General Information
Cultural collections description
The Cuming Museum's ethnographic collection consists of late 18th, early 19th century Native North American, Amazonian, African, South Pacific and Australian objects. The Cumings also bought a sizeable collection from China and Japan, most of it contemporary, with a few antique and ancient items. There is also material from Russia, parts of Europe, the Indian Sub-continent including a substantial collection of objects from Sri Lanka; Near East especially Turkey and Syria and a small number of objects from Central and South America. There are also a small number of significant objects from South East Asia and Indonesia. There is an interesting collection of objects connected with folklore and superstition from County Cork, Ireland, dated 1840.
The Cuming Family collection came to the London Borough of Southwark as a bequest in 1902 with the museum opening in 1906. Once the museum was opened it attracted further donations of material from local people which included ethnographic material together with more local items. The museum closed during the Second World War and objects were packed away. When the museum opened again in the 1950s it was decided it should have more of a focus on the local area - much of the ethnographic material was offered to other institutions such as the Horniman Museum, University College London and Saffron Walden Museum. Much of the ethnographic material has been on "permanent loan" to these places since this time. The Cuming Museum is currently in the process of finalising shorter term renewable loans of this material and in some cases has organised its return.
Today the museum's remit is to tell the histories of and represent the diverse communities of Southwark. We are no longer collecting historic ethnographic material. However we do aim to add to our collections with material which represents the diverse lives of people living in the borough of Southwark.
Viewing: Only a small proportion of the collections here are on display due to lack of space. If you would like to view a collection, please contact the Cuming Museum at least a fortnight before you would like to come and see the material. Anyone can make an appointment.
View detailed collections record >
African
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African: South African
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African: Sudanese
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Asian: Chinese
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Asian: Indian
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Asian: Japanese
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Caribbean
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Central & South America
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North America: American
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North, West & Southern Europe: Greeks
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North, West & Southern Europe: Irish
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North, West & Southern Europe: Turks
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Oceania
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Oceania: Australian
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Religious Group: Jewish
General Information
Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
Pre-booking service for groups
Foreign language leaflet or brochure available
Information point provided
Collections
General guide to collections available
Object identification and/or written enquiry service
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
Public access available to collections information
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Audio guides specifically for blind and partially sighted people
General audio-guide available
Induction loops in exhibition spaces
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Touch exhibits and/or handling sessions
Wheelchair access to all public areas
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General audio-guide available
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Teaching/resources available for HE/FE students
Schools Education
Direct teaching services for schools
Primary school education service available
Facilities
General audio-guide available
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
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