Grünes Gewölbe: Moor

Hier sehen Sie zwei Schwarze Figuren. Beide tragen einen weißen Turban und ein weißes kurzes Gewand. Einer hält einen Vogelkäfig in der Hand.

What does Moor mean?

In the past, Moor was a common term for people with dark skin and African or other non-European origins. Nowadays, this term has come to be viewed critically and is generally no longer used. This is because many people perceive it as discriminatory.

The term originates from Mauri, the name of a population group in North Africa. It was not always perceived negatively. From the eighteenth century onwards, however, a gradual shift in meaning can be observed. Johann Georg Krünitz (1728-1796) stated in his Ökonomische Encyklopädie that the word was now predominantly used for slaves originating from countries south of the Sahara. Hence, a derogatory connotation was already evident in the generic use of the term, given its associations with enslaved people and their inhumane treatment. The staff of the Grünes Gewölbe now endeavour to avoid using such stereotypical designations wherever possible.

Die Abbildung zeigt die Skulptur eines Mannes mit dunklem Hautton. Die Figur trägt goldenen, edelsteinbesetzten Schmuck und eine Krone. Ansonsten ist sie fast nackt. In den Händen hält die Figur ein Tablett auf dem eine Smaragdstufe präsentiert wird. — **"Moor with Emerald Cluster" (traditional designation), Emerald Cluster: given as a gift in 1581, Jewellery and sculptural work: probably 1724**

Where this does not seem feasible because of the need to present objects within their respective cultural and historical contexts, we point out that these are historical terms or quotations.