WHAT SHOULD MILITARY MUSEUM LOOK LIKE

Berkley · 22nd May 2006, 12:46 PM

Michal,
As a preliminary inquiry: Will you be working within the limitations of an existing buiding, or starting from the ground up with an architect? If you will be using an existing structure, what flexibility will you have with regard to the size and shape of exhibition spaces, natural lighting, and the flow of visitors through the exhibition space. Unless you are just asking for idealized "if I were King" fantasies, these mundane considerations will have a considerable impact on the design that is best for your collection and its intended audience, whose nature and size will also be important.
What a wonderful opportunity you have! This should be a very interesting thread to follow.
Berkley

wolviex · 22nd May 2006, 01:20 PM

Thank you, I indeed forgot to mention that it will be (if it will be) in todays rooms of "Gallery of Arms and Colours in Poland". These are 10 rooms (see picture) rather narrow but long, of medium height (3-4 metres), and different lenght (room 2 on map is ca. 10 metres long) with day light on one right wall but possible (and in case of uniforms and etchings - necessary) to cover.
But primary my question is what do you like, and how would you like to see the objects in museum. Light, cases, way of arrangement, captions, additional informations (what kind of informations?) etc etc.
Visitors - I belive around 100-200 per day - this is frequency on todays exhibition, which is quite oldfashioned and not such beautiful as it should

.

wolviex · 22nd May 2006, 01:33 PM

and overall view on two rooms (sorry for quality) - present exhibition

IainN · 22nd May 2006, 10:29 PM

I have a few observations from my personal experiences and what I've found to like and not like.

Firstly with display cases, I have found display cases which are mounted flush against the walls of the room to be quite aggravating. As an enthusiast I do not want to be limited to seeing only one side or view of a piece. Light is extremely important not only for viewing but for taking photos. To few museums take into account that many visitors will want to take photos. The only way to allow for this is to have as much natural light as possible in the display area. My suggestion for display is to place the cases in the middle of the hall, making the pieces viewable from all sides, mount pieces where applicable on clear plastic mounts without solid backgrounds (what I mean is to avoid the type of display were the sword is mounted on say a red fabric background). From the couple of pictures you posted it appears that your building already has windows in some of the halls? This is wonderful I think, to often arms&armor displays are dimly lit. In general I like galleries that feel open and airy and allow me to decide my viewing angle. Having a selection of couches or benches in the gallery is also always appreciated.

With regards to materials to be displayed I would put a heavy focus on creating displays with mannequins, costumes, and props when possible, I like seeing a "scene". Perhaps a large display along these lines could be the centerpiece of each gallery with additional cases displaying accompanying artifacts. Personally I think it helps bring pieces to life to see them in context and helps generate interest from the general public who would otherwise find them somewhat boring. For exceptional pieces however, I personally appreciate "stand alone" displays for maximum viewing where the piece is not at a viewing disadvantage from being in context (such as belted at the side of a mannequin). Decorating the galleries themselves to go with the theme of the objects on display might also be a consideration. I like the feeling of changing time periods and places when I move from one room to the next, rather than having the same old "museum room" feel to every gallery.

In terms of written material to be displayed with the pieces one thing I wish museums would do is give more detailed descriptions. To often a piece is only accompanied by a small card giving the dating of the piece, country or tribe of origin and little else. Using period illustrations and photographs to accompany the description would also be very nice to see.

I'm looking forward to seeing this thread develop, I think some very useful and insightful ideas will come out of it.

I'm actually planning to be in Krakow this fall so I'm rather excited hear about the items on display and what direction the displays might go. I'm certainly planning on making a visit, from the photos the museum already looks quite nice.

Rick · 22nd May 2006, 11:05 PM

Wolviex , I would like to share with you pictures from the History of Steel exhibition but I cannot at present without Antonio's permission .
I would strongly suggest that you PM him with your questions or ask him to participate in this thread ; museum display is Antonio's career so I think you would find his input invaluable .
Sooner or later the website for History of Steel will be available to see but I cannot tell you when .

