an insight into museums and collections

Aqtai · 5th September 2005, 12:26 PM

This reply follows my earlier thread about the V&A. Just how easy is it for a member of the public, who has no connections to any museums, who is not a collector or a professional or an academic, but who just happens to have an interest in Islamic arms to view the contents of a museum's reserves?

Jens Nordlunde · 5th September 2005, 02:26 PM

Hi Aqtai,

That varies a lot from museum to museum. You should write to the curator for the department, in good time before you would like to see the collection – at least a month ahead. Don’t forget to tell him that you have collected/studied Islamic arms for a long time, and if you can mention a few things from the museum collection, maybe from old catalogues, it would please the curator; also mention some of the books you have read, Elgood and others. This sends the signal that you are seriously interested, and will, I think, open at least some of the doors. Good luck.

Aqtai · 5th September 2005, 03:32 PM

Thanks Jens.

wolviex · 5th September 2005, 04:38 PM

As for you, the doors of my department are always open, but only during the week (Mon-Fri)

... and you don't have to know Elgood's books to visit me

.

Well there is one problem - you should manage trip to Poland, but because Krakow (Cracow) is most popular city of this year tourist season, and English is hearable everywhere last days, it shouldn't be problematic.

5th September 2005, 12:26 PM	#1
Aqtai Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Merseyside, UK Posts: 222	This reply follows my earlier thread about the V&A. Just how easy is it for a member of the public, who has no connections to any museums, who is not a collector or a professional or an academic, but who just happens to have an interest in Islamic arms to view the contents of a museum's reserves?

5th September 2005, 02:26 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Aqtai, That varies a lot from museum to museum. You should write to the curator for the department, in good time before you would like to see the collection – at least a month ahead. Don’t forget to tell him that you have collected/studied Islamic arms for a long time, and if you can mention a few things from the museum collection, maybe from old catalogues, it would please the curator; also mention some of the books you have read, Elgood and others. This sends the signal that you are seriously interested, and will, I think, open at least some of the doors. Good luck.

5th September 2005, 03:32 PM	#3
Aqtai Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Merseyside, UK Posts: 222	Thanks Jens.

5th September 2005, 04:38 PM	#4
wolviex Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Krakow Posts: 418	As for you, the doors of my department are always open, but only during the week (Mon-Fri) ... and you don't have to know Elgood's books to visit me . Well there is one problem - you should manage trip to Poland, but because Krakow (Cracow) is most popular city of this year tourist season, and English is hearable everywhere last days, it shouldn't be problematic.