Colonial Contexts
Our collections and our stance
For a long time, museums exhibited collection items without scrutinising their provenance. As a museum that has existed for over 180 years, the Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch holds a comprehensive collection that includes objects from colonial contexts. What does this mean exactly, and what responsibilities does this pose for us as a museum?
Provenance Research
Discovering the Origin of Collection Items
Provenance research (derived from the Latin word provenire = to come forth, to originate) seeks to uncover where objects or human remains come from and the context in which they came into the possession of a museum.
Provenance research traces the journey of an object or human remains from its place of origin to its current location in the museum. Ideally, different stages of this journey are identified, and those individuals or owners involved are determined, too. Why is this important? Throughout history, people with greater wealth and power have often dominated other individuals and resources. In historical periods like the colonial era, this power imbalance was even more pronounced. As a result, objects and human remains were often bought for little money, exchanged for something of lesser value or even stolen. Therefore, according to today’s understanding, these later owners did not legally acquire the items. This illegitimacy remained even as the objects or human remains eventually made their way into the museum. If provenance research can determine where an object or human remains originated, the museum may attempt to locate the descendants of the original owners or creators and the families of those involved. This creates the possibility for objects, especially human remains, to be returned promptly or for dialogue to take place about their fate, handling and accessibility. Ideally, an agreement will be reached with the community of origin for the restitution, i.e. the return of the object.
First Human Remains Repatriation from Oldenburg
Ancestors Return to Australia After Over 130 Years
On 5 December 2024, the Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch Oldenburg returned human remains from its ethnological collection for the first time in its history. Two ancestors returned to their homeland in northeastern Queensland, Australia, after more than 130 years. The handover took place in a solemn ceremony in Berlin, alongside ancestors from the Ethnological Museum Berlin. The ancestors from Oldenburg are being entrusted to the Australian government, as their community of origin is still unknown.
I.E. Natasha Smith, Australian Ambassador in Berlin: “Today’s repatriation shows the recognition of German institutions and governments for the importance of returning First Nations ancestors to their traditional custodians. We commend and welcome the willingness of the Ethnological Museum Berlin and the Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch Oldenburg to support the return of these ancestors and acknowledge past injustices. The Australian government continues to actively work to ensure that our First Nations peoples can bring their ancestors back from overseas, so they can return to Australia.”
“We must take responsibility for the colonial legacy of our collection. The return of the ancestors is an important step in acknowledging historical wrongs,” said Ursula Warnke, Director of the State Museum.
Ivonne Kaiser, Provenance Researcher at the State Museum, said: “The dialogue with the Australian government and communities of origin shows us how profound and significant this process is for all parties involved. It can create space for healing and reconciliation.”
The two ancestors were acquired in the late 19th century by the collection of the former Natural History Museum. Despite extensive research, the exact community of origin could not be determined. Therefore, the ancestors are first being handed over to the Australian government, where they will be cared for closer to their homeland while further work is conducted to determine the traditional custodians.
Australia’s Repatriation Policy
The Australian government's Indigenous Repatriation Programme has been working for more than a decade to repatriate human remains from overseas. The programme helps communities identify ancestors in overseas collections, makes repatriation requests, and actively supports their return. The Repatriation Programme allows for ancestors to be brought home and finally find peace after often more than 100 years. This returns dignity to the deceased.
Initiation
The Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch Oldenburg has been working towards this first repatriation for some time. From 2019 to 2021, a project funded by the Deutsche Zentrum Kulturgutverluste, the German Centre for Cultural Property Loss (DZK) researched the provenance of human remains from colonial contexts. The research combined non-invasive anthropological analyses with the evaluation of historical archives.
Our stance
The Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch is committed to comprehensively addressing the provenance history of its colonial collections, both in the field of ethnology and natural history. The museum and its staff adhere to the principles outlined in the so-called First Key Paper, including topics such as research, transparency, prioritizing human remains in provenance work and the return of items to communities of origin. Additionally, the museum is developing its own stances on the subject, which are made available as downloadable files. These documents include guidelines on the handling of human remains, the use of images and efforts to promote decolonial language.
