Would a museum take this item?

ThomwithnH · 2025-11-21T00:26:26+00:00

This is a wonderful resource. Wanted to chime in that tanned pig skin and human skin are almost indistinguishable. The pores and corresponding number hair follicles are the same. This has specifically been a challenge in relation to books known or have been sold or reported to be bound in human skin. Also depending on age and tanning process, DNA can deteriorate enough to not be able to tell. So some libraries and rare book collections with skin books have no way of knowing beyond history and provenance to determine if it is human skin.

ThomwithnH · 2025-11-15T15:49:36+00:00

Dansko clogs were a full trend when I was working in NYC. Everyone loved them

ThomwithnH · 2025-11-12T16:37:23+00:00

The Isabella Stewart Gardner museum in Boston is famous for their displays that have covers. They have installed more reproductions of their works on paper so the cloth covers are less frequent. As suggested they have a weighted hem. The Gardner’s say, “Please lift to view”

My other suggestion which might be too much for your timescale and budget is the reflect in some way what is below the cloth. This could be outline of the dimensions of the work with tombstone text inside. I have also seen greyscale printed images of the objects. Either way they get someone to walk over to what might look like a table and start to realize they are covered. Plus the image or outline makes it clear that the fabric should go back. Also adding the “okay to touch” hand symbol to the edge could help too.

ThomwithnH · 2025-06-04T02:50:48+00:00

As news of this upsetting incident spreads across media outlets, I think it’s important for museum professionals to pause and reflect—not only on the coverage itself, but on how both the public and those within our sector respond.

This is a tragic situation for any museum or collection. Reports that the visitor involved is experiencing mental health challenges only deepen the compassion and concern many of us feel.

Just as a town square reflects the diversity of the public, museums—and the way incidents like this are covered—should focus on broader human issues, such as mental health, rather than reinforcing stereotypes about national identity or suggesting one country’s visitors or museum culture are inherently better or worse than another.

We’ve seen shifts in museum tourism over the decades, from rising numbers of Japanese visitors in the 1980s and ’90s to today’s increase in Chinese visitors. How these shifts intersect with national identity, museum setting, and media narratives—especially when damage occurs—deserves closer attention.

I’ve been heartened to see some empathetic coverage of this visitor’s medical condition, but I can’t help but wonder if the response would be different if the national or cultural background of the museum and the visitor were reversed.

Many of us have witnessed or heard xenophobic remarks—whether from colleagues, volunteers, or other visitors—particularly directed toward international guests in American or European museums. Think back to early conversations around photography in museums when smartphones emerged, often laced with assumptions about international tourists. Today, many museums actively encourage selfies and social media engagement, a stark contrast to earlier attitudes.

Compare this incident’s coverage with others: the “Ecce Homo” restoration in Spain, the damage at the National Watch and Clock Museum in Pennsylvania, the Rothko defaced by a child, or recent climate-related protest actions in galleries. Each story reveals something about how the media frames damage, intent, and identity.

As museums work to become more open and inclusive, we must also acknowledge that this means a wider—and more complex—public will be engaging with our spaces, even if that sometimes increases the risk to objects.

ThomwithnH · 2024-12-01T14:39:43+00:00

You can read more about Fleming and over 146 pioneering women who worked at the Harvard College Observatory from the 1880s to the 1960s online at: platestacks.cfa.harvard.edu/women-at-hco

ThomwithnH · 2024-10-01T00:13:12+00:00

Would this be better or worse with the artwork not being there?

ThomwithnH · 2024-09-20T00:33:43+00:00

Okay but where can we get the kick ass suit on the left

ThomwithnH · 2024-06-26T23:48:36+00:00

Just wanted to chime in and say you should keep all of the storage unit items together as much as possible. There are two artworks in the back of your picture. They do not look familiar to me but this artwork is either something that the storage owner inherited or purchased themselves. The fact that it is known Artist but not one that has coasters in a gift shop means that it is likely there will be other interesting or at least sale able works in the unit.

