Of the Passion for Travelling and Collecting

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Published on

29.04.2023


Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim

La parure. Instinct et art populaire.


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Eva and Peter Herion, a collector couple from Pforzheim, Germany, traveled extensively to countries in Africa, the Far East, and the South Seas. Along with their love of travel and meeting locals, the Herions also had a passion for collecting objects of adornment from these diverse regions.

 

After inaugurating the new presentation of parts of the Herion collection in a broader context, the Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim now features an exhibition that shows a large number of these objects from the museum’s repository.

 

The two jewelry enthusiasts’ passion for collecting is also illustrated by accompanying photos.

 

12 May through 10 September 2023

Opens on Thursday, 11 May, 7 p.m.

Imankeek Collar
Galass beads, leather, metal
Kenya, Maasai, 20th century
Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim
Herion Collection
Photography by Petra Jaschke

Starting in 1968, Eva and Peter Herion gathered most of their collection during their travels. They favored destinations in Africa north of the equator, Central and East Asia, the South Seas, and South America, amassing artifacts such as jewelry and masks, as well as thousands of exceptional photographs that captured their travel impressions.

 

Peter Herion even wrote a book in 1985 that accompanied an exhibition at Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim, which included travel descriptions, landscape images, and sensitively captured portrait photos of women, men, and children wearing jewelry.


For the Herions, travel was not just a means of collecting objects but a way of broadening their horizons. They shared their collections and travel impressions with the public through several exhibitions at the Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim in 1985, 1996, and 2001. In 2006, they gave their jewelry collection to the museum on permanent loan and bequeathed it in 2020.

 

The Herions’ love for traveling and collecting was personally enriching and also allowed others to appreciate the beauty and cultural significance of the objects they had acquired.

Ivory Bangle, Sudan, Fur
20th century
Courtesy of Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim
Photography by Petra Jaschke

Here is an ivory bangle from Sudan, particularly one made by the Fur people, which has a rich cultural and historical significance. The Fur people are an ethnic group that inhabits the western part of Sudan, and they have a long tradition of working with ivory to create beautiful and intricate jewelry pieces.

 

Ivory bangles were a popular form of jewelry among the Fur people, and they were often worn as a symbol of wealth and status. The bangles were typically made from elephant tusks and were carved with intricate patterns and designs using traditional tools and techniques.

 

In the 20th century, the trade in elephant ivory became increasingly restricted due to concerns about conservation and animal welfare. As a result, the production of ivory bangles in Sudan declined, and many artisans turned to other materials like wood and bone to create their jewelry.

 

Today, ivory bangles from Sudan are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts of African art and jewelry. While the trade in elephant ivory is now largely prohibited, antique ivory bangles remain a valuable and important part of Sudanese cultural heritage.

HIGHLIGHTS

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Nabataean-Hellenistic lunula pendant
Gold, garnets
2nd to 1st century BCE
Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim
Donation by the ISSP
Photography by Neck Bürgin

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