The most comprehensive pharmaceutical-medical museum collection in Slovenia came to life in digital form

»The Government of the Republic of Slovenia proclaimed the Lavička Collection a cultural monument of national importance. This confirms the exceptional nature of the work done by Bohuslav Lavička, who succeeded in creating a collection which, due to the quality of its exhibits, is one of the richest in Europe. Lek, a Sandoz company, is a proud owner of this unique collection which has been on display in our premises for almost 30 years. During this time, more than 20,000 visitors have viewed the collection. By digitization, we have established a more up to date approach to bringing this collection closer to everyone interested in the development of knowledge through time« said Vojmir Urlep, President of the Board of Management of Lek, a Sandoz company.

»Digitization offers new possibilities of awareness about the importance of the collection and opens new ways of raising awareness of treasures that we possess, especially among the younger generations, those who do not know the world without the internet at all, or look into the world and learn about it only through »technological sensors«. Furthermore, an online access to the Lavička Collection will also provide global visibility« stressed Zoran Krstulović, Deputy Director at National University Library.

Through the museum with expert guidance

The Lavička Collection is divided into two parts, books and pharmaceutical-medical accessories. It contains more than 400 books and 500 items, created since early civilization to the 20th century. For the purpose of digitization, all exhibits were photographed from different sides and each individual item is presented in digital form. Visitors can browse between items and by clicking on an item view them in detail.

An important contribution of the digitized Lavička Collection is guidance through the museum with expert explanations. In this way, visitors to the digital museum are not left on their own. In-depth video explanations of a long-term curator and connoisseur of the Lavička Collection, Davor Poljanšek, guides them through the museum and the viewing of individual exhibits.

»Online presentation of the Lavička Collection represents an important step forward towards full digitization. At the same time it is the first step towards the establishment of a participatory museum which is not intended merely for viewing the exhibits, but for active participation of visitors,« highligted Vuk Ćosić, a digital strategist and project planner.

About the Lavička Collection

Bohuslav Lavička (1879-1942), a pharmacist of Czech descent, who worked from 1909 until his death in Tržič, enriched the Slovenian cultural space with his exceptional apothecary collection. Through the contacts he had for several decades with all major European antique dealers, an almost complete collection of pharmaceutical and medical accessories, artefacts and books was created.

After his death, the Germans wanted to move Bohuslav Lavička’s pharmaceutical-medical collection to Germany, however it was rescued by Professor Žontar from Kranj Museum, who together with his associates made sure that the collection was safely returned to the descendants of Bohuslav Lavička after the war. In 1978, the Lavička Collection was bought off by Lek, a Sandoz company, that first displayed it in 1986 in a museum in its business center in Ljubljana, where it is still housed today.

• The Lavička Collection