Hoffmann-Ihde: From Museum Objects to Trading Goods, 2022.

Beatrix Hoffmann-Ihde: From Museum Objects to Trading Goods. The Ethnographic Doublet, in: Forum Kunst und Markt (Hg.): Journal for Art Market Studies, Jg. 6, Heft 1, 09.08.2022.

Between 1873 and 1973 the Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin deaccessioned about 30,000 objects from its collections. Almost all of the items had been removed as so-called doublets. In relation to the unique character of ethnographic objects this raises questions about a doublet’s meaning and the background of this part of museum history. This paper explains how the term ‘doublet’ was used and why this resulted in a severe loss of unique ethnographic objects. (Abstract Journal for Art Market Studies).