Werner Collection in the National Museum of Brazil

The Werner Collection is one of the collections on display at the National Museum of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro. The collection gathers around 60 rare minerals obtained in the 18th century from the Freiberg Mining Academy, Germany, by the Portuguese nobleman António de Araújo e Azevedo. The name of the collection is due to the main researcher of the German academy, scientist Abraham Gottlob Werner. The collection came to Brazil in the 19th century, brought by the Royal Family, who was escaping from the Napoleonic invasion, and was initially sent to the Royal Military Academy, being moved to the Royal Museum (former name of the National Museu) in 1819. It is considered that it was the first collection to compose the National Museum.^[1]

This collection was struck by the fire of 2018 at the National Museum, but it was reported that its restoration will be possible.^[2]

References

^ Virgilio, Paulo (13 December 2017). "Museu Nacional exibe coleção de minerais da Família Real portuguesa" [National Museum displays collection of minerals of the Portuguese Royal Family]. Agência Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 25 September 2018.
^ Grellet, Fábio (3 September 2018). "Parte da coleção Werner é resgatada do Museu Nacional, diz professor da UFRJ – Brasil – Estadão" [Part of the Werner Collection is rescued from the National Museum, says UFRJ teacher – Brazil – Estadão]. Estadão (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 25 September 2018.