Elio Modigliani (1860-1932) is often considered a paradigmatic figure of the late 19th century vo... more Elio Modigliani (1860-1932) is often considered a paradigmatic figure of the late 19th century voyager, explorer and collector. His collections and writings also represent a connection between the Netherlands and the history of the Florentine Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology. This Museum is one of the oldest anthropology museums in the world and represents an excellent case study for many aspects of museology and decolonization. We investigate in this article the contexts in which Modigliani operated: the newborn Italian State and the Dutch territories of the Southeast colonies. The case of Modigliani adds a new dimension to the landscape of relationship between the Netherlands and Southeast Asia. Also our understanding of the social context and the cultural/political framework of Modigliani's work can add precious new meanings to interpreting his role as a scientific traveler and to contextualize his museum collections for the public.
Tridimensional imaging methodologies are becoming more widely used in museums and cultural herita... more Tridimensional imaging methodologies are becoming more widely used in museums and cultural heritage studies. They are often used in association with graphic counterparts such as virtual or augmented reality and 3D prints. 3D data obtained with these techniques are acquiring increasing utility in various museums, from conservation to public dissemination. Here we test the efficiency of 3D scanning using Artec Spider on various types of museum specimens in. Here we report the results of exploratory tests of 3D scanning on different artifacts belonging to the collection of the Anthropology and Ethnology Museum of Florence using Artec Spider devices. The specimens differed not only for their provenance and culture of origin, but more importantly, for the materials they are made of. Results are in general more than satisfactory, with both geometry and texture acquired correctly and with great visual impact. Some materials (e.g., thin, or made of tiny separated components were somewhat problematic. Nevertheless, Artec Spider appears to be better than many other 3D scanners (e.g., Next Engine) in terms of time and quality of the acquisitions. Further tests on other materials, or with other scanning techniques, would add to current knowledge on the increasingly important application of digitals tools and methodologies in museum settings.
Over the last two decades the use of 3D imaging techniques and their
associated counterparts (3D ... more Over the last two decades the use of 3D imaging techniques and their associated counterparts (3D printing, virtual or augmented reality environments) have gained ever more ground in cultural heritage disciplines and in museum contexts. The collection of 3D imaging data has become a valuable tool in various fields related to museology: analysis and conservation, public dissemination, opportunity of sharing such data with colleagues for study and research, virtual restitution for the peoples who produced the artifacts. In this article we report on the 3D scanning of two ikubashui from the Ainu artifacts collection of the Florentine museum. The application of this technology is particularly useful for wooden objects of this type, characterized by intricate and diversified decorative motifs of high symbolic significance.
Gender relations play a decisive role in shaping our society and our cultural heritage. A general... more Gender relations play a decisive role in shaping our society and our cultural heritage. A general problem in the study of our heritage is the disappearance of women's stories, often invisible even in recent readings. This article tries to shed light on an untold story: the presence of women in the Società Italiana per l' Antropologia e la Etnologia during Paolo Mantegazza presidency (1871-1910). With this contribution we hope to highlight female figures and their contribution to the origins of anthropological disciplines in Italy.
The Cook collection of the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology in Florence includes
objects bel... more The Cook collection of the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology in Florence includes
objects belonging to the cultures of Polynesia, Melanesia and the North-West Coast of North America. The importance of these artifacts is increasingly recognized not only by curators, ethnologists and artists, but also by historians. In this contribution we retrace the history of its rediscovery in the 19th century, and the studies of the 20th century which confirmed its attribution and expanded knowledge. Finally, we reflect on the contents, methods of communication and the future potential of this collection.