Here is the website from his last exhibition Masters of Fire
http://www.arscives.com/mastersofire/Default.htm

VANDOO · 22nd May 2006, 11:18 PM

PLANNING A MUSEUM THAT COVERS EVERYONES INTRESTS IS VERY DIFFICULT. A EXPERT ON PERIOD UNIFORMS AND ACCOUNTERMENTS WOULD BE CONTENT TO GO FROM CASE TO CASE STUDIEING THE DIFFERENCES FROM PERIOD TO PERIOD. YOUNG PEOPLE AND THOSE WHO HAVE NO KNOWLEGE OR INTREST IN SUCH THINGS MIGHT BECOME MORE INTERESTED IF YOU HAD A FEW GROUPS OF MANIKINS MIXED IN SHOWING COMBAT BETWEEN ENEMYS FROM THE PERIOD WITH SOME BREIF DESCRIPTIONS OF TACTICICS, ARMAMENTS AND FAMOUS BATTLES. A MUSEUM I VISITED NOT TOO LONG AGO HAD SEVERAL SUCH TABLEAU ONE WAS ZULU WARRIORS VS. BRITISH TROOPS. PICTURES OF BATTLES ARE ALSO INTERESTING TO ALL VISITORS.
I LIKE THINGS GROUPED TOGETHER BY PERIOD AND LIKE TO SEE THE WEAPONS OF THE ENEMY AS WELL AS THE HOME COUNTRYS. I LIKE DISPLAYS THAT ARE WELL BALANCED AND DISPLAYED NOT CLUTTERED. I ALSO LIKE TO SEE AS MANY EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT WEAPONS AS POSSIBLE WHICH CAN BE DONE WITHOUT LOOKING CLUTTERED IF ARRANGED IN PATTERNS AS IN OLD MUSEUM EXHIBITS. WHAT THRILLS A SCHOLAR OR COLLECTOR USUALLY DOSEN'T IMPRESS THE GENERAL PUBLIC SO IT TAKES SOMETHING SPECTACULAR TO STICK IN THEIR MEMORY. I SAW THE EXHIBIT FROM THE ARMORY AT GRATZ AND THEY HAD A PARTIAL ROOM AS WELL AS PICTURES OF THE ARMORY WHICH ALOWED YOU TO SEE JUST HOW IT LOOKED AS WELL AS HOW LARGE IT WAS.

SPACE , ROOM AND FUNDS ARE ALWAYS LIMITING FACTORS AS TO WHAT YOU CAN DO BUT YOU DO NEED SOME IMPRESSIVE EYE CATCHING DISPLAYS TO MAKE A LASTING IMPRESSION. I LIKE THE WAY THE MUSEUM LOOKS IN YOUR PICTURES, I WILL THINK ON OTHER POSSIBLE SUGGESTIONS.

wolviex · 23rd May 2006, 07:51 AM

Thank you very much!
I'm happy we all agree that scenes with mannequins are attractive. On present exhibition uniforms are shown one by one standing still, and it's good for expert but common people get used to bored very quickly after seeing two, three cases. On mannequins, as we agreed, all becomes to life, and expression as well as perception is quite different. Of course this makes some problems. Each uniform needs mannequin made individually, there are also technical problems. Arms, legs have to be made as separate parts to make it possible to put, often very tight uniform, on mannequin.
IainN: I really appreciate your contribution, and I agree with most what you wrote. But reality is cruel and many things are just impossible or very hard to get. DAYLIGHT is great, as natural source. But unfortunatelly it is deadly for many objects like textiles, paper and lately even Japanese lake. So it is not possible to keep it on many exhibitions. Present exhibition is full of daylight (thought because of uniforms it shouldn't be) and there is other problem of reflections on showcase glass - you can hardly see what is inside, and taking pictures is just a horror. So artificial light is the only solution, I think.
As you, I like to have possibility to see objects from all possible sides, and I wouldn't like to change it because many objects on present exhibition is presented that way. But some of them are "mounted on a red fabric background"

We have already very detailed objects descriptions - well don't we have almost perfect exhibition already?
Anyway plans are quite big, money is first thing and there is always lack of it, but I believe the next few years will let us to make one of the greatest arms and armour exhibition in Europe

Regards!

IainN · 23rd May 2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolviex

IainN: I really appreciate your contribution, and I agree with most what you wrote. But reality is cruel and many things are just impossible or very hard to get. DAYLIGHT is great, as natural source. But unfortunatelly it is deadly for many objects like textiles, paper and lately even Japanese lake. So it is not possible to keep it on many exhibitions. Present exhibition is full of daylight (thought because of uniforms it shouldn't be) and there is other problem of reflections on showcase glass - you can hardly see what is inside, and taking pictures is just a horror. So artificial light is the only solution, I think.
As you, I like to have possibility to see objects from all possible sides, and I wouldn't like to change it because many objects on present exhibition is presented that way. But some of them are "mounted on a red fabric background"

We have already very detailed objects descriptions - well don't we have almost perfect exhibition already?
Anyway plans are quite big, money is first thing and there is always lack of it, but I believe the next few years will let us to make one of the greatest arms and armour exhibition in Europe

Regards!

Hi Michal,

I understand that issues surround having natural light on the displays, correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression it was not an issue so much for wood and iron/steel? Perhaps displays of just weaponry could be exhibited in the naturally lit areas? However you obviously have the technical knowledge to know what's possible here. I'm just a museum goer.

