Museum of Anthropology - Florence  

Bianca Minuto

During my visit to the Museum of Anthropology in Florence I couldn't help but constantly compare its pieces to other museums that I have visited in the past. I saw strong parallels between the Museum of Natural History in New York, but also the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's strange that these drastically different locations would overlap in a place that is attempting to define past and present forms of society by its remains.

When looking through the costume and decorative pieces throughout the museum, I was increasingly more surprised by the level of intricacy and detail that was given to the jewelry, shoes, and "armor." Many of these garments were used for protection, but also adornment. Countless necklaces, bracelets, and hats were created in a very specific and patterned way. This reminded me of the elaborate Egyptian jewelry that I have seen at the Met. Though these ornaments are made with many different materials they maintain a similar attention to detail and design. The pieces range in purpose, meaning, and status.

I was reminded of the Museum of Natural History in that I saw many primitive, but highly detailed forms of many things that we see today. Early versions of instruments, purses, and protective garments were visible in many of the showcases. It's clear that the civilizations that created these had a strong understanding of materials and their potential uses. For example, the incredible preservation of the corpses in their handmade coffins left much of the remains for us to see today.

Another part of the museum that I particularly appreciated was the attention to photography. The many beautiful pictures captured people of an entirely different lifestyle, in a different age, in daily activities and during specific moments. I was specifically moved by the many photographs of the smiling subjects, which to me, really just highlighted the human spirit.