Searching for Value: Hanne’s Collection

Sometimes the value of an item is tied to the item itself: the rarity of the gems, the uniqueness of the silk. But sometimes the value of an item comes from the circumstances around its creation and/or acquisition: from the story that surrounds the object or experience. In this short piece, a Danish museum curator at the National Geological Museum of Denmark, details the changing status of a collection: received in the late 1800s from a young, unknown naturalist by the name of Charles Darwin, this collection now has a tremendous value derived from his more recent celebrity. Unearthing these stories or creating opportunities for their emergence can be a powerful tool for combating the homogenization of purchasing.

[Banner image by Eric Prouzet, via Unsplash]