My only other thought right now is perhaps looking into anti-reflection glass? A quick google search brought up this company http://www.denglas.com/, but perhaps you are already considering this. Unfortunately I believe it is quite expensive.

As I said before, I'm quite looking forward visiting Krakow this fall, is the Muzeum Narodowe W Krakowie the museum under discussion?

wolviex · 23rd May 2006, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANDOO

I ALSO LIKE TO SEE AS MANY EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT WEAPONS AS POSSIBLE WHICH CAN BE DONE WITHOUT LOOKING CLUTTERED IF ARRANGED IN PATTERNS AS IN OLD MUSEUM EXHIBITS.

I agree with that, I belive you mean i.e. panoplies full of weapons on the wall . I like it too and I believe there will be some

especially if there is to many common weapons to show individually in showcases.

22nd May 2006, 12:46 PM	#1
Berkley Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 257	Michal, As a preliminary inquiry: Will you be working within the limitations of an existing buiding, or starting from the ground up with an architect? If you will be using an existing structure, what flexibility will you have with regard to the size and shape of exhibition spaces, natural lighting, and the flow of visitors through the exhibition space. Unless you are just asking for idealized "if I were King" fantasies, these mundane considerations will have a considerable impact on the design that is best for your collection and its intended audience, whose nature and size will also be important. What a wonderful opportunity you have! This should be a very interesting thread to follow. Berkley Last edited by Berkley; 23rd May 2006 at 01:59 AM. Reason: To correct a typographical error

22nd May 2006, 01:20 PM	#2
wolviex Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Krakow Posts: 418	Thank you, I indeed forgot to mention that it will be (if it will be) in todays rooms of "Gallery of Arms and Colours in Poland". These are 10 rooms (see picture) rather narrow but long, of medium height (3-4 metres), and different lenght (room 2 on map is ca. 10 metres long) with day light on one right wall but possible (and in case of uniforms and etchings - necessary) to cover. But primary my question is what do you like, and how would you like to see the objects in museum. Light, cases, way of arrangement, captions, additional informations (what kind of informations?) etc etc. Visitors - I belive around 100-200 per day - this is frequency on todays exhibition, which is quite oldfashioned and not such beautiful as it should . Attached Images

22nd May 2006, 01:33 PM	#3
wolviex Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Krakow Posts: 418	and overall view on two rooms (sorry for quality) - present exhibition Attached Images

22nd May 2006, 11:18 PM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	PLANNING A MUSEUM THAT COVERS EVERYONES INTRESTS IS VERY DIFFICULT. A EXPERT ON PERIOD UNIFORMS AND ACCOUNTERMENTS WOULD BE CONTENT TO GO FROM CASE TO CASE STUDIEING THE DIFFERENCES FROM PERIOD TO PERIOD. YOUNG PEOPLE AND THOSE WHO HAVE NO KNOWLEGE OR INTREST IN SUCH THINGS MIGHT BECOME MORE INTERESTED IF YOU HAD A FEW GROUPS OF MANIKINS MIXED IN SHOWING COMBAT BETWEEN ENEMYS FROM THE PERIOD WITH SOME BREIF DESCRIPTIONS OF TACTICICS, ARMAMENTS AND FAMOUS BATTLES. A MUSEUM I VISITED NOT TOO LONG AGO HAD SEVERAL SUCH TABLEAU ONE WAS ZULU WARRIORS VS. BRITISH TROOPS. PICTURES OF BATTLES ARE ALSO INTERESTING TO ALL VISITORS. I LIKE THINGS GROUPED TOGETHER BY PERIOD AND LIKE TO SEE THE WEAPONS OF THE ENEMY AS WELL AS THE HOME COUNTRYS. I LIKE DISPLAYS THAT ARE WELL BALANCED AND DISPLAYED NOT CLUTTERED. I ALSO LIKE TO SEE AS MANY EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT WEAPONS AS POSSIBLE WHICH CAN BE DONE WITHOUT LOOKING CLUTTERED IF ARRANGED IN PATTERNS AS IN OLD MUSEUM EXHIBITS. WHAT THRILLS A SCHOLAR OR COLLECTOR USUALLY DOSEN'T IMPRESS THE GENERAL PUBLIC SO IT TAKES SOMETHING SPECTACULAR TO STICK IN THEIR MEMORY. I SAW THE EXHIBIT FROM THE ARMORY AT GRATZ AND THEY HAD A PARTIAL ROOM AS WELL AS PICTURES OF THE ARMORY WHICH ALOWED YOU TO SEE JUST HOW IT LOOKED AS WELL AS HOW LARGE IT WAS. SPACE , ROOM AND FUNDS ARE ALWAYS LIMITING FACTORS AS TO WHAT YOU CAN DO BUT YOU DO NEED SOME IMPRESSIVE EYE CATCHING DISPLAYS TO MAKE A LASTING IMPRESSION. I LIKE THE WAY THE MUSEUM LOOKS IN YOUR PICTURES, I WILL THINK ON OTHER POSSIBLE SUGGESTIONS. Last edited by VANDOO; 23rd May 2006 at 12:57 AM.

