People of the World

Discover an outstanding collection of international treasures in the People of the World gallery.

Objects can help us to understand the world around us, and this gallery provides an insight into cultures and traditions from around the world.

This gallery investigates why people value the things they collect and offers examples of how and why rare and valuable artefacts from other cultures arrived in Otago. There’s also a cross-cultural costume display that illustrates how people around the world modify their dress and appearance to conform to social ideals and structures. Objects relating to ancient discoveries also offer insights into the way in which the present has been shaped by the past.

Find ancient Greek pottery, examples of the world’s earliest forms of writing from Mesopotamia and sculpture and fine artwork from Ancient Egypt.

There are stunning decorative arts from Asia and Europe, including Venetian glass, Tibetan Buddhist material, Chinese snuff bottles and ceramics from around the world.

Other treasures include a striking collection of swords, a large collection of West African Ashanti cast bronze figures, used for weighing gold, and a beautiful array of costumes and textiles.