Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 31/2. (2011)
Paleontology
COLLECTIONS AND COLLECTORS: THE SAMUEL VON BRUKENTHAL MINERAL COLLECTION Rodica CIOBANU MuzeuI National Brukenthal Sibiu Str. Cetätii 1, RO—550160 Sibiu Abstract: Samuel von Brukenthal s activity as collector of paintings, coins, medals and furniture items is well known. Nevertheless, the baron’s interest in collecting valuable mineral samples and fossils is less known. It is this particular passion that we intend to dwell upon in the following material. One cannot estimate precisely when Brukenthal started his collection. From Fichtel’s note of 1780, in a paper on the geological research from Transylvania, we work out that he did not have his own collection in 1778. In order to put together and look after these cultural treasures, he had by his side knowledgeable literates in this field such as Johann Fichtel, Johann Michael von Rosenfeld, Carl Eder etc. Currently, Baron Brukenthal’s mineral collection is hosted at the Natural History Museum from Sibiu and includes 3,622 samples. This is actual the baron’s original collection, to which the mineral collection of the Rosenfeld council thesaurus was added. The Rosenfeld collection catalogue and the systematical arrangement of the collection were done by Neugeboren. The collection is maintained in the same display that Neugeboren set up, namely it is divided into six groups (according to the system of the renowned mineralogist and crystallographer Weiss): Oxide rocks (718 pieces), Salic rocks (775 pieces), Oxide ores (304 pieces), Sulphurous metals (1129 items), Native metals (526 items), Inflammable (3 pieces). With regards to the geographic spread, the samples are mostly from the Romanian territory, coming from the “golden quadrangle” of the Western Mountains (Muntii Apuseni) - Säcärämb, Baia de Arie?, Mägura-Toplita, Bäita Cräciune^ti, Fata Bäii, Techereu, Rofia Montana etc.), the Trascäu Mountains, the Poiana Ruscä Mountains, the Baia Mare metal-genetiacal area, the Moldova Nouä-Oravita-Dognecea area (Banat), the Rodna deposit etc. The samples purchased abroad are not in high numbers and belong to emerging areas from Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Norway and Russia. The baron’s mineral collection, which was further improved after the death of its founder, has nowadays a great scientific and historic importance, and an equally significant role for the museum perspective. It is the concrete proof of the preoccupations, knowledge about nature and the generosity of this forerunner of the systematic study of the environment, as starting point for its protection. Keywords: mineral, collection, Brukenthal, Sibiu. Introduction Samuel von Brukenthal’s activity as collector of paintings, coins, medals and furniture items is well known. Nevertheless, the baron’s interest in collecting valuable mineral samples and fossils is less known. It is this particular passion that we intend to dwell upon in the following material. After 1690 Transylvania was the domination of The Habsburg Empire and thus constituted a fertile ground for the principles of Enlightenment, which fostered and stimulated research MARI SI A, XXXI, p. 109-118
