To Have and To Hold: An Intimate History of Collectors and Collecting -- Why Boiling People is Wrong

 

    To Have and To Hold:
    An Intimate History of Collectors and Collecting

    Why Boiling People is Wrong

Content Overview

• Throughout history, relics have been dubbed with talismanic qualities in the mind of believers.
• Remains and items have been repeatedly removed from their original place and/or usage in order to be idolized as symbolic or sacred. 
• Collecting relics is still very much a common practice today.

Notable Quotations

• "By surrounding ourselves with objects we hope to immerse ourselves in what is represented by them, with what they represent to us who are unwilling to accept that it will always remain elusive and cannot be locked into things. Instead of shooting the messenger we stuff him, believing him to be the message"
• "... the powerlessness we cannot help but feel when faced with time itself"
• "The most important object of a collection is the next one"
• "Those who, like [Medusa], seek transcendence through things alone are condemned to suffer the same fate"

Image One: The Crystal Flute

 

How image reflects reading content:

Much like the examples given in the text, James Madison's infamous crystal flute is an artifact that has been preserved by collectors and currators for two centuries because of its connection to a historically significant person. The preservation of this item, though, has rewritten its purpose as an object made to be enjoyed through use.

Believed to have been saved in 1814 from the sieged White House by a fleeing Dolley Madison, this crystal flute was a gift from Claude Laurent-- a prized flute maker from Paris-- for James Madison's second inauguration. According to the Library of Congress, "The flute stands out among the Library's Laurent holdings: it is one of only two made of crystal" (Maloney 2018). Later, the flute was left to the heirs of the Madison family until it was donated to the Library of Congress in 1941. This intricate instrument was left to be not played, but admired by many for generations; however, the crystal flute's life and vitality as an instrument was recently resurrected when Lizzo was granted permission to play the 200-year-old flute during a concert in Washington D.C. The story of the crystal flute is unique to others of its kind, as many perserved objects are not used for thier original purpose after being admitted into museums or collections.

Source Links: 

https://artsandculture.google.com/u/0/asset/crystal-flute/HgGbeiS9bYMu_g 

https://medium.com/@librarycongress/the-mystery-of-james-madisons-crystal-flute-5651da83143e

https://newyork-news.net/2022/10/03/paid/two-cheers-for-lizzo-and-james-madisons-crystal-flute/

https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2018/10/the-mystery-of-james-madisons-crystal-flute/

Image Two: Omo I

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Omo I is the oldest artifact of what scientists consider "modern humans." This Homo Sapien skull is currently on display at The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Originally thought to be about 130,000 years old, these remains were redated by scientists in 2008 when research suggested that they were nearly 200,000 years old; however, in early 2022, new research revealed that both esimates were incorrect. Scientists peer-reviewed these recent studies and confirmed that Omo I is at least 230,000 years old. This artifact is the only known remains that present "unequivocal modern human characteristics". While the only part of Omo I on display is its skull, this item is representative of our species' history. Much like other artifiacts, the display of Omo I hightens the importance of the object itself. This is no longer just a skull; instead, it is a link to all humans from that time period and a symbol of the longevity of modern man.

    Source Link: 

https://bigthink.com/the-past/omo-human-fossils/

https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/fossils/omo-i 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2022/01/16/oldest-modern-human-remains-ethiopia/6548811001/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04275-8 

 

Image Three: Rosalia Lombardo

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Rosalia Lombardo is a mummified two year old who lived in Sicily from 1918 to 1920. After succumbing to pneumonia, Rosalia was embalmed by a renowned emblamer hired by her grieving father. Her corpse was one of the last to be admitted to the Capuchin catacombs of Palermo where she continues to sit on display today. Her body was so well preserved by the embalming process that even her internal organs remain intact. She is nesstled in a glass-covered coffin placed on a wooden pedestal; however, in 2009 signs of decomposition, including discoloration, were noted causing the display to be repositioned in a different section of the catacombs and her glass enclosure was filled with nitrogen to slow decay.

"Why Boiling People is Wrong" explains why certain artifacts are removed from their natural positions as items or human remains. Rosalia's body is an example of artifact that is held not for social, religious, or political importance, but instead for emotional reasons. Her father was not prepared to part with his young daughter, so out of love he kept her around in the best way he knew how. Now, this young mummy is a reminder of innocence, unconditional love, and the fragility of life. 

    Source Link: 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23725823/

https://listamaze.com/10-famous-mummies-in-the-world-mummified-people/