Clay figure “Mayeux orangutan”

Zizenhausen (Stockach), ca. 1836-1840

Are humans descended from apes? In the style of a caricature, man and monkey sit opposite each other in a comparable posture. The standing man draws attention to the resemblance and humanises the monkey with the top hat.

Animal Welfare Calendar

Berlin, 1909

Ed. from the Federation of Animal Welfare Associations of the German Reich

Colorful animal welfare calendars have been popular print media since the late 19th century. With moralising short stories, aphorisms and illustrations, children are encouraged to treat animals with respect – in keeping with contemporary pedagogy.

XXL teddy bear

East Asian production for Galeria Kaufhof, 2015

The inspiration for the teddy bear is the European brown bear. Once common in much of Europe, it is now a protected species. It was only the absence of wild bears and the associated strangeness that made it possible to characterise this predator as “cute”.

Music machine with dancing bear

Switzerland, Aargau, 1883/88

The so-called vision machine shows a dancing bear with its bear trainer. Activated by coin insertion, music is played to which the figures move. The display of dancing bears served as amusement at fairs. This dance is the result of agonizing training.

“Bowlingual Dog Voice Translator” Toy

Takary Tomy, Japan 2009

MSPT

The dog voice translator is attached to the dog’s collar and translates its emotions into Japanese. The invention is based on man’s desire to be able to communicate with animals.

Wall light of a rhesus monkey on a banana tree

Meissen, State Porcelain Manufactory, 1927

Around 1900, the number of public zoos increased significantly. Possibly the porcelain monkey was designed based on living models. In its own home, it served as a decorative wall lamp. Exotic animals are considered luxury objects – just like the valuable porcelain.

Sculpture “Prussian field postmaster and courier circa 1740”.

Curt Tausch, c. 1939, MSPT

The messenger system is already known to have existed among the Persians (5th century BC). The use of horses shortened the delivery time considerably. Tired horses could be replaced by rested ones at changing stations.

Girl with pet

Damm earthenware factory, Aschaffenburg, mid 19th c.

The girl’s interaction with her pet shows gender-specific role models of the 19th century.

Sculpture “Hamburger “

Jürgen Zimmermann, 2005

Bambi as a meatball: the well-known fawn figure of the Karlsruhe Majolica Manufactory is provocatively staged in this sculpture. But why does the idea of a “cute Bambi” in a burger bun irritate us, whereas eating a venison stew is not a moral-culinary taboo?

A falconer statuette, a hand stamp for sealing

19th c.

Falconer with bird of prey, wearing dress for falconry. On 17th and 18th c. the hunt reaches its climax. It becomes the privilege and entertainment of the nobility. Animals such as hawks become hunting aids. Hunting was practiced already in ancient times.

Maneki-neko

China, 2019

Maneki-neko is, according to Buddhist-Shintōist beliefs, the rebirth of Kannon, god of mercy and benevolence. Originally a Japanese good luck charm, the waving cat is now also found in Western popular culture. The cat breed Japanese Bobtail, with erect ears and stubby tail, is used as a model.

Carrier pigeon (stuffed)

MSPT

Pigeons have been domesticated for 5000 years and have been used as a means of communication since Greek and Roman times (5th century BC). They find their way back to their loft from areas completely unknown to them, using the terrestrial magnetic field as a compass. The carrier pigeon is descended from the rock dove.

Toy Robot “Aibo ERS-210”

Sony, Japan from 1999, MSPT

The word AIBO (AI = artificial intelligence + robot) means “partner” in Japanese. It is supposed to be a lower-maintenance version of a dog. This allows the smart robot to move and show life-like behaviour, as it knows the basic instincts of a dog.

Porcelain figure: pug with left paw raised

made of porcelain and faience

Porcelain manufacturers, Frankenthal and Höchst, 2nd half of the 18th century.

In Europe, pugs were already so popular in the 18th century that they were immortalised in porcelain. One factor in its popularity is the flat nose, which is the result of overbreeding. In doing so, one accepts that the animals suffer and can hardly breathe.