22nd May 2006, 10:29 PM	#4
IainN Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 31	I have a few observations from my personal experiences and what I've found to like and not like. Firstly with display cases, I have found display cases which are mounted flush against the walls of the room to be quite aggravating. As an enthusiast I do not want to be limited to seeing only one side or view of a piece. Light is extremely important not only for viewing but for taking photos. To few museums take into account that many visitors will want to take photos. The only way to allow for this is to have as much natural light as possible in the display area. My suggestion for display is to place the cases in the middle of the hall, making the pieces viewable from all sides, mount pieces where applicable on clear plastic mounts without solid backgrounds (what I mean is to avoid the type of display were the sword is mounted on say a red fabric background). From the couple of pictures you posted it appears that your building already has windows in some of the halls? This is wonderful I think, to often arms&armor displays are dimly lit. In general I like galleries that feel open and airy and allow me to decide my viewing angle. Having a selection of couches or benches in the gallery is also always appreciated. With regards to materials to be displayed I would put a heavy focus on creating displays with mannequins, costumes, and props when possible, I like seeing a "scene". Perhaps a large display along these lines could be the centerpiece of each gallery with additional cases displaying accompanying artifacts. Personally I think it helps bring pieces to life to see them in context and helps generate interest from the general public who would otherwise find them somewhat boring. For exceptional pieces however, I personally appreciate "stand alone" displays for maximum viewing where the piece is not at a viewing disadvantage from being in context (such as belted at the side of a mannequin). Decorating the galleries themselves to go with the theme of the objects on display might also be a consideration. I like the feeling of changing time periods and places when I move from one room to the next, rather than having the same old "museum room" feel to every gallery. In terms of written material to be displayed with the pieces one thing I wish museums would do is give more detailed descriptions. To often a piece is only accompanied by a small card giving the dating of the piece, country or tribe of origin and little else. Using period illustrations and photographs to accompany the description would also be very nice to see. I'm looking forward to seeing this thread develop, I think some very useful and insightful ideas will come out of it. I'm actually planning to be in Krakow this fall so I'm rather excited hear about the items on display and what direction the displays might go. I'm certainly planning on making a visit, from the photos the museum already looks quite nice.

22nd May 2006, 11:05 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Wolviex , I would like to share with you pictures from the History of Steel exhibition but I cannot at present without Antonio's permission . I would strongly suggest that you PM him with your questions or ask him to participate in this thread ; museum display is Antonio's career so I think you would find his input invaluable . Sooner or later the website for History of Steel will be available to see but I cannot tell you when . Here is the website from his last exhibition Masters of Fire http://www.arscives.com/mastersofire/Default.htm

23rd May 2006, 07:51 AM	#7
wolviex Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Krakow Posts: 418	Thank you very much! I'm happy we all agree that scenes with mannequins are attractive. On present exhibition uniforms are shown one by one standing still, and it's good for expert but common people get used to bored very quickly after seeing two, three cases. On mannequins, as we agreed, all becomes to life, and expression as well as perception is quite different. Of course this makes some problems. Each uniform needs mannequin made individually, there are also technical problems. Arms, legs have to be made as separate parts to make it possible to put, often very tight uniform, on mannequin. IainN: I really appreciate your contribution, and I agree with most what you wrote. But reality is cruel and many things are just impossible or very hard to get. DAYLIGHT is great, as natural source. But unfortunatelly it is deadly for many objects like textiles, paper and lately even Japanese lake. So it is not possible to keep it on many exhibitions. Present exhibition is full of daylight (thought because of uniforms it shouldn't be) and there is other problem of reflections on showcase glass - you can hardly see what is inside, and taking pictures is just a horror. So artificial light is the only solution, I think. As you, I like to have possibility to see objects from all possible sides, and I wouldn't like to change it because many objects on present exhibition is presented that way. But some of them are "mounted on a red fabric background" We have already very detailed objects descriptions - well don't we have almost perfect exhibition already? Anyway plans are quite big, money is first thing and there is always lack of it, but I believe the next few years will let us to make one of the greatest arms and armour exhibition in Europe Regards!