The stance on handling human remains (as of May 2022) can be accessed here (pdf).
The Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch Oldenburg advocates for a two-way, transparent and open-ended exchange with members of the communities of origin. This includes efforts to make all collections from colonial contexts digitally accessible. The museum feeds ethnological and natural history objects from colonial contexts as well as the results of provenance research into the PAESE project database to make them publicly available.
Since November 2021, datasets of the PAESE database have been accessible via the new online portal Collection Items from Colonial Contexts, as the Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch is part of the pilot phase of the three-way strategy for the recording and digital publication of collection items from colonial contexts in Germany, agreed upon by the federal, state and local governments.
Further Links (External Pages):
First Key Paper
PAESE Project Database
Collection Items from Colonial Contexts
Three-Way Strategy for the Recording and Digital Publication of Collection Items from Colonial Contexts in Germany
Colonial Collections at the Museum
The Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch Oldenburg has been a multidisciplinary museum since its inception. As a result, its collections from colonial contexts often include contributions from various fields. Objects in different areas of the museum often share a common source in the collecting individuals. This is especially apparent in projects dealing with provenance and the origin of objects, where the common reference sources of various collection parts can be traced in historical museum documentation. For this reason, the museum often takes a transdisciplinary approach to provenance research and examines collections derived from every discipline.
Particularly extensive collections from colonial contexts are attributed to the following individuals:
Ivan Antonovich Kuprejanov (1794-1853)
The first intake of non-European objects stems from the dynastic relationships between the Oldenburg court and Russia. Prince Peter of Oldenburg (1812-1881) donated part of the collection to the museum in 1841, which had been gathered by Captain of the Russian Navy (and former Governor of Russian America) Ivan Antonovich Kuprejanov. This marked the foundation of the ethnographic collection. The collection includes 89 ethnological and 48 natural history objects from the northwest coast of America. These include everyday items such as tools, wooden dishes, clothing and weapons as well as ritual objects like masks, a memorial staff, and a Chilkat dance blanket.
Carl Ludwig Ritter von Blume (1796-1862)
Blume, a native of Braunschweig, worked as a pharmacist and health officer in the Dutch army in Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and, from 1823, as the director of the botanical garden in Java (also Indonesia). In 1853, the museum received Javanese plants, his large four-volume publication on Javanese plants, and 14 human skulls, which also originated from the Indonesian archipelago.
Friedrich Graf von Baudissin (1852-1921)
In 1887 and 1888, the Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch received about 100 ethnological objects from von Baudissin. The extent of the natural history objects that are related to von Baudissin’s collection is not yet determined. Baudissin “collected” these objects during his time in the navy as the commander of the SMS Albatross in Oceania. The ethnographic items primarily include jewellery made of shells, tortoiseshell and fibres, alongside everyday objects and weapons. These objects mainly come from Papua New Guinea and the Caroline Islands.
Wilhelm Langheld (1867-1917)
The “Langheld Collection” consists of over 1,000 ethnological objects from colonial contexts, making it the largest collection at the Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch Oldenburg. It was created between 1889 and 1901 primarily by Wilhelm Langheld (1867-1917) and his brothers Johannes and Friedrich, while they were stationed as military personnel in German East Africa. The collection includes everyday and utility items, such as ceramics, baskets, weapons, jewellery, clothing, pipes, figurines and vessels made of various materials, mostly collected in what is now Tanzania and Uganda. The Langheld brothers also donated natural history objects to the museum, though in an unknown quantity.
Richard Deeken (1874-1914)
Approximately 170 ethnological objects were acquired by the museum through former colonial officer and later director of the joint-stock company for cocoa cultivation in Samoa, Richard Deeken. The number of natural history items related to Deeken’s collection is still unknown. These objects primarily come from Samoa and the Caroline Islands, including everyday objects, jewellery, and weapons. The Oldenburg collection entries date from 1901 and 1902, a period during which Deeken was collecting on behalf of various German museums in Oceania.
