Colonial or not colonial, that’s the question: Curt Nimuendajú as collector for Brazilian and European Museums

Abstract

The Brazilian anthropologist of German origin, Curt Nimuendajú, is considered a central figure in the history of Brazilian anthropology. His biography is marked by multiple roles: a brilliant ethnographer, an indefatigable recorder of indigenous language materials, a pioneer in Amazonian archaeology, and an unyielding defender of indigenous rights to life and land; but he also became known for his collecting activities for Brazilian and European museums. The central question of this paper is: how should Nimuendajú’s collecting activities be characterised? Can they be interpreted as a typical colonial enterprise undertaken by a White heterosexual male? The answers can only be found via a study of the detailed documentation of his activities, archived in various Brazilian, German, and Swedish museums and partially published. A careful reconstruction of the circumstances and itineraries of Nimuendajú’s expeditions and field trips shows that his case is not suitable to confirm certain stereotypes about collectors’ practices for European museums. Unlike in other cases, Nimuendajú did not compile collections for museums by robbery, looting, or trickery. Instead, he often relied on wearisome negotiations, payments, barter, and incentives to reproduce objects no longer fabricated, always establishing symmetrical relationships with his indigenous hosts. This reinforces my main argument that the study of historical collecting practices for ethnological museums must be based on careful evaluation of collectors’ biographies in order to avoid the risk of repeating clichés and stereotypes.