List of Ethnographic Artefacts for the Museum in Douai (France)

This list was made in 1881 when a French research expedition, led by professor of comparative anatomy Georges Pouchet, returned from Northern Norway where it had collected natural history samples and ethnographic artefacts. It only contains ethnographic artefacts and lists which of them would be sent to the museum in Douai, a relatively small town in Northern France. Other artefacts collected during the research trip were sent to museums in Paris and Lille and are not included on this list. The list spans two pages and specifies where the artefacts were purchased. 

The first page of the list is divided into three sections. The first contains artefacts related to reindeer husbandry and the use of reindeer as draught animals, such as a harness and a sled. The second group is related to fishing, with fishing nets and floats. The last section, and the longest on this page, contains clothing, both male and female clothing and summer and winter clothing.  

The list challenges accepted geographical divisions of Norway through the redistribution of the artefacts. Divisions between North and South are set aside: the list groups the artefacts according to function, regardless of whether they come from Trondheim or Vadsø. Their place of origin is included on the list, but this really only refers to the place where the artefacts were purchased by the travellers, not necessarily where they were produced. Some artefacts come from the same place and may therefore have been purchased as a set, but this is not specified on the list and they are not grouped as a set.  

The list also ignores ethnic divisions. It gives no indication as to whether the artefacts or clothing are Sámi or not. The list simply states that they are Northern Norwegian, but even this is in a undefined and rather broad sense that also includes Trondheim.  

The list shows and contributes to the simplification of the information about these artefacts. When they are moved to France, or other countries, geographical and ethnic differences and divisions that played key roles in Norway become secondary or are ignored.

Do you have questions or comments to the text? Contact Alexandre Simon-Ekeland.