We employed in situ hybridization of chromosome-specific DNA probes ("chromosome painting&qu... more We employed in situ hybridization of chromosome-specific DNA probes ("chromosome painting") of all human chromosomes to establish homologies between the human and the silvered lead monkey karyotypes (Presbytis cristata 2n = 44). The 24 human paints gave 30 signals on the haploid female chromosome set and 34 signals on the haploid male chromosome set. This difference is due to a reciprocal translocation between the Y and an autosome homologous to human chromosome 5. This Y/autosome reciprocal translocation which is unique among catarrhine primates has produced a X1X2Y1Y2/X1X1X2X2 sex-chromosome system. Although most human syntenic groups have been maintained in the silvered leaf monkey chromosomes homologous to human chromosomes 14 and 15, 21 and 22 have experienced Robertsonian fusions. Further, the multiple FISH signals provided by libraries to human chromosomes 1/9, 6/16 indicate that these chromosomes have been split be reciprocal translocations. G-binding analysis show...
Elio Modigliani (1860-1932) is often considered a paradigmatic figure of the late 19th century vo... more Elio Modigliani (1860-1932) is often considered a paradigmatic figure of the late 19th century voyager, explorer and collector. His collections and writings also represent a connection between the Netherlands and the history of the Florentine Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology. This Museum is one of the oldest anthropology museums in the world and represents an excellent case study for many aspects of museology and decolonization. We investigate in this article the contexts in which Modigliani operated: the newborn Italian State and the Dutch territories of the Southeast colonies. The case of Modigliani adds a new dimension to the landscape of relationship between the Netherlands and Southeast Asia. Also our understanding of the social context and the cultural/political framework of Modigliani's work can add precious new meanings to interpreting his role as a scientific traveler and to contextualize his museum collections for the public.
Tridimensional imaging methodologies are becoming more widely used in museums and cultural herita... more Tridimensional imaging methodologies are becoming more widely used in museums and cultural heritage studies. They are often used in association with graphic counterparts such as virtual or augmented reality and 3D prints. 3D data obtained with these techniques are acquiring increasing utility in various museums, from conservation to public dissemination. Here we test the efficiency of 3D scanning using Artec Spider on various types of museum specimens in. Here we report the results of exploratory tests of 3D scanning on different artifacts belonging to the collection of the Anthropology and Ethnology Museum of Florence using Artec Spider devices. The specimens differed not only for their provenance and culture of origin, but more importantly, for the materials they are made of. Results are in general more than satisfactory, with both geometry and texture acquired correctly and with great visual impact. Some materials (e.g., thin, or made of tiny separated components were somewhat problematic. Nevertheless, Artec Spider appears to be better than many other 3D scanners (e.g., Next Engine) in terms of time and quality of the acquisitions. Further tests on other materials, or with other scanning techniques, would add to current knowledge on the increasingly important application of digitals tools and methodologies in museum settings.
Over the last two decades the use of 3D imaging techniques and their
associated counterparts (3D ... more Over the last two decades the use of 3D imaging techniques and their associated counterparts (3D printing, virtual or augmented reality environments) have gained ever more ground in cultural heritage disciplines and in museum contexts. The collection of 3D imaging data has become a valuable tool in various fields related to museology: analysis and conservation, public dissemination, opportunity of sharing such data with colleagues for study and research, virtual restitution for the peoples who produced the artifacts. In this article we report on the 3D scanning of two ikubashui from the Ainu artifacts collection of the Florentine museum. The application of this technology is particularly useful for wooden objects of this type, characterized by intricate and diversified decorative motifs of high symbolic significance.
Gender relations play a decisive role in shaping our society and our cultural heritage. A general... more Gender relations play a decisive role in shaping our society and our cultural heritage. A general problem in the study of our heritage is the disappearance of women's stories, often invisible even in recent readings. This article tries to shed light on an untold story: the presence of women in the Società Italiana per l' Antropologia e la Etnologia during Paolo Mantegazza presidency (1871-1910). With this contribution we hope to highlight female figures and their contribution to the origins of anthropological disciplines in Italy.
