Collection highlights
The World Cultures Collection comprises around 6,174 registered objects and 460 photographs.
Key collections from private collectors include F.C Wildash 1870s and 1880s donations, comprising Japanese religious, personal adornments, ornamental and utilitarian artefacts, and the Dr Paul B. de Rautenfeld Series, donations from the mid-to-late 1920’s, comprised of Chinese religious, personal adornments, ornamental and utilitarian artefacts, including a rare and valuable, carved Rhinoceros horn, Libation Cup.
The African collections containing a sub-collection off Nigerian material culture, collected by Mining Engineer, Vicars William Boyle, A. C. Walkenden, Mrs G Rogers and Dr Richard Chapman, map an ethno-historic acquisition spanning a timeframe of early 1900s to early 2000s.
Of note, is the Inuit material culture collection acquired by exchange, from Glenbow Alberta Institute, in 1976 and built on from, John Tyman collection, in 1989.
The Chinese Kwong Sang Collection donation and purchase of shop stock and household items belonging to the Tai Mun Lum family who operated the Kwong Sang retail business (est.1883) in Toowoomba, contains around 2000 items including costumes, business signs, records, ephemera, shop stock, furniture, ceramics, bronze ware, art and crafts works, documents, books, photographs and oral histories.
Also, of note and significance in the World Cultures Collection, is the 2002 donation by Charles and Kati Marson, of 830 traditional musical instruments acquired from cultures and countries across the world.