History of the Curio Cabinet

Origins: What's in a Name?
When the daring minds of the Renaissance challenged the conventional way of looking at the world, they unwittingly started a quaint tradition that has endured for nearly five hundred years. Curio Cabinets, or Wunderkammern (literally, "wonder chambers") as they were known, began popping up all over Europe as scientists, artists, explorers, and other enlightened minds sought ways to display their works and discoveries to a curious world.

Originally, the term "Curio Cabinet" referred to the collection itself or the room in which it was displayed. Only after these display cases became widespread did the term "cabinet" come to indicate the specific piece of furniture we know today. The original curio cabinets of the 16th and 17th Centuries were also the inspiration for the modern day museum, which explains why, in the 21st Century, they remain so popular for displaying our most treasured collectibles.

Historical Context
The Renaissance was a period of awakening after a dark age of sketchy recorded history and limited progress, so naturally, curiosity was in the air. Ideas and personalities were suddenly of the utmost importance. Collectors typically arranged their objects in such a way that would convey their understanding or interpretation of the world. In other words, a person's display offered a glimpse of their personality. This versatility offered by the curio cabinet was instrumental in its rise to popularity.

The Modern Curio Cabinet
Contemporary collections are far tamer than the eccentric and bizarre assemblies of the Renaissance, but the curio cabinet itself has evolved to suit any taste. The cabinets available today adhere to or incorporate aspects of all the major artistic movements from across the globe. Never before has there been such a broad assortment of curio cabinets, which means finding one to complement your collection is all but guaranteed.

Ode to Curios
A sort of 'Ode to Curios' piece by poet and artist Angela Lorenz offers some insight into the storied tradition of the curio cabinet:

Before the Renaissance was born
Curiosity was scorned
as part of human pride.
But with the new age,
Curiosity rages,
And the cabinets opened wide.

Upon unlocking the cabinet door,
All was visible
ceiling to floor,
Every inch a wonder
at a single gaze,
A collection of oddities
arranged to amaze.