Visit Us
Walk through history as we guide you to things to learn, places to discover, and events that help connect us to our rich heritage.
Scavenger Hunts
February 4th, 2012 |
While wandering the historic rooms of the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, visitors can’t help but take note of the paintings, drawings, and needlework lining the walls. Often overlooked as simply decoration, these pieces of art play an essential role in exploring the history of the Moravian community of Bethlehem. A closer look will reveal that many of these pieces have something in common: animals.
Yesterday, several children explored the Moravian Museum with their families in search of animals during our Hunt for History Club program. Take a look at some of the items they found:
This candle screen, used to shield one from the direct heat of a candle flame, is decorated with an oxen and sheep.
A visit to the collections room will reveal game birds on this 19th century Bethlehem clock.
There’s even a rare musical instrument on display that resembles a snake.
Collectively, these objects tell historians, anthropologists, and curators that animal motifs and images were an important part of Colonial Moravian life. But why?
Bethlehem was founded during the Age of Enlightenment in 1741; a movement characterized by scientific discovery, exploration, and an appreciation for culture. In the decorative arts, appreciation for the natural world was reflected in many pieces. It was also during this time that wealthy European collectors began displaying their collections in their homes and opened their doors to the upper classes. These exhibitions in upper class homes served as the precursor to the first museums.
With so many decorative pieces on display in the museum, it is easy to assume Bethlehem was crawling with artists. However, despite having several artists in their midst, the Bethlehem community was a hard working one. This is apparent in their exhibition of the animals included in the art works. Most are there for specific purposes; grazing sheep were used to make wool, horses are shown pulling carriages, oxen supplied the strength necessary to plow fields, and game birds were often found on the dinner table.
This desire to appreciate the natural world and the uses animals provide to our communities, introduced during the Age of Enlightenment, is still present today. We challenge you to organize a scavenger hunt in your own home. We also encourage you to share your photos and videos with us through our Twitter or Facebook accounts.
Happy hunting!
