Camels
ca. 1890 | Franz Ferdinand von Österreich-Este
Elephants, tigers, antelopes, horses and camels made of wood were popular toys for Indian children in the 19th century and sought-after souvenirs for European travelers - and still are today. Some of them adorn mantelpieces in Europe, but the museum owes the large number of such toy animals to the collecting mania of the heir to the Austrian throne, Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Este. In his published diary of his 10-month trip around the world (1892 - 1893), he himself described the way in which he acquired his fourteen thousand objects as a collecting mania. Even before embarking on his journey, he planned the largest private museum in Vienna, on the one hand to showcase his magnificence and on the other to emphasize his monarchical qualities in the education of his people. In a manic manner, he collected everything he could get his hands on, both exquisite and inferior. He acquired thousands of objects in stores specializing in foreign travelers. This is most likely where these camels came from.
Elephants, tigers, antelopes, horses and camels made of wood were popular toys for Indian children in the 19th century and sought-after souvenirs for European travelers - and still are today. Some of them adorn mantelpieces in Europe, but the museum owes the large number of such toy animals to the collecting mania of the heir to the Austrian throne, Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Este. In his published diary of his 10-month trip around the world (1892 - 1893), he himself described the way in which he acquired his fourteen thousand objects as a collecting mania. Even before embarking on his journey, he planned the largest private museum in Vienna, on the one hand to showcase his magnificence and on the other to emphasize his monarchical qualities in the education of his people. In a manic manner, he collected everything he could get his hands on, both exquisite and inferior. He acquired thousands of objects in stores specializing in foreign travelers. This is most likely where these camels came from.
Collection:
Franz Ferdinand von Österreich-Este (1863 Graz - 1914 Sarajevo) DNB
Time:
ca. 1890
Object Name
Animal toys (camels)
Culture
Indien
Material/technology:
Wood, pigments, lacquer
Copyright
Weltmuseum Wien
Collection area
South Asia, Southeast Asia, Himalayas
Geography
Südasien/Subkontinent/Indien
Invs.
102278_49
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