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The
Museum collects international artefacts and works of art
from prehistory to the mid 19th century.
The Abbey Museum has created a Collection Policy that
ensures the quality of the collections and provides a
process for accepting donations of art and antiquities
through a strict accessions regime. Museums use a
collection policy to define the scope of their
collections.
We collect a wide range of antiquities and art prior to
1850. This following list includes as examples some of
the things that the Abbey Museum collects.
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pottery and porcelain
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antiquities from the ancient and classical world (we
are currently trying to build up our Greek collection
which is poorly represented).
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coins
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manuscripts, documents and books prior to 1800
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weapons, especially edged weapons and bows
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armour
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metalwork
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glass, especially pre-18th century AD
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stained glass
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jewellery
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jades and hard stone carvings
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paintings and icons
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sculpture
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Islamic art and artefacts
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prehistoric stone tools
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ancient bronzes
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scientific instruments (prior to 1800 AD)
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woodwork
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medical items
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musical artefacts (we are trying to build up this
section)
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costumes prior to AD 1800
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needlework such as tapestries and samplers
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Aboriginal artefacts (collected before 1967)
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Oceanic art (poorly represented in the Museum’s
collection
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Because of their fragile nature, ethnographical art and
antiquities are collected to a later date. The Museum
does not try and collect historical material from
Australia, unless they relate to European colonial
expansion, as these are best directed to Australian
local or national museums.
The Museum's collection policy recognises the danger of
illegal trade in antiquities and the manufacture of
fakes. Items are not purchased or acquired if there is
doubt about their validity or authenticity, if they have
been acquired illegally, or have been removed from a
primary environment without legal permission or due
regard for that environment or site.
Where possible the donor or vendor has to demonstrate to
the Museum's satisfaction that they have either clear
title to the item either through purchase or collection
from another collector; or, that they have legal right
and ownership of the item through inheritance.
From
time to time the Museum Board may authorise the
de-accessioning of items after due consideration to
maintain the quality of the collections. |
