The Te Papa history collection contains a rich and varied range of objects. Recent acquisitions include an English feather cape (c1825) inspired by a traditional Hawaiian ‘ahu ‘ula (cloak), Hairy Maclary dance costumes, Lavish Silk Thread Louis XVI Style Diamond Necklace made by jeweler / artist Sandra Bushby, and a condom packet. The range of objects acquired as part of the history collection at Te Papa is incredible.
Lynette Townsend, curator history at Te Papa, will present at Expressions: http://www.expressions.org.nz/tepapatuesdays.htm. She will talk about the collection and collecting with a focus on some of her favourite objects and their associated stories. She will focus on how the collections have developed, issues around collecting and the selection process, recent acquisitions and future aspirational collecting.
The history team are regularly offered a huge range of objects each unique and special for different reasons. Even so, it is impossible for any museum to be encyclopaedic in its collecting. Tough decisions have to be made about what to collect and what not to collect. Lynette will talk about some of the strategies and processes in place at Te Papa to help deal with these issues.