NATICK’S CABINET OF CURIOSITIES

What do a Malagan mask, a Civil War coin, a Chinese porcelain teapot and whale tooth scrimshaw have in common? They all have a home at Natick Historical Society. 

What is a cabinet of curiosities? Dating back to the 1500s, wealthy merchants, princes, and naturalists collected and displayed objects they called “wonders” or “curiosities.” These displays exhibited the collector’s wealth, power, taste, and knowledge. Collectors highlighted objects they considered rare or bizarre, often representing people and places they considered foreign, exotic, or historic.

The founders of the Natick Historical Society established a museum to preserve artifacts and promote knowledge, rather than a curiosity cabinet. However, the breadth and diversity of the Society’s early collections reflect the spirit of a curiosity cabinet.

Get curious. Come explore and see what you can discover in our Cabinet of Curiosities.

Reception 4-6 pm | Gallery talk with Museum Director at 5 pm | Toast with Traditional Cider Wassail

This event is FREE and open to the public.