The Rebis (from the Latin res bina, meaning dual or double matter) is the end product of the alchemical magnum opus or great work.Īfter one has gone through the stages of putrefaction and purification, separating opposing qualities, those qualities are united once more in what is sometimes described as the divine hermaphrodite, a reconciliation of spirit and matter, a being of both male and female qualities as indicated by the male and female head within a single body. Discover how these timeless treasures both describe and defined civilization, the modern concept of the museum, and our very knowledge of the universe.Rebis from Theoria Philosophiae Hermeticae (1617) by Heinrich Nollius To realize this mammoth undertaking, Massimo Listri traveled to seven European countries over several decades the result is a set of gorgeous photographs, an authoritative yet accessible introduction, and detailed commentary on each of the 19 chambers highlighting the most remarkable items in each collection. These marvelous cabinets of curiosities can now be explored by all in this XXL collection. Although many of these cabinets of curiosities no longer exist, others have been meticulously reconstructed, and new ones born. These collections are nothing short of a journey through time, from the Renaissance and Age of Discovery, the Mannerist and Baroque periods, up to the present day. Browse through illustrations of exotic and mythical creatures and discover the famed “Coburg ivories,” an astounding collection of crafted artifacts. Marvel at the unicorn horns (narwhal tusks), gems, rare coral growths, Murano glasswork, paintings and peculiar mechanical automata. įrom the Grand Duke Francesco I de’ Medici and Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II to Archduke Ferdinand II of Habsburg, these aristocratic virtuosos acquired, selected, and displayed the objects in real-life catalogues that represented the entire world-spanning architecture, interior design, painting, sculpture, gemology, geology, botany, biology and taxonomy, astrology, alchemy, anthropology, ethnography, and history. This magnificent volume takes us through the world’s most beautiful collections, into the Medici treasury or the Green Vault (Grünes Gewölbe) of Dresden, and offers no less than a brief cultural history of the miraculous. From crocodiles, minerals, and corals to paintings, ivory trophies, measuring instruments, and incredible automata, it was a glimpse into a world full of natural wonders and treasures that aimed to reflect the order of the universe. Hardcover, 11.4 x 15.6 in., 10.03 lb, 356 pages.Ĭabinets of curiosities fascinated people of the 16th and 17th centuries.

Taschen alchemy