On Tuesday I was invited to join the December induction for new members of staff on an outreach visit. The museum has a number of offsite storage areas for the pieces that aren't required for display, require conservation, are too delicate to be displayed, or are part of the archive.
I visited a huge store full of pictures the RMG has the second largest collection of portraits after the National Portrait Gallery, many of them are of random admirals and seafarers admittedly but it is an impressive collections. There are over 4000 pictures in the collection, some are on display at the museum, others are on loan at institutions across the world and the rest are hung on huge sliding doors in racks over 2 floors.
The site also houses much of the museums textiles collection which includes table cloths from cruise ships to shoes worn by a survivor of the Titanic disaster. We were also shown 3 of Nelson's jackets that they have stored in the racks. All textiles are frozen (to kill any insect life) catalogued, photographed and the carefully packed away.
Finally we were taken upstairs to see the globe collection which is the largest in the world from tiny ones to huge ones, all hidden in the dark to protect their delicate designs. Upstairs also houses the flag collection, many neatly rolled on racks, and their collection of pottery and glassware much of which has a link the Nelson.
Sadly due to the nature of the site, I couldn't take any pictures so you'll have to use your imagination, but the uniform Nelson was wearing when he was killed on board the Victory is on show at the Maritime museum at the moment, complete with the critical bullet hole - very cool!
No comments:
Post a Comment