The Wunderkammer, or “cabinet of curiosities,” is a work that revives the era when collectors gathered objects from various fields of art, science, and philosophy, aiming to embrace all of humanity's knowledge in a single room. From Grand Duke Francesco I de’ Medici to Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II, these aristocratic virtuosos acquired, selected, and presented objects in real catalogs that represented the world — covering architecture, interior design, painting, sculpture, gemology, geology, botany, biology, taxonomy, astrology, alchemy, anthropology, ethnography, and history.

Discover unicorn horns (narwhal tusks), precious gemstones, rare corals, Murano glassware, paintings, and curious mechanical automata. Navigate through depictions of exotic and mythical creatures and discover the famous “Coburg ivories,” a stunning collection of crafted objects. These collections are a journey through time, from the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery, the Mannerists, and the Baroque period, up to the present day.

While many of these cabinets of curiosities no longer exist, others have been carefully restored, and new ones have been created. These marvelous cabinets can now be explored by all in this XXL collection. To accomplish this massive endeavor, Massimo Listri traveled to seven European countries over many decades; the result is a set of beautiful photographs, an authentic yet accessible introduction, and detailed commentary on each of the 19 cabinets, highlighting the most remarkable objects in each collection.

Discover how these timeless treasures describe and define culture, the modern concept of the museum, and our knowledge of the universe.

Pages: 356, Year of Publication: 0729, Dimensions: 29x29cm