many different countries and cultures. They show the enormous variety of textile traditions across the world, and employ a wide range of manufacturing techniques and designs.
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Browse the collection:
Anthropology
Showing 50 of 79972 items
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Anthropology
Armband
object | nn19345.2
Anthropology
Arrow
object | nn10166
Anthropology
Arrow
object | nn10769
Anthropology
Arrow (hunting, fishing & trapping)
object | nn9805
Anthropology
Prayer wheel; scroll
object | 6.12.65/64iv
Anthropology
Armlets (arm ornament)
object | nn13312
Anthropology
Arrow (hunting, fishing & trapping)
object | nn9804
Anthropology
Nose ornaments
object | 19.123
Anthropology
Ear sticks
object | 36.154
Anthropology
Ear stick
object | 11.157i
Anthropology
Fish hooks
object | 30.46
Anthropology
Beads
object | nn19354
Anthropology
Currency units (currency & wealth); garters (leg ornament)
object | 32.49
Anthropology
Arrow
object | nn10177
Anthropology
Arrow
object | nn10186
Anthropology
Arrow
object | nn10137
Anthropology
Arrow
object | nn10138
Anthropology
Combs (hair ornaments)
object | nn19347
Anthropology
Combs (hair ornaments)
object | nn19346
Anthropology
Harvest knot
object | 33.223
Anthropology
Tree decoration
object | 1974.1
Anthropology
Thangka
object | 29.3.52/1
Anthropology
Tree decoration
object | 1974.3
Anthropology
Easter egg
object | 18.11.61/4.3
Anthropology
Easter egg
object | 18.11.61/4.5
Anthropology
Adze (general & multipurpose)
object | 9.756
Anthropology
Adze (general & multipurpose)
object | 9.755
Anthropology
Bailer
object | 5.360ii
Anthropology
Baby sling
object | 7.7.59/99
Anthropology
Ski
object | 7.225i
Anthropology
Dao
object | 16.4
Anthropology
Adze (general & multipurpose)
object | 20.51
Anthropology
Tray (household miscellany)
object | 1983.79
Anthropology
Snowshoe
object | nn5912
Anthropology
Yoke (land transport: animal powered)
object | nn5965
Anthropology
Branding iron
object | 27.295viii
Anthropology
Branding iron
object | 27.295ix
Anthropology
Axe (agriculture & forestry)
object | 9.5.48/137
Anthropology
Anchor
object | nn6136
Anthropology
Hobbin iron
object | 5.357
Anthropology
Ritual dagger
object | nn6560
Anthropology
Spur
object | nn6021
Anthropology
Spur
object | nn6031
Anthropology
Horse tail docker
object | 6.1.60/7
Anthropology
Boathook
object | nn6172
Anthropology
Canoe bailer
object | nn6174
Anthropology
Separator (domestication of animals)
object | 27.289
Anthropology
Paddle (water transport: accessories)
object | nn6198
Anthropology
Paddle (water transport: accessories)
object | nn6249
Anthropology
Shovels (food processing & storage)
object | nn810
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Collection Information
These objects are only a part of our collections, of which there are more than 350,000 objects. This information comes from our collections database. Some of this is incomplete and there may be errors. This part of the website is also still under construction, so there may be some fields repeated or incorrectly formatted information.
The database retains language taken from historical documents to help research. Please note that some records may feature language and reflect systems of thinking that are outdated and offensive. The database also includes information on objects that are considered secret or sacred by some communities.
If you have any further information about objects in our collections, can suggest corrections to our information or if you see content requiring immediate action, please contact us:
enquiry@horniman.ac.uk
About the Horniman
The Horniman connects us all with global cultures and the natural environment, encouraging us to shape a positive future for the world we all share.
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