We are now lending more of the collection than at any other point in the Museum’s history, enabling more people than ever before to encounter the wide range of material culture that the Museum has in its care. Objects of all types, and of all shapes and sizes are being seen beyond the confines of Bloomsbury, but how does this happen? How does a two ton sculpture or a delicate piece of jewellery find itself transported from London halfway around the world?
Every month objects from our collection leave the Museum travelling far and wide. Often the preparation for such journeys begin months or even years in advance of an exhibition’s opening. Whether the exhibition is to be held in a museum on the other side of London or on the other side of the world the logistics behind transporting fragile objects requires careful planning. Before leaving the British Museum all objects must be assessed by our conservators to see whether or not they are stable enough to travel, and, if they are particularly fragile we have to decide what needs to be done in order to transport them safely. A detailed photographic record is made of each object so that its condition can be carefully monitored as it journeys from London to its intended venue.
Analysis
Transporting artifacts is a very delicate and slow process, the exact opposite of a mass rescue mission. Every piece of artwork has a specialty transport frame that is perfectly designed to fit the art piece. The type of material used to protect the artwork is also carefully chosen. What are the contingency plans in place when disaster strikes? This article emphasizes each stage of transport including the preparation, the active stage of transport, and the unloading and care that happens after. This article makes me think about the importance of preparation and conclusion of a transport journey. What goes into each stage? I don’t want to ignore the importance of the different stages of transportation because it can impact the final outcome and success of a rescue mission. What can we learn from transportation
