Ethnology
Diverse cultural practices across time and around the world.
Browse field selections: these categories suggested by the museum represent an important part of the collections, without being exhaustive.
Africa
With 8,000 objects, the African collection reflects diverse cultural practices and showcases the fields of classical arts and contemporary photography.
Americas
The collection contains over 7,000 objects, reflecting pre-Columbian and contemporary material cultures, covering countries from the far north to the far south of the continent.
Asia
The collection contains over 14,000 objects illustrating both religious life and daily life in Asia. The collection mainly features items from China, Japan and Southeast Asia.
Polar Circle
The collection contains some 450 objects of material culture from various indigenous countries and territories, as well as a collection of contemporary sculptures and graphic works.
Oceania
With 1,600 items, the Oceanic collection includes rare objects, such as those brought back by Anthelme Thozet in 1874, and a variety of items such as tapa cloth, trade goods and contemporary works by Aboriginal and Islander artists from the Torres Strait.
Near and Middle East
The Near and Middle East collection, which includes items from late 19th century collections, as well as more contemporary acquisitions, contains around 900 objects, a significant portion of which come from Syria and Iran.