Anzeiger des Germanischen Nationalmuseums, Jahrgang 1901

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

51260

Title

Anzeiger des Germanischen Nationalmuseums, Jahrgang 1901

Language

de

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This 1901 issue of the Germanic National Museum's bulletin documents the museum's financial support from various donors and details new acquisitions. The text features scholarly articles on historical kitchen equipment, specifically analyzing the mechanics and mythology of meat roasters (Bräter) in Nuremberg, alongside notes on art history and museum collections.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1901, the *Anzeiger des Germanischen Nationalmuseums* serves as both a financial chronicle and a scholarly journal for the Germanic National Museum in Nuremberg. The volume opens by documenting substantial financial support from a wide array of German and European entities, including cities, universities, and private citizens, underscoring the museum's reliance on public patronage to sustain its operations and collections. The core of the publication shifts to a detailed ethnographic and technical examination of historical kitchenware, specifically focusing on 'Bräter' (roasters) used to rotate meat over hearths. Dr. Otto Lauffer provides an extensive analysis of these devices, distinguishing between wind-driven, weight-driven, and spring-driven mechanisms. He rigorously debunks popular myths regarding dog-driven roasters, citing historical woodcuts and museum artifacts to clarify that the animals depicted in folklore were merely present in the kitchen rather than operating the machinery. Lauffer traces the evolution of these devices from the 15th century, noting their integration into household life and their subsequent association with witchcraft folklore, where the hearth was considered a seat of spirits and tools like the fire hook were linked to witch rides. Beyond ethnography, the volume includes brief notes on art history, referencing works by Albrecht Dürer and discussing specific artifacts such as Roman terra sigillata and bronze medals. The publication concludes with a comprehensive list of new acquisitions, ranging from embroidered items to historical coins and numerous commemorative medals honoring figures like Otto von Bismarck and Kaiser Wilhelm II. These additions highlight the museum's active role in preserving German cultural heritage through both scientific inquiry and artifact collection, bridging the gap between daily domestic utility and the mythological significance of the hearth in past centuries.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• History