Museum exhibits are an important part of our cultural heritage. They are, essentially, precious witnesses of the past, keepers of unique stories and knowledge. However, many visitors do not understand why it is so important not to touch these fragile artifacts with their hands. On this important topic we spoke with the museum director, Irina Trofimova.
Irina Nikolaevna, so why is it forbidden to touch the exhibits with your hands? To be honest, sometimes you really want to touch a piece of history, and this often happens on a somewhat subconscious level.
The work of museum professionals is not only to beautifully display objects of the past, to tell an interesting story or legend associated with them, but also to preserve them for future generations. And preservation can only be ensured by minimizing external impacts on an object — from people, light, and even air.
Exhibits in a museum are quite old and fragile, since most of them have existed for decades or even centuries. Hands can damage and spoil both the appearance of an exhibit and its internal structure. In addition, each of us has natural oils and sweat on our hands, as well as the tiniest particles of dirt or dust. This can lead to a deterioration in the condition of exhibits and even their destruction. This is especially dangerous for documents, photographs, textiles, and leather. There is also a risk of accidentally breaking something, since some exhibits are very fragile. Yes, I understand that people really want to touch some items, and that is exactly why we make replicas. For example, the kokoshnik I am wearing. It is not just a copy; it is a reconstruction, meaning it was made the same way as those in the display cases. The exhibition 'The Mystery of the Komi-Permyak Kokoshnik' has been running for only a year and a half. However, in that time only one of the two kokoshniks has remained 'alive'. Half of its fabric had to be replaced (a colored insert appeared). Now this kokoshnik is indistinguishable from those in the museum collection, whereas before it had lived a long life in the homes of the Cherdynsky uyezd, been passed down as an heirloom, and been resewn.
We are always happy to see your photos in the kokoshniks, and we also invite you to try them on — that is precisely what the replicas were made for. But even they quickly wore out, and imagine what would have happened to the originals if everyone had tried them on?
In short, it's simple. When you come to an exhibition, look around; there is likely some information nearby — follow the posted rules. If in doubt, ask the attendant in the hall. For example, if you see a sticker next to an object that says 'Thank you for not touching!' or 'Do not touch with your hands!' — then it is an original, and therefore it should not be handled or sat on (if it's a chair or armchair). Stickers that say 'You may read', 'Make a discovery', 'Sit down if you're tired', or the absence of restriction labels — feel free to interact. Imagine if everyone touched the objects, sat on the furniture, put on clothing from the collections — what would be left?
Sometimes we try to place rare museum items closer so they can be examined more easily and there is less temptation to touch them. Going forward, we will try to create as many interactive spots in exhibitions as possible, to be more open to you in the hope that you will support our efforts and follow the simple rules I described.
— Frequently asked by visitors: 'Where is this or that item? Why is it not on display? When will it be possible to see it in the exhibition?' Such and similar questions are often directed at tour guides. The answer 'they're resting in storage' does not always satisfy…
— Recently, as part of the public program of a scientific-practical conference, I gave participants a tour of the exhibition 'All Roads Begin Here', which tells the history of the museum. I happened to talk with visitors about why some items disappear and then reappear in exhibitions, while others are replaced with copies. I tried to answer as convincingly as possible. Today the museum's collections hold more than 146,000 items. Just think about that number! No, we are not opposed to having all of them on display, but showing them all at once is practically impossible. In addition, there are specific conservation requirements for exhibits. In particular, prolonged display of items in a museum is undesirable. For example, paper can be exhibited for no more than six months; after that the original must be replaced with a copy or another document. Long-term exhibition can lead to irreversible damage to items, so it is important to limit the time they are on display and, of course, to observe certain storage conditions. Dust and skin grease, which I mentioned earlier, can negatively affect the condition of objects. But sunlight poses a particular danger to preservation. Under the influence of ultraviolet rays, fabrics fade even under the glass of display cases. Moreover, until an item is removed from the exhibition, you may not notice that the side that seemed not to have been exposed to light has mercilessly changed its shade. Together with lighting, the level of humidity is also important; everything, of course, is individual.
All of this is very important so that the items can remain in the museum for at least another 125 years. And those who come after us will have the opportunity to see the wealth that we are carefully trying to preserve with you!
