Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - The Oriental arms & armour collection at the V&A?

B.I · 4th September 2005, 09:42 PM

hi aqtai,
the V&A put their arms away a couple of years ago, after tony north retired. the problem they have is space, and catering for the general public. i know we are all passionate about arms, but the general public have but a passing interest and this doesnt keep the doors open of our institutions.
the few pieces left in the south asia dept are all that are on show, and they are good examples and of great quality.
there are a number of japanese arms and armour on display as well. the islamic galleries are being refurbished, and there was a good turban helmet and a couple of swords on show, which i assume will come back when the galleries are opened again. the museums disbanded the entrance fee and in doing so, they have to justify their existance by the amount of 'tourists' and visitors they attract. to do this, they have to constantly change the temporary exhibitions and keep the permanent exhibitions attractive to all.
i complained at the time, when the arms were taken down, as did many others but i do understand theor polices. there are still enough enthusiast people working there with a passion for arms (susan stronge etc) that would love to have the eastern arms back, but its not the time at the moment. pieces can be seen if you make the right appointment and there is enough on show to keep visitors happy (the wallace still has all on display).
the topics of museums has reared a few times, on diverse posts and i will always defend them. they do what they have to with a very limited budget, and each staff member are as passionate as any collector i have ever met.
they will help out any serious collector in their study and access to all pieces can be had, if done so for research.
thereis no plan for the arms to be back on show, but there will be (and have been) good exhibitions on specific subjects (sikhs a while back, east meets west more recently) and there will also lend pieces for other institutions.
the V&A went the same way as the tower did, accepting that the main museum will now be in leeds where they can properly display their arms, and london will cater for other tastes, with arms at a minimum.
jens, i understand the situation with berne, and i agree it isnt right. i promise this isnt the case the the V&A. there is no arrogance there, and the collector and researcher is and always has been of utmost importance. i wish it was the same in switzerland.

4th September 2005, 09:42 PM	#4
B.I Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 485	hi aqtai, the V&A put their arms away a couple of years ago, after tony north retired. the problem they have is space, and catering for the general public. i know we are all passionate about arms, but the general public have but a passing interest and this doesnt keep the doors open of our institutions. the few pieces left in the south asia dept are all that are on show, and they are good examples and of great quality. there are a number of japanese arms and armour on display as well. the islamic galleries are being refurbished, and there was a good turban helmet and a couple of swords on show, which i assume will come back when the galleries are opened again. the museums disbanded the entrance fee and in doing so, they have to justify their existance by the amount of 'tourists' and visitors they attract. to do this, they have to constantly change the temporary exhibitions and keep the permanent exhibitions attractive to all. i complained at the time, when the arms were taken down, as did many others but i do understand theor polices. there are still enough enthusiast people working there with a passion for arms (susan stronge etc) that would love to have the eastern arms back, but its not the time at the moment. pieces can be seen if you make the right appointment and there is enough on show to keep visitors happy (the wallace still has all on display). the topics of museums has reared a few times, on diverse posts and i will always defend them. they do what they have to with a very limited budget, and each staff member are as passionate as any collector i have ever met. they will help out any serious collector in their study and access to all pieces can be had, if done so for research. thereis no plan for the arms to be back on show, but there will be (and have been) good exhibitions on specific subjects (sikhs a while back, east meets west more recently) and there will also lend pieces for other institutions. the V&A went the same way as the tower did, accepting that the main museum will now be in leeds where they can properly display their arms, and london will cater for other tastes, with arms at a minimum. jens, i understand the situation with berne, and i agree it isnt right. i promise this isnt the case the the V&A. there is no arrogance there, and the collector and researcher is and always has been of utmost importance. i wish it was the same in switzerland.