Many other smaller collections were also donated to the museum by individuals from the region connected to civilian or military seafaring.
In-Depth Information
Particularly extensive collections from colonial contexts can be traced back to the following people:
Ivan Antonovich Kuprejanov (1794-1853)
The first intake of non-European objects stems from the dynastic relationships between the Oldenburg court and Russia. Prince Peter of Oldenburg (1812-1881) donated part of the collection to the museum in 1841, which had been gathered by Captain of the Russian Navy (and former Governor of Russian America) Ivan Antonovich Kuprejanov. This marked the foundation of the ethnographic collection. The collection includes 89 ethnological and 48 natural history objects from the northwest coast of America. These include everyday items such as tools, wooden dishes, clothing and weapons as well as ritual objects like masks, a memorial staff, and a Chilkat dance blanket.
Carl Ludwig Ritter von Blume (1796-1862)
Blume, a native of Braunschweig, worked as a pharmacist and health officer in the Dutch army in Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and, from 1823, as the director of the botanical garden in Java (also Indonesia). In 1853, the museum received Javanese plants, his large four-volume publication on Javanese plants, and 14 human skulls, which also originated from the Indonesian archipelago.
Friedrich Graf von Baudissin (1852-1921)
In 1887 and 1888, the Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch received about 100 ethnological objects from von Baudissin. The extent of the natural history objects that are related to von Baudissin’s collection is not yet determined. Baudissin “collected” these objects during his time in the navy as the commander of the SMS Albatross in Oceania. The ethnographic items primarily include jewellery made of shells, tortoiseshell and fibres, alongside everyday objects and weapons. These objects mainly come from Papua New Guinea and the Caroline Islands.
Wilhelm Langheld (1867-1917)
The “Langheld Collection” consists of over 1,000 ethnological objects from colonial contexts, making it the largest collection at the Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch Oldenburg. It was created between 1889 and 1901 primarily by Wilhelm Langheld (1867-1917) and his brothers Johannes and Friedrich, while they were stationed as military personnel in German East Africa. The collection includes everyday and utility items, such as ceramics, baskets, weapons, jewellery, clothing, pipes, figurines and vessels made of various materials, mostly collected in what is now Tanzania and Uganda. The Langheld brothers also donated natural history objects to the museum, though in an unknown quantity.
Richard Deeken (1874-1914)
Approximately 170 ethnological objects were acquired by the museum through former colonial officer and later director of the joint-stock company for cocoa cultivation in Samoa, Richard Deeken. The number of natural history items related to Deeken’s collection is still unknown. These objects primarily come from Samoa and the Caroline Islands, including everyday objects, jewellery, and weapons. The Oldenburg collection entries date from 1901 and 1902, a period during which Deeken was collecting on behalf of various German museums in Oceania.
Many other smaller collections were also donated to the museum by individuals from the region connected to civilian or military seafaring.
Current projects
Research network “Digitization, visualization and analysis of collection items” (DiViAS)
Russian-America in Oldenburg - Provenance Research and Digitization of the Kuprejanov Collection
Selected completed projects
An Ikegobo in Oldenburg (Benin)
Provenance research on the anthropological skull collection
Provenance research in non-European collections and ethnology in Lower Saxony
Special exhibition „Schwarzweissheiten“
From September 28, 2001 to January 27, 2002, the Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch Oldenburg presented a special exhibition entitled "Schwarzweissheiten: On dealing with foreign people", a special exhibition which dealt with topics such as xenophobia, racism and also colonialism.
Related publication:
Fansa, Mamoun (Hrsg.): Schwarzweissheiten: Vom Umgang mit fremden Menschen. Schriftenreihe des Landesmuseums für Natur und Mensch Oldenburg, Heft 19, Oldenburg: Isensee, 2001.
