an insight into museums and collections

Jens Nordlunde · 26th May 2005, 04:37 PM

It is a sad subject Brian brings up, sad, be course many of the museums don’t have the money/interest/knowledge, needed for the care of weapons and other artefacts, either bought over the years, or gifts the museum or the country have received.

The museums are not allowed/will not sell some of the weapons from their reserves, saying they are there for further research, and while waiting for the research many of the weapons rust – often badly, witch when/if the research is ever done it will be made difficult, if not impossible, according to how heavy the rust on the weapon is.

I really don’t see a solution on this problem, until the politicians start to wake. Until then, and it may be a while, Ian’s suggestion can be tried. I doubt that many collectors, even with extra education, will be allowed into the museums to help, be course, as Brian says, you have to know the curators well to be allowed to see their reserves – not to speak about cleaning the weapons – you might spoil the rust. When this said, I must also say, that I know many museums are very unhappy with the situation, and do what they can to change it, plus that the museums which have money do all they can to keep their reserves intact.

Saddening to see the pictures - did you say they had 1500 oriental weapons in all?

26th May 2005, 04:37 PM	#14
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	It is a sad subject Brian brings up, sad, be course many of the museums don’t have the money/interest/knowledge, needed for the care of weapons and other artefacts, either bought over the years, or gifts the museum or the country have received. The museums are not allowed/will not sell some of the weapons from their reserves, saying they are there for further research, and while waiting for the research many of the weapons rust – often badly, witch when/if the research is ever done it will be made difficult, if not impossible, according to how heavy the rust on the weapon is. I really don’t see a solution on this problem, until the politicians start to wake. Until then, and it may be a while, Ian’s suggestion can be tried. I doubt that many collectors, even with extra education, will be allowed into the museums to help, be course, as Brian says, you have to know the curators well to be allowed to see their reserves – not to speak about cleaning the weapons – you might spoil the rust. When this said, I must also say, that I know many museums are very unhappy with the situation, and do what they can to change it, plus that the museums which have money do all they can to keep their reserves intact. Saddening to see the pictures - did you say they had 1500 oriental weapons in all? Last edited by Jens Nordlunde; 26th May 2005 at 04:58 PM.