Dodos and Dark Lanterns

* Tells the story of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, UK, the world's first university museum, dating from the late 1600s * Not your traditional approach to a museum history, but told through anecdotes about people famous and not-so and the objects they treasured * It all started with the bequest of a cabinet of curios called "The Ark" Dodos & Dark Lanterns tells the fascinating story of Oxford's Ashmolean, the first public museum in the world. Through a series of interesting anecdotes, based on objects from the Ashmolean's collections, the book traces the eventful history of this remarkable institution, which evolved from a cabinet of curiosities, representing the world in microcosm, into a museum of art and archaeology, illustrating connections between cultures over time. In the process, it introduces a host of colorful characters, such as a local confectioner named James Sadler who became the first English aeronaut and a young schoolboy known as Ned who grew up to be the legendary Lawrence of Arabia. Contents: Map of Oxford; Introduction; Tradescant's Orchard; Powhatan's Mantle; Præmia Honoraria; Statutes Order & Rules; Bottle of Nitre; Clypeus ploti; Oxford Dodo; Mourning Dress; Megalosaurus bucklandi; Draft Labels; Jewelled Disc Brooch; Guy Fawkes' Lantern; Statue of Athena; Study of Heads and Hands; Chester Seal; Hill House Album; Medieval Mug; Head of Louisa; Jane Russell; Ritual Food Vessel; Statue of the Buddha.

Read more Continue reading Read less ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Today Assistant Director at the John and Marble Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida, David Berry did his doctoral research on the history of the museums, gardens and libraries of the University of Oxford. He has lectured extensively on the Ashmolean, its history, architecture and collections, and has given numerous tours on these subjects to a variety of audiences. He contributed to the Ashmolean's redevelopment and curated its founding collection and historic archive.

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