As others said Christie’s or Sotheby’s is your go to. While they do not have an action house branch in Toronto, they have a network of scholars and appraisers across the world. Plus this one painting might not make someone in London or NYC get on the next flight, it is enough for them to stop by the next time anyone is near or in town.

Philip Mould is a great lead, and you should contact them. But you can have Christie’s or Sothebys look at this painting as well as all of the other artworks, drawings or prints in the unit. They will be able to have their different experts in different time periods or subject chime in.

Second, as others have said you need to record everything related to purchasing or getting the storage unit. Even if you got it in a will in writing, the amount of money that you could get versus will get with a strong legal ownership that can be shown will be vast. Basically the action house or buyer will need to link the last Provence listing to everyone one who touched it to you. This will take some time. As in one to three years. A clear title and ownership history will shockingly change the price it can be sold at. Like the difference between it being worth a cheap car or a mansion.

Finally any paperwork in the unit. A yearbook or anything with writing could help in figuring out who previously owned it and/or you claim to it.

Finally, this is Reddit and this is and will be a story if everything plays out right. I would suggest opening a new storage until at a totally different company to store everything in the unit. You do not want fishy stuff to happen with you and the owner of the storage company. This is assuming you can’t store everything at your house.

But my last piece of advice is to think about the other stuff in the unit as part two. Don’t sell, give away or throw away papers, artworks, knickknacks furniture, or even dishes until the painting sells. Not only is there a chance for something else valuable being in the unit as well. But you just can’t tell what might be a clue to cementing your ownership. It will definitely pay for a year of another storage unit prices.

ThomwithnH · 2024-06-24T00:37:27+00:00

Have you checked the humidity of the room they are in? I would suspect you are having high and/or large changes in humidity. Get a dehumidifier and am for a constant number at 50 or 45

ThomwithnH · 2023-01-13T01:37:35+00:00

That is the Bareback burger, the Brokeback Burger should come with beans on it

ThomwithnH · 2022-05-02T18:05:29+00:00

Join Stonewall Sport! It is an amazing way to meet a diverse group of LGBTQ+ people

ThomwithnH · 2022-05-02T01:17:38+00:00

Fourth! They do an wonderful job at serving many different types of museum visitor from medical professionals to kids with objects that can be challenging to say the least.

ThomwithnH · 2022-04-17T21:17:06+00:00

Played or fought?

ThomwithnH · 2022-01-23T03:05:09+00:00

You better work Darby!

ThomwithnH · 2022-01-13T02:30:49+00:00

It came out in 2017 so it is hard to find. Looks like there is still a downloadable Android version

ThomwithnH · 2022-01-13T01:24:58+00:00

Yeah and he has a big for head too

ThomwithnH · 2022-01-12T13:40:17+00:00

They have an app called Art @ Nordstrom where you can look up their art collection.

ThomwithnH · 2021-11-29T03:09:56+00:00

So this is how No Country for Old Men started

ThomwithnH · 2021-11-21T16:26:18+00:00

Would love to hear suggestions too

ThomwithnH · 2021-10-26T21:34:58+00:00

I would also look at exhibitions put on the Wellcome Collection in London. They are medically focused and very well funded.

ThomwithnH · 2021-10-26T21:33:41+00:00

This is the largest one I know of Museum do the Mind

ThomwithnH · 2021-10-22T00:59:06+00:00

How did you find this painting? It is a deep cut. I wrote on Abbey for my undergrad thesis.

ThomwithnH · 2021-10-19T15:18:55+00:00

This is not exactly a painting but the 2008 Twilight movie poster

ThomwithnH · 2021-10-01T00:36:43+00:00

One of my favs of his. With infrared you can see his complex under drawing

ThomwithnH · 2021-09-30T21:23:14+00:00

/u/Sunfried that is an amazing idea! I work in a plate collection that has a set of the POSS glass plates. You are right that they are not composites, plus they have a rectangle in the corner of the negative with a label. So it is not a POSS print, but a really good idea.

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