A throne from Cameroon

Overview

The exhibition, which can be seen here as a permanent digital exhibition and as a special exhibition at the Wegemuseum starting September 20, 2025, is based on the estate of military physician Dr. Georg Ipscher. He served as chief physician of the "Imperial Protection Force" in the German colony of Cameroon from 1900 to 1903.

The document deliberately uses quotation marks around the terms "throne" and "adventure" because Dr. Ipscher's motives are unknown and the "throne" is merely a souvenir specially made for him. It is also pointed out that some original documents contain discriminatory and dehumanizing language, which, however, are presented in the context of the respective period and do not reflect the opinion of the exhibition organizers.

The exhibition highlights various aspects of Dr. Ipscher’s life and his time in Cameroon:

• Biography: Information about his military career and his life in Wusterhausen.

• Family: Details about his ancestors, who were Huguenots and Salzburg exiles, as well as his sister Hedwig and other relatives.

• Social roles: Ipscher was an active member of various veterans' associations, the city council, and other organizations. An obituary describes him as a "helper in times of need and a friend of the poor."

• Travel to Cameroon: The exhibition follows his sea voyage in 1900 on the steamship “Ernst Woermann,” names companions, and shows photos of the stops on the journey.

• Colonial period: The exhibition deals with German colonial history in Cameroon and shows photos of the Schutztruppe and their “expeditions.”

• Exhibition objects: The focus is on the “throne” and the skin of a crocodile, which come from Ipscher’s collection.