LAPPONIAN (SAMI) COLLECTIONS IN 18th CENTURY KUNSTKAMERA OF THE IMPERIAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

The work is aimed to specify composition and significance of the collections on traditional Sami culture in first Russian state public museum - Kunstkamera Imperial Academy Sciences (1714-1836) St. Petersburg. A European cabinet curiosities was part a scientific system for disseminating reliable knowledge about phenomena surrounding world. cultural artefacts peoples polar suburbs Europe were collected by scientists collectors. Lapponian shoes from Danish Royal entered Tsar Peter’s I turned out be example Arctic zone this collection. Ethnographic objects very theme diversity Empire included court half 18th century. "Prince Lapland" took 1709 cortege honor victory at Poltava, probably personifying obedience crown not only Swedish army, but also people north Sweden. "Laplanders", costumes taken Sciences, involved celebrations Empress Anna Ioannovna occasion end Russian-Turkish war 1735-1739. list items published printed catalog Musei Imperialis Petropolitani (1741-1745), their belonging disputed contemporary researchers. Information rituals Sami, all, bear hunt festival, guide late early 19th centuries. name greatest natural scientist century, academician Karl Ernst von Baer, associated with appearance 1840s materials physical anthropology authentic objects. These facts prompted authors violate boundaries indicated topic work. Despite small size collection, found important place exposition, catalogs guidebook museum, which structural Sciences.