Special exhibition „Böser Wilder, friedlicher Wilder“
In 2015, the topic of colonialism and the museum's colonial collections was also addressed in the special exhibition "Bad savage, peaceful savage: How museums shape the image of other cultures" from June 13 to September 13.
Related publication:
Becker, Peter-René und Ricci, Glenn Arthur: Böser Wilder, friedlicher Wilder: Wie Museen das Bild anderer Kulturen prägen. Schriftenreihe des Landesmuseums für Natur und Mensch Oldenburg, Heft 96, Oldenburg: Isensee, 2015.
The Somali village in Oldenburg in 1905 - a forgotten colonial history?
Under the title “Eine Völkerschau in der Provinz”, the Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch Oldenburg presented a special exhibition as part of the project “Jahrhundertschritt 05. Tradition - Innovation - Vision” on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the “Landes-Industrie- und Gewerbeausstellung verbunden mit einer Nordwestdeutschen Kunstausstellung und einer Ausstellung Kunstgewerblicher Altertümer” from June 26 to August 28, 2005.
Related publications:
Fansa, Mamoun (Hrsg.): Das Somali-Dorf in Oldenburg 1905: eine vergessene Kolonialgeschichte? Schriftenreihe des Landesmuseum für Natur und Mensch Oldenburg, Heft 35. Oldenburg: Isensee, 2005.
Kloos, Evelyn: „Das Somali-Dorf in Oldenburg 1905 – eine vergessene Kolonialgeschichte?“ Eine Völkerschau in der Provinz, in: Fechner, Fabian und Schneider, Barbara (Hrsg.): Fernes Hagen. Kolonialismus und wir. FernUniversität in Hagen, 2021.
Umfassendes Archivmaterial zur Dokumentation von Sammlungsgut aus kolonialen Kontexten hat das Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch Oldenburg der Abteilung Oldenburg des Niedersächsischen Landesarchivs übergeben. Damit sind die Bestände öffentlich über das Portal des Archivinformationssystems Niedersachsen und Bremen recherchierbar.
The Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch Oldenburg is happy to provide helpful links and further information on objects from colonial contexts:
Further information
List of the AG Koloniale Provenienzen
Contact point for collections from colonial contexts in Germany
Position paper on the colonial context of the Senckenberg Collections
Guidelines for handling collection items from colonial contexts
Guidelines for handling human remains in museums and collections
Colonial Provenances Working Group of the Provenance Research Working Group
Provenance Research Network Lower Saxony
Portals to objects from colonial contexts
The Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch deals openly and transparently with provenance research on its holdings. If you have any questions about the museum's holdings and attitude, please do not hesitate to contact us:
Dr. Ursula Warnke
Direktorin
0441 / 40570 301
u.warnke[at]landesmuseen-ol.de
Damm 38-46
26135 Oldenburg
Colonial Objects in the Exhibition
The Cabinet of Natural Curiosities
The Cabinet of Natural Curiosities is displayed as a separate room within the permanent exhibition Coast and Marsh. It is meant to scenographically recall the beginnings of the museum: the Grand Duchy Natural History Cabinet or the Grand Duchy Collections. These collections already contained non-European objects, especially through donations.
Our view of these collection items today has changed significantly in recent years. An unreflective view no longer fully captures the history of these objects. This is why we launched a temporary intervention at the site in 2019. It was essentially a disruptive moment. The old-fashioned and darkly designed cabinet was adorned with colourful sticky notes meant to disturb the equilibrium of the space and attract the attention of visitors. Some notes contained useful background information, while others invited visitors to participate in the intervention by adding their own questions, ideas and opinions, e.g., about the presentation or the background of the objects.
The intervention has since moved to the digital space and will continue there in the future.
Ethnological objects are no longer displayed in the Cabinet of Natural Curiosities. However, natural history materials from colonial contexts are still shown there. The museum critically addresses the ongoing issues: some exhibits became part of the collection due to colonial rule and asymmetric power dynamics. Object names are sometimes based on external attributions. Geographical names are outdated, thus reinforcing imperial and colonial mindsets.
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