Necklace

Ludvig Selander was one of those hundreds of Swedes that worked in the Congo Free State (1885-1908). This infamous colony was based on the huge land claims made around the Congo River on account of the Belgian king, Leopold II. This was frequently presented as an international civilization project in which all Europeans were free to participate.

Captain Selander was in charge of paddlewheel steamboats used for the transportation of caoutchouc and other things from the upper parts of the river. In his old age he donated weapons and currencies to the museum. One box contains more of his personal memorabilia: “such things that I did not primarily wish to refrain from.”

Here were the shoes he wore in Congo as a young man, exotic hunting trophies and a pearl necklace that had belonged to “a white man’s black wife”.

In the background of every collector, the existence of other people and their destinies can be felt, but their names and stories are missing in the archives.