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August 9, 2026European Journal of English StudiesOpen Access

Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks and the cabinet of curiosity: rethinking legacies of early modern collecting and the nineteenth-century museum

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Authors

AMAmanda Mocsi

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Overview

This article reconsiders early modern collecting practices and their influence on the British Museum's development under Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks.

Key Points

  • The aim is to reevaluate the role of early modern cabinets of curiosity in shaping modern museum practices through the lens of Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks's curatorship.
  • Examined archival materials including guidebooks, reports, and correspondence related to Franks's work in the British Museum.
  • Analyzed curatorial practices and displays under Franks's leadership from 1866 to 1896.
  • Explored the ideological connections between cabinets of curiosity and modern museum collections.
  • Franks maintained a strong engagement with the concept of 'curiosity' throughout his curatorial career.
  • His personal interests significantly shaped the museum’s collection expansion and gallery displays.
  • Franks's practices suggest continuity between early modern collecting and the modern museum experience, challenging prevailing scholarly narratives.

Cite This Study

Amanda Mocsi (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a782cfa2e1896536c83fb99https://doi.org/10.1080/13825577.2026.2702295
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