Magazines - Tribal Art Winter 2011

Winfield Coleman is an independent scholar specializing in Native American, African, and Oceanic art.

Introduction
The world’s first popular, public museum of science, curiosity, and art, known as the Holophusicon, or Leverian Museum, dates to 1771. Compiled by Sir Ashton Lever (fig. 1), its contents included natural history, clothing and arms, and ethnographica—notably including the largest collection of Cook-voyage specimens and objects ever broght together in one place. Originally housed in a mansion in Leicester Square, London, the collection was put up for lottery and moved to Blackfriar’s Bridge. In 1806, the contents were sold at auction.