Artefacts or objects – Why do we
collect and display what we do
After a Twitter post about objects going on display at the
new Castleford Forum Museum (opening soon by the way!) we had a comment in response
questioning the use of the word ‘objects’:
“Hope
you mean artefacts I see objects in the street & don't want see them in a
Museum?”
This
got us thinking….
When we think of the ‘great’ museum artefacts we are lucky
enough to be able to see in our country’s museums we may think of The Rosetta
Stone, The Piltdown man, The Sutton Hoo burial and The Crown Jewels. These fabulous, unique, inspiring and
priceless items are crucial in telling the story of Britain, and exploring its
place in the world. So how do you feel
about museums collecting and displaying a Drambuie bottle or a hobnail boot?
As a museum service we have a collecting policy which
informs what is added to, and kept in, our collections. Here is an extract from our policy:
‘Wakefield Council’s Museums collect, safeguards and make
accessible approximately 118,000 objects that document and record the human,
social and cultural history of Wakefield and district from the distant past to
the present day. We want to enable both citizens and visitors to the district
to explore these collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment.’
It goes on to say:
‘Wakefield Museums collects social
history material that enhances an extensive collection showing the changing
lives of people in the Wakefield district since 1650. Formal collecting first
began in the early 1920s. Together, this material is evidence of the way of
life and achievements of people who lived or live in the Wakefield district.’
Our
collection includes some amazing objects.
The collections that will be going on display at Castleford Forum Museum
are varied and fascinating, unraveling the story of Castleford and the people
who have lived there:
Bronze
Age settlers who left bone tools and daggers
An
Iron Age warrior buried in a chariot
A
Roman soldier who lost a hobnail boot!
Coalminers
fighting for their livelihoods
Castleford glass
workers creating the everyday and demonstrating their extreme skill and
craftsmanship
Whatever
we collect and however we want to refer to them, as artefacts or objects, as
unique or every day, as conventional or controversial, we try to ensure that
our collections reflect real lives, and allow us to tell the stories that our
ancestors, or we, create every day.
We
therefore believe that every object in our collection, no matter how spectacular
or every day helps tell the stories of our lives and our history.
As
for those objects that you see in the street….
Here
is a crisp packet commemorating the royal wedding in1982 - should this be in a
museum?
We'd love to know what you think about what we collect and display….
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