The Cook collection of the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology in Florence includes
objects bel... more The Cook collection of the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology in Florence includes
objects belonging to the cultures of Polynesia, Melanesia and the North-West Coast of North America. The importance of these artifacts is increasingly recognized not only by curators, ethnologists and artists, but also by historians. In this contribution we retrace the history of its rediscovery in the 19th century, and the studies of the 20th century which confirmed its attribution and expanded knowledge. Finally, we reflect on the contents, methods of communication and the future potential of this collection.
We employed in situ hybridization of chromosome-specific DNA probes ("chromosome painting&qu... more We employed in situ hybridization of chromosome-specific DNA probes ("chromosome painting") of all human chromosomes to establish homologies between the human and the silvered lead monkey karyotypes (Presbytis cristata 2n = 44). The 24 human paints gave 30 signals on the haploid female chromosome set and 34 signals on the haploid male chromosome set. This difference is due to a reciprocal translocation between the Y and an autosome homologous to human chromosome 5. This Y/autosome reciprocal translocation which is unique among catarrhine primates has produced a X1X2Y1Y2/X1X1X2X2 sex-chromosome system. Although most human syntenic groups have been maintained in the silvered leaf monkey chromosomes homologous to human chromosomes 14 and 15, 21 and 22 have experienced Robertsonian fusions. Further, the multiple FISH signals provided by libraries to human chromosomes 1/9, 6/16 indicate that these chromosomes have been split be reciprocal translocations. G-binding analysis show...
The precolumbian ceramic collection at the Natural History Museum of Florence – Anthropology and ... more The precolumbian ceramic collection at the Natural History Museum of Florence – Anthropology and Ethnology Section, includes 282 artefacts, of which 61 are on exhibit, and 221 preserved in the storerooms. One of the main goals of museums today is the disclosure and the fruition of data related to the museum collections. Therefore, we present in this paper the proposed creation of an interactive museum of the precolumbian ceramic collection. Among the contents of this virtual museum, the public will be able to interact with the digital reproduction of the artefacts, visible in three-dimensions. This virtual museum will be of particular interest to primary and secondary school students. For them, we plan to create an educational section, in which the contents will be presented in a simplified manner through following edutainment principles.
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associated counterparts (3D printing, virtual or augmented reality environments) have gained ever more ground in cultural heritage disciplines and in museum contexts. The collection of 3D imaging data has become a valuable tool in various fields related to museology: analysis and conservation, public dissemination, opportunity of sharing
such data with colleagues for study and research, virtual restitution for the peoples who produced the artifacts. In this article we report on the 3D scanning of two ikubashui from the Ainu artifacts collection of the Florentine museum. The application of this technology is particularly useful for wooden objects of this type, characterized by intricate and diversified decorative motifs of high symbolic significance.
objects belonging to the cultures of Polynesia, Melanesia and the North-West Coast of North America. The importance of these artifacts is increasingly recognized not only by curators, ethnologists and artists, but also by historians. In this contribution we retrace the history of its rediscovery in the 19th century, and the studies of the 20th century which confirmed its attribution and expanded knowledge. Finally, we reflect on the contents, methods of communication and the future potential of this collection.
associated counterparts (3D printing, virtual or augmented reality environments) have gained ever more ground in cultural heritage disciplines and in museum contexts. The collection of 3D imaging data has become a valuable tool in various fields related to museology: analysis and conservation, public dissemination, opportunity of sharing
such data with colleagues for study and research, virtual restitution for the peoples who produced the artifacts. In this article we report on the 3D scanning of two ikubashui from the Ainu artifacts collection of the Florentine museum. The application of this technology is particularly useful for wooden objects of this type, characterized by intricate and diversified decorative motifs of high symbolic significance.
objects belonging to the cultures of Polynesia, Melanesia and the North-West Coast of North America. The importance of these artifacts is increasingly recognized not only by curators, ethnologists and artists, but also by historians. In this contribution we retrace the history of its rediscovery in the 19th century, and the studies of the 20th century which confirmed its attribution and expanded knowledge. Finally, we reflect on the contents, methods of communication and the future potential of this collection.