Module I – Collections related to colonial contexts
Dates 2025
August 29 and 20 – September 5, 6, 26 and 27 – October 3 and 4 2025​
Teaching languages: French and English​​
Presentation
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Even though the Swiss Confederation did not create an empire, the practice of provenance research for property acquired in colonial contexts is necessary in Switzerland. From the seventeenth century onwards, individual Swiss men and women took part in colonisation and benefited from the colonial structures in place at the time. They served in the armed forces, were merchants for Indian companies, were involved in evangelisation missions or were entrepreneurs, as historians have shown since the 2000s. Many other goods acquired in colonial contexts arrive in Switzerland via the art market, subsequently acquired by these same Swiss men and women.
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Provenance research on objects acquired in colonial contexts has the particularity of studying their origin as well as their significance and cultural value within the source communities and with the people concerned, with whom the aim is to engage in dialogue while establishing equitable relations. In this context, it is also referred to as provenance research.
Purposes of module I
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At the end of the training, participants will have acquired knowledge about:
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the current state of provenance research in Switzerland concerning collections acquired in colonial contexts
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the approaches and methods relating to provenance research for property from colonial contexts
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the formal analysis of goods and sources as well as their critical treatment
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the historiography of colonialism in the Swiss context
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the Swiss Confederation and provenance research
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the decolonisation of museum practices
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the challenges and issues involved in critically rethinking the management and promotion of these collections in exhibition catalogues, sales catalogues and databases
Course programme – detailed programme to follow (subject to modification)
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August 29 2025 - Introduction / Provenance research in colonial contexts (1/2)
Dr. Thomas Schmutz (FR), co-founder of Lange & Schmutz Provenienzrecherchen GmbH and full professor at the Art History and Museology Institue at the University of Neuchâtel.
Dr. Claire Brizon (FR), art historian and museologist, research fellow at the MCAH (Lausanne) and project manager at Lange & Schmutz Provenienzrecherchen GmbH
Pauline de Montmollin (FR), curator of the Neuchâtel Natural History Museum
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August 30 2025 – Provenance research in colonial contexts (2/2)
Dr. Béatrice Blandin (FR), curator of the archaeology department, Musée d'art et d'histoire, Geneva
Daniel Browning (ANG), journalist, broadcaster, documentary maker, sound artist and writer, editor of Indigenous Radio at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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September 5 2025 – Legal issues and art market
Dr. Anne Laure Bandle (FR), partner at Borel & Barbey, Geneva
Anthony Meyer (FR), Gallery Oceanic and Inuit Art, Paris
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September 6 2025 – Visit to the Musée d'ethnographie de Neuchâtel (Projet Bis) and workshop
Julien Glauser (FR), curator at athe Musée d’ethnographie of Neuchâtel, and Dr. Claire Brizon (FR)
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September 26 2025 – Workshop : the case of the Pro Ethnographica association
Patricia Simon (FR), scientific associate at Lange & Schmutz provenance research GmbH
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September 27 2025 – Enhancing the value of research projects
Sébastien Magro (FR), consultant, journalist and teacher, former editorial manager at the Musée du Quai Branly, Paris
Dr. Béatrice Voirol (ANG), curator in charge of the Oceania department, Museum of Cultures, Basel
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October 3 2025 – Before and after provenance research: restoration and restitution
Camille Benecchi (FR), restorer, Avignon School of Art and Restoration
Dr. Claire Brizon (FR)
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October 4 2025 – Exam | Conclusion
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