The Salzdahlum cabinets, Martin Luther’s spoon and a tellurium are just some of the things owned by the Herzog August Bibliothek that have hitherto been largely disregarded parts of the collection. These objects and the other items explored in this project are all indicative of a knowledge deficit, and they show the need to take a closer look at the periphery of our collection’s history. Why were these objects purchased, used, kept and forgotten, and why have they now been rediscovered?
The project pursues two paths that together are intended to form a basis for further investigation of hitherto neglected objects. On the one hand, looking at the margins should shed new light on the history of the Herzog August Bibliothek collection and examine and question historical and current collection practices. On the other, the aim is to carry out in-depth cataloguing of the objects themselves, in some cases using technological art analysis. This project will thereby help to understand the history of the collection and also be a specific object- and material-based contribution to current research themes in material culture studies. The object histories will be published as part of a volume of essays.
Project timeline / Activities
02.2024 Project kick-off
06.2024 Kick-off meeting with the restoration workshops of HAWK Hildesheim (framed wooden objects and paintings: Prof. Dipl.-Rest. Renate Künen and Dipl.-Rest. Ina Birkenbeul; furniture, wooden objects and material combinations: Prof. Dr. Antonieta Schultz and Dr. Dipl.-Rest. Ralf Buchholz; stone objects and architectural surfaces: Prof. Dr. Barbara Beckett and Dipl.-Rest. Gerhard D'ham)
08.2024 The restoration workshops of HAWK Hildesheim visit the HAB
09.2024 Lessing travels: Transfer of the HAB Lessing bust to HAWK Hildesheim for examination, documentation, conservation and restoration
03.02.2025 – 14.02.2025 Study weeks for the course „Conservation and Restoration“ of HAWK Hildesheim at the HAB
17./18.02.2025 Study day „Time Objects“ in cooperation with the project „Medieval and Early Modern Time Objects in Northern Germany“ (organised by Dr. Elizabeth Harding, Prof. Dr. Dr. Norman Sieroka and Dr. Daniela Wagner), sponsored by the Einstein Center Chronoi, Berlin
20.03.2025 Roundtable „Libraries and Non-Book Items: Material ‚Otherness‘ in a Library Collection in an Age of Technology“ as part of the Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting in Boston (Roundtable participants: Dr. Jill E Gage, Dr. Elizabeth Harding, Dr. Caecilia-Désirée Hein, Dr. Karen Limper-Herz, Dr. Bertie Mandelblatt, Dr. Owen Williams)
20.11.2025 Workshop discussion „The HAB in 1.000 Objects – Seek and Ye Shall Find“, held by Dr. Elizabeth Harding und Dr. Daniela Wagner
04./05.12.2025 Workshop „Dinggeschichte Digital“ (organised by Dr. Elizabeth Harding und Dr. Daniela Wagner)
12.2025 Podcast „HAB gehört. Der Podcast der Herzog August Bibliothek“, episode #25: „Die Dinge der Herzog August Bibliothek: Der Lutherlöffel. Ein Gespräch mit Dr. Elizabeth Harding und Dr. Daniela Wagner“
02.2026 Podcast „HAB gehört. Der Podcast der Herzog August Bibliothek“, episode #27: „Rätsel Nr. 1 – Die Dinge der Herzog August Bibliothek. Im Gespräch mit Dr. Elizabeth Harding“
03.2026 Podcast „HAB gehört. Der Podcast der Herzog August Bibliothek“, episode #28: Die Dinge der Herzog August Bibliothek: Eine Medaille aus Chicago. Im Gespräch mit Dr. Daniela Wagner
04.2026 Podcast „HAB gehört. Der Podcast der Herzog August Bibliothek“, episode #29: Rätsel Nr. 2 - Die Dinge der Herzog August Bibliothek. Im Gespräch mit Dr. Daniela Wagner
Funding: Pro*Niedersachsen
Duration: February 2024–December 2026
Project participants: Dr Elizabeth Harding, Dr Daniela Wagner, Greta Paulsen (WHK)
Contact: ed.bah@etkejbotrednuh
Title image: Tellurium, 17th century (?) with newer parts. Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel
