Wirbeltiersammlungen im Natur - Naturhistorisches Museum Bern

Abb. 8: Mit 2636 Schädeln von Haushunden zählt die Sammlung der Albert-Heim-Stiftung zu den weltweit
grössten kynologischen Sammlungen. – With 2636 skulls of domestic dogs the collection of the
Albert Heim Foundation can without doubt be counted among the world’s largest canine collections.
Foto: Lisa Schäublin
gleichen Zeitpunkt hin wurde die gesamte Hundeschädel-Sammlung des NMBE
einer Totalrevision unterzogen.Sie umfasste Ende 2003 mehr als 2600 Objekte.
The foundation was established in 1929 by the Swiss Kennel Club in honour of Professor
Albert Heim (1849–1937), who gained fame and merit for his unrelenting effort to the
cause of Swiss dog breeds, primarily the four cattle dog breeds.The aim of the foundation
is twofold; it supports scientific research on domestic dogs and maintains one of the
world’s largest collections of dog skulls (Table 5, Fig. 8).This collection was initiated by
Professor Theophil Studer* (1845–1922) and apparently consisted of “several hundred”
skulls.Currently only 102 skulls explicitly marked with a Studer catalogue number (St.) can
be attributed to the very first collection.Approximately 200 furs and skeletons are also
part of the collections, along with historical documents and a comprehensive library (at
present a section of the museum’s main library).
In 1982 the museum acquired a significant historical collection of dog skulls that was
initially brought together by R.F.Hensel* in Silesia and Berlin.The collection dates roughly
from 1850 to 1880 and entails 257 domestic dog skulls from various breeds.The skulls
were in a rather poor state of preservation and needed reconditioning by the taxidermists;
afterwards they were incorporated into the main collection which now comprises more
than 2600 specimens.
Lit.: Glättli 1983, Huber 1982b, Kaiser 1983, Vollenweider 1933 MN
Wirbeltiersammlungen im NMBE
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