Funnel marks

______________

Logos

______________


Links ( Other Whaling station )
 

The Barthelmess Whaling Collection        

The Barthelmess Whaling Collection
 
The objective of the Barthelmess Whaling Collection is to document every
single chapter of the entire history of human-cetacean relations, worldwide,
from prehistory till the present, with at least one original work of art.
This covers not only whaling, but also mythology, folklore, strandings, the
use of whale products in daily life, and the history of cetology (whale
biology).
 
Art Collection
The art collection numbers over 1,330 fully inventorized works of art from
the past 2,500 years. Art forms within the collection comprise
·     European prints, drawings and old master paintings, 16th – 20th
century;
·     American prints and drawings, 18th – early 20th century;
·     Japanese prints and paintings (picture scrolls), 19th – early 20th
century;
·     whaler folk art, 17th – 20th century (including authentic scrimshaw);
·     ethnographic art (Circumpolar Arctic (Eskimo), Pacific Islands
(Oceania & Polynesia), North American Indian), 19th – early 20th century
·     Japanese arts & crafts (netsuke, okimono, etc.), 19th – early 20th
century;
·     European & American arts & crafts (sculpture, jewellery, glass,
ceramics, Delft tiles, papier maché, etc.), 18th – early 20th century;
·     mediterranean (Greek & Roman) antiquities;
·     European medieval art;
·     coins & medals, 5th century B.C. – 19th century.
A powerpoint presentation telling a history of human-cetacean relations
exclusively with art from the Barthelmess Whaling Collection, spanning about
2,500 years and several dozen cultural domains, can be shown upon request.
 
Artefact Collection
In addition to the art collection, there is a collection of non-artistic
artefacts, such as whaling gear (harpoons, flensing knives, whale processing
tools, company flags & crockery, etc.)  and whale products (raw and
semi-processed) numbering about 450 inventorized items, from medieval times
to the 20th century (CITES certified).
 
Research Library
A research library of over 3,100 titles in about a dozen languages, from the
1520s till the present, is the largest whaling library in Germany and one of
the 20 or 30 largest in the world.
 
Reference Archives
In addition, there are several important archives (newspaper clippings in
binders, ca. 3 shelf metres), the art image reference file (ca. 4,000 images
on file cards), and several albums and binders with photographs.
 
Use of Research Facitilies
Collections, library and archives have repeatedly been made use of by
international scholars (from the USA, Canada, Chile, Peru, Japan, the
Philippines, and from all over Europe), who in their publications have given
prominent credit to these important research facilities. Media have also
used it iteratively.
 
Some opinions
The Barthelmess Whaling Collection & Archive is outstanding and unrivalled
in Europe whether we look at public or private sources. Books, pamphlets and
images have an international coverage. It is a major resource he makes
available to researchers and enthusiasts around the world. Until you have
actually seen the Barthelmess Whaling Collection you will not realise its
scope and dimensions. Arthur Credland, Hull Maritime Museum, England; author
of „The Hull Whaling Trade“ (1995); „Scrimshaw – the Art of the Whaler
“ (with Janet West, 1995); „Whaling harpoons, harpoon guns and related
weapons“ (2008).
The exquisite Barthelmess Whaling Collection, consisting of art and
artifacts pertaining to the world’s whale fisheries, and an exhaustive
library comprising thousands of volumes, pamphlets, research papers, and
excerpts referring to whaling, is not only one of the most comprehensive in
the world, but it also represents a substantial contribution to current
scholarship and for the future scholars who will embrace the research of
this important segment called whaling. Tony Dumitru, Collections Manager,
Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket, Massachusetts, USA.
Visiting the Barthelmess Whaling Collection was a long-cherished dream,
which came true in  2007. I was amazed not only by the size and scope of it,
but also by its excellent curatorial care, organisation, and display.
Barthelmess is not only a devoted collector, but also a scholar, who in his
publications shares his knowledge about whaling and cetology derived from
this admirable collection. Dr. Seiji Ohsumi, retired director general of the
Institute of Cetacean Research, Tokyo, and honorary director of the Taiji
Whale Museum, Taiji, Japan.
This is a simply astonishing collection, quite without parallel, a uniquely
wonderful place.  It has been of immense benefit to me personally in my
detailed research over many years into the uses of whales' bones around the
world. I can think of no library or archive anywhere that can match the
richness and depth of material on all matters to do with whales and whaling
to be found here.  Nicholas Redman, London; author of „Whales’ Bones of the
British Isles“ (2004).
 
Sealing Collection
There is also a Barthelmess Sealing Collection of smaller scope: over 100
inventorized works of art, 16th – 20th century, over 50 non-artistic
artefacts, and some 300 books, 1555 till the present.

Image bank
Currently, an image bank of art and artifacts from the Barthelmess Whaling
Collection is not yet available commercially. Until that will happen,
enquiries for the use of images for research, publication or exhibition
purposes will be forwarded by Lardex moderators.