Of everything I saw in the Museo di Storia Naturale, the jewelry and accessories excited me most. The chunky tribal necklaces with strategically placed turquoise beads were refreshingly simple and natural in comparison to today's jewelry trends. I wondered if the turquoise beads and silver pendants were purely decorative, or if they were meant to highlight a certain rank within the society or part of the body. I also considered if they were meant for ceremonies or similar occasions (this is my best guess), or merely everyday wear. Additionally, I was interested in the beaded fringe belts, skirts and necklaces found in the "Is Engano" and "Is Mentawi" sections. I definitely would have purchased a fringe necklace if the museum had been selling them. Fringe has been a popular detail on clothing in the past year and a half, and while I have always known the current trends are very often derived from the past, I have never considered that statement to be true for items that are centuries old! Along the same lines, it was interesting to see a shell medallion on display, as I have seen them for sale in tropical vacation spots.
I have never been to a museum that focused on anything besides art or science, so I have little basis of comparison for an anthropology museum. However, I did find the display to be very cluttered. No attention was given to individual objects, leaving me confused as to the purpose of many items. However, this method forced me to consider societies' practices and values as a whole, instead of meditating on a material good.
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