Saturday, July 14, 2012

Cologne part two - the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum

The anthropologic Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum has always been a favourite of mine, and since its move to a stunning new building in 2010, exploring its content has become an even more amazing journey.

With the move, the exhibits have been organised in a fabulous and innovative way: they are no longer divided into major geographical regions, but grouped by themes (living, religion, ritual etc). Ceremonies and the ways of life of different cultures are now portrayed side by side, and finding out what sets them apart or links them together is inspirational and captivating.

The entrance hall with a rice granary from Indonesia


In addition to the comparative cultural approach, there are also exhibits relating to the everyday life of different regions of Earth.

The Tuareg room 



It was a wonderful surprise to discover a 'Cuirs du Désert' scarf in the Tuareg room, honouring the longstanding connection between Hermès and some Tuareg tribes. There have been numerous exchanges and collaborations between artists and craftsmen on both sides (Tuareg silversmiths have produced items for Hermès, while Hermès' scarf designers have drawn inspiration from the Tuareg's way of life). The presentation made the scarf almost look like a headdress, highlighting the centre and one of the corners in a beautiful and dramatic way.





More than 60,000 objects and 100,000 historic photographs provide an insight into the cultures outside Europe - from the American Indians to the Eskimos, and from Central to South America, Oceania, Hawaii, Africa and Asia.




 




The multimedia points and interactive features make the RJM a wonderful place to visit with children, and they are fun and informative for adults too (I thought the mask below was a perfect match to my scarf!)


Enjoying a calm moment on the 'Om' bench 

In the museum shop, I found these pretty, hand made bracelets from Guatemala. Not only a lovely souvenir, but another perfect match for the new 'Laboratoire du Temps'!


It's been a stimulating, wonderful and memorable experience.



Enjoy a lovely weekend everyone x


Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum
Cäcilienstraße 29-33
D - 50667 Cologne
+49 (0) 221 236 20

27 comments:

  1. I love your Outfit! Red pants, black Jacket and black Tote bag is also my favorite, with the kind of weather we experience at the moment in Germany!
    Liebe Grüße aus München :-)

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  2. Love wearing the red jeans on cooler summer days too, they make easily up for any missing sunshine :-) Hope some warm and sunny days are on their way to you. Mit herzlichen Grüssen aus Südfrankreich.

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  3. MT, thank you so much for exposing us to this delightful museum and exhibit! Wow! Also, the unexpected treasure of finding the CDD on display is,well, awesome for a lack of a better word! What a fun find for our lady of H!
    You look beautiful as always and at home amongst the treasures. Love your new scarf and bracelet stack..TDF!
    Have a relaxing, lazy Sunday. T xx

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    1. Aww, my dearest Trudye, so happy you enjoyed coming along! Seeing the CDD in the tuareg room made me dream of a H museum, filled with scarves, and the artefacts/inspiration/stories behind their designs! It would have to be interactive, of course ;-) Much love, and a happy weekend to you too x

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  4. you look so pretty, and I love the jeans. My Mother is travelling to London and France and is going to buy me a Hermes scarf as a treat. She loves your blog and thinks you are beautiful x

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    1. I just left a comment on your blog, and then I saw yours coming in. What an amazing coincidence! Wishing your mother a most wonderful and happy trip, please say hello to her and give her my best. How sweet and generous of her to think of an H scarf as a souvenir for you! xx

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  5. looks like paradise for adults and kids x

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  6. I can see from this sneak peek why you love your new Laboratoire du Temps. The colours are fabulous. Perfect with your coral jeans in summer. What a fantastic museum to visit.

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    1. The LdT is blowing silky bisous to you, my dear A! Trying to get going with a MT TV profile to showcase it's beauty, hope we'll become twins once more ;) x

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  7. May be, I have time for a visit tomorrow. thanks for inspiration!

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    1. Oh I hope so, dear Dany Ela! Wishing you much fun exploring :)

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  8. Woo Hoo :-) jumping up and down in hopes of an interactive H museum! Girls can dream ! T <3

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  9. Thnx for sharing (...and those coral jeans are adorable on you!)

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  10. Dearest MaiTai

    What a wonderful place to visit in Koln! The National Museum in Copenhagen has a similar permanent exhibition and I find it so interesting.
    Love that Hermès scarf!
    Thank you for taking us along. Wishing you a great week ahead.
    Warm hug, Manuela

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    1. Hope to visit the National Museum in Copenhagen one day, my dear Manuela, with (hopefully) you showing me around! Enjoy a lovely and happy rest of the week <3 x

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    2. With great pleasure, my dear MaiTai <3!
      A happy rest of the week to you too. Mxx

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  11. Wow! Thank you so much for giving us a glimpse into this amazing museum! As dear Trudye said - you are indeed our treasure amongst the treasures. Your photos are extraordinary - must have been absolutely breathtaking in person, and how so wonderfully heartwarming to find the Cuirs du Désert. A happiest warm welcome to your new beauties - the fantastic and fun Laboratoire du Temps and the delicate and intricate Guatamalan bracelet - so much heart. The LdT colorway is gorgeous on you, perfect with your cheerful coral jeans. Loved your idea of renting a bicycle to explore... Wishing you the happiest week ahead, sending you much love and big sunshine hugs xxx

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    1. The LdT and charm bracelets are blowing excited bisous to you, my dearest Scarf Enthusiast. So happy you enjoyed coming along exploring the museum, thanks so much for the sweet and warm comments and compliments <3 Have a most wonderful remaining week xox

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  12. Dear MaiTai; Such glorious photos with you a perfect compliment to your wonderful surroundings. I love the cw of the Cuirs on display - could you please clarify what the background colour is? I've tried to find this cw in various reference catalogues so as to put it on my HG list - it is stunning and this cw will suit me. Congratulations on your new carre and the beautifully intricate bracelets. With many thanks for again sharing your world w us, Sue xox

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  13. A follow-up to my post of July 19th. I went in search of the cw on CduD in the above display and incredibly, there was one for sale by a most gracious and lovely eBayer in France!! This beautiful carre is now winging its way to me. Such wonderful kismet.

    Maisie Z

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  14. Woohoo, dear Maisie, so happy to hear! Kudos to your hunting skills, and many congratulations! Wear this beauty in health and happiness <3

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  15. Thanks for sharing MaiTai!

    You enabled me, I just bought the Laboratorie in multi/ white! You're gorgeous, as usual, tres elegant madame!

    Hope that you're well!

    Lingy x0x0 <3

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    1. Many congratulations, dear Lingy! The LdT is stunning in the multi/white, no wonder it made it to the cover of the scarf booklet ;-) Hope you are happy and well too! x

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