Heinrich Schiffmann

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Heinrich Schiffmann (born April 18, 1872 in Burgdorf , Canton Bern , † May 25, 1904 in Ouchy ) was a Swiss world traveler , photographer and collector .

life and work

Schiffmann suffered from chronic tuberculosis and was the son of Heinrich Schiffmann, a successful exporter of Emmentaler cheese , and Emma, ​​née Fehr. When his father died early, he lived with his mother and her second husband Ferdinand Roth in Burgdorf.

After attending the Progymnasium , Schiffmann graduated from the Lausanne Business School . After graduation, he traveled to London and purchased photographic equipment there.

When his grandfather Heinrich Fehr and his mother also died, Schiffmann had significant capital. With the financial independence gained in this way, Schiffmann was able to undertake extensive trips between 1893 and 1903, which also benefited his health. These took him to North Africa , India , Russia , China , Japan and the United States . After a visit to Central America , he traveled back to Switzerland in the winter of 1897/1898. Further trips followed to Malta , South America , Hong Kong and Vietnam .

Schiffmann made his last trip to the Seychelles , Madagascar and Réunion in November 1903 . However, a malaria infection forced him to return early. Schiffmann died as a result of his severely weakened immune system .

During his travels, Schiffmann collected ethnographic objects, which he bequeathed to the Burgdorf Progymnasium along with a valuable collection of photos.

This laid the foundation stone for the Museum für Völkerkunde Burgdorf , which opened on May 2, 1909, and the "Schiffmann'sche Sammlung", which comprises over 500 objects from various areas of art, craft and technology, was made accessible to the public.

2014 celebrated the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Japan . On this occasion three exhibitions with objects from the collection were organized.

literature

  • FV: The ethnographic ship's collection from Burgdorf. In: The Bern Week in words and pictures: a sheet for native art and art , Vol. 9, Issue 45, 1919, pp. 533-536. ( Digitized version )

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Schiffmann, Heinrich
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss world traveler, photographer and collector
DATE OF BIRTH April 18, 1872
PLACE OF BIRTH Burgdorf , Canton of Bern
DATE OF DEATH May 25, 1904
Place of death Ouchy