ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a historical overview of the European collection of ‘Other’ cultures. Beginning with the pre-modern collection of curio objects, during the Roman period, I consider the reception of exotic artefacts, gathered by very early explorers, and their relationship to fine art. I then discuss early modern collections of similar goods and focus on the presentation of such collections in the form of the Wunderkammer. Here I examine the meaning of these collections and the way they enhance the collector’s social status in the light of the developing colonial project. The final part of this chapter examines the mature colonial project and introduces the role of the anthropologist in gathering exotic artefacts. Here I present examples from anthropologists working in Australia during the first half of the last century and suggest that the relationship between anthropology and tourism is sustained in the activity of present day tourism.
