Exhibition: “Expedition Egypt”

Exhibition: “Expedition Egypt”

Wednesday 19th & Thursday 27th of April & Thursday 4th of May

Expedition Egypt narrates the story of two centuries of fascinating archaeological discoveries in the Land of the Pharaohs and the development of the Egyptian collection of the museum. The exhibition brings together more than two hundred objects from its eminent Egyptian collection. Highlights include the sumptuously decorated coffins from the priestly cache of Deir el-Bahari, and the beautifully illustrated Book of the Dead of the dignitary Neferrenpet. In addition, a wide variety of stunning pieces from the collection will be shown to the public for the very first time. Objects like funerary stelae, canopic vases for the entrails of the deceased, and shabti figurines meant to accompany the dead in the afterlife, will introduce the visitors to the Egyptian world of the gods and eternal life. The exhibition will also be richly provided with unique historical photographic material.

Mechanical toys, lacquered and lithographed, 1900-1960

DescriptionThe different generations of boys in the Bernimolin family have obviously enjoyed mechanical toys. The purchased lot includes more than 50 items that can be divided into 3 main categories: trains with spring mechanisms and their accessories, wind-up cars and figures, and finally, steam toys. These are painted and lithographed metal toys mainly made in Germany. Below are the most important pieces described.
For example, the lot includes a large locomotive and its wagons at a 1/32 scale (model railway scale 1) from the 1900-1914 period from the German producer Bing and its subcontractor Carette & Cie. The smaller scale 0 (1/43.5) is also represented with a beautiful green locomotive and wagons from Bing (around 1902), the very rare “Süd Express” passenger wagon from Märklin, several Hornby trains (1935-1960), and 3 hand-painted Märklin stations dating back to before the First World War.
We stay in the 1900-1915 period with various mechanical models that could be set in motion using a small steam engine: a colorful windmill and a water tower with fountain are the most beautiful elements.
Finally, we end up in the 1950s with various wind-up tinplate cars and figures. Among the most beautiful examples, the lot includes a fun boy pushing a chest from the Gescha brand, the “Hell-Racer,” a mint green futuristic car from Schuco, and the quite rare Volkswagen Beetle Cabrio 359 from Kellerman. The latter were produced in West Germany and bear the mention “Made in US Zone Germany.”
Acquisition date2022

The paper theater “Urania”, Germany, circa 1885-1900

DescriptionThe friends of RMAH have just contributed to a beautiful enrichment of the “European Ethnology” collection with the purchase of a large paper theater and mechanical toys from the period 1900-1960.
The large paper theater belonged to Mr. Lucien Bernimolin (1876-1957), the seller’s grandfather, who built it with great patience and a sense of refinement, using German paper boards produced by Joseph Scholz and Jakob Ferdinand Schreiber in the late 19th century.
The theater includes 92 different sets, hundreds of characters, and booklets allowing for the performance of more than 50 different plays. This collection also includes a series of theater prints that have never been cut.
Acquisition date2022

Panorama du Caire

DescriptionHere is an important fragment of the monumental canvas by Emile Wauters (1846-1933), created in 1880-1881, after the artist accompanied Archduke of Austria Rudolph (1858-1889) to Egypt in 1869.
Until this day, no fragment of the Panorama of Cairo had been identified, neither in museum collections nor in private collections.
In December 2020, the “central” scene showing Archduke Rudolph in his carriage resurfaced at an antique dealer in the south of France and was able to be acquired thanks to the Friends of the Museums.

David and Goliath

DescriptionOudenaarde, 1550-1560. Mark of the city of Brussels and two marks of weavers. Below the initials AC for Arnold Cobbaut or Anton van Coppenolle (active from 1548 to 1563) and at the top, the mark of an unidentified weaver. Wool and silk. Inv. 2020.0407. This recent acquisition is important for the collection because only a small number of tapestries bearing town and weaver marks of Oudenaarde survived. Preserved thanks to the support of Friends of the Royal Museums of Art and History.
ArtistArnold Cobbaut ou Anton van Coppenolle
Acquisition dateDecember 2019