The Wunderkammer, or “cabinet of curiosities,” saw collectors gathering objects from many strands of artistic, scientific, and intellectual endeavor, in an ambitious attempt to encompass all of humankind’s knowledge in a single room.

From the Grand Duke Francesco I de’ Medici and Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II to Archduke Ferdinand II of Habsburg, these aristocratic virtuosos acquired, selected, and displayed the objects in real-life catalogues that represented the entire world―spanning architecture, interior design, painting, sculpture, gemology, geology, botany, biology and taxonomy, astrology, alchemy, anthropology, ethnography, and history.

Marvel at the unicorn horns (narwhal tusks), gems, rare coral growths, Murano glasswork, paintings and peculiar mechanical automata. Browse through illustrations of exotic and mythical creatures and discover the famed “Coburg ivories,” an astounding collection of crafted artifacts. These collections are nothing short of a journey through time, from the Renaissance and Age of Discovery, the Mannerist and Baroque periods, up to the present day. Although many of these cabinets of curiosities no longer exist, others have been meticulously reconstructed, and new ones born.

These marvelous cabinets of curiosities can now be explored by all in this XXL collection. To realize this mammoth undertaking, Massimo Listri traveled to seven European countries over several decades; the result is a set of gorgeous photographs, an authoritative yet accessible introduction, and detailed commentary on each of the 19 chambers highlighting the most remarkable items in each collection. Discover how these timeless treasures both describe and defined civilization, the modern concept of the museum, and our very knowledge of the universe.

奇珍异宝陈列室是收藏家们从艺术、科学和知识领域的多个方面收集来的物品，体现出他们试图将所有的人类知识集于一室的雄心壮志。

从弗朗切斯科•德•美第奇（Francesco I de' Medici）大公和神圣罗马皇帝鲁道夫二世（Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II）到哈布斯堡王朝的斐迪南二世（Archduke Ferdinand II of Habsburg），这些贵族大师们在现实生活这本目录中收购、选择并展示了这些物品。这些物品描绘了整个世界，内容涵盖建筑、室内设计、绘画、雕塑、宝石学、地质学、植物学、生物学和分类学、占星术、炼金术、人类学，人种志和历史。