EGZOTIKA VILNIAUS SENIENŲ MUZIEJAUS RINKINIUOSE
EXOTICS IN COLLECTION OF THE VILNIUS MUSEUM OF ANTIQUITIES

Summary/Abstract: The concept “exotic” universally characterizes the unusual and fancy features that are peculiar to far-away countries, but every individual, depending on his social status, intelligence, abilities and opportunities of knowledge of the world, forms his own criteria. The discussion is based on aspirations and motivations of people lived in Lithuania in the middle 19th – the early 20th centuries to express their attitude to exotic cultures, and also on stances of the first collective repertory – the Vilnius museum of antiquities to collect artefacts of distant countries. The analysis of public sentiment to different cultures evidently illustrates how interest to a beyond attainment expanded into purposeful knowledge and popularization. In 1855 in Vilnius on the basis of count Eustachy Tyszkiewicz’s private collection the Museum of antiquities was founded and then the Temporary archeologic commission was created there. In the charter the purpose was officially determined – to collect and investigate exhibits of the North-west region and Russia altogether. But at the exposition opened in 1856 the heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania dominated. During the first years the museum had no strict principles of exhibits selection and gradually next to the Lithuanian (from unique up to funny) the distant countries artefacts appeared as well. The philanthropists having original overview about functions of a museum and comparing it with Kunstkammer, endowing different antiquities and exotic subjects. Tourist interest seldom developed into scientific researches, therefore the majority of presented subjects did not make a historical value. But museum curators, expressing gratitude and attention to the first donators, and partly showing interest to rarities, accepted in funds similar, sometimes even unknown and doubtful exhibits. During the second period of activity in 1867–1914 the museum did not acquire any new things of this kind. However in 1903 Zinaida Bushanova a lieutenant’s widow donated one of the most valuable and interesting collecton of photos with views of Southern Europe, Africa, Asia and different types of inhabitants. During the research of exotic collection all 20 cardboards with 180 photos have been discovered in the Library of Vilnius university.

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