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Balancing access and preservation
The V&A preserves its collections on behalf of the public and for future generations. We work to find a balance between protecting objects to avoid irreversible changes and making them permanently accessible to all.
This raises the question of how important it is for museum collections to be preserved for future generations. Should our children and grandchildren be able to experience these objects in the same way as we do?
Written by: Lead and Senior Conservators
Published: May 2025
Working Museum
- Museum Number
- IS.20:1, 2-2012
- Description
- Sari and blouse
- Artist/Maker
- Mr Hitesh Rawat
- Location and Date
- Telangana, 2011
- Materials/Techniques
- Silk (textile), Ikat
- Museum Number
- IM.56:1, 2-1910
- Description
- Tangka
- Location and Date
- Tibet, 16th or 17th century
- Materials/Techniques
- Tempera, Cotton (textile), Painting (image-making)
- Museum Number
- A.1078-1910
- Description
- Crucifix figure
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location and Date
- Netherlands, ca. 1700
- Materials/Techniques
- Ivory, Carving
- Museum Number
- CIRC.7-1921
- Description
- Crucifix figure (fragmentary)
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location and Date
- Germany, ca. 1650
- Materials/Techniques
- Ivory, Carved
- Museum Number
- A.2-1939
- Description
- Christ on the Cross
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location and Date
- China, ca. 1650
- Materials/Techniques
- Ivory, Carved
- Museum Number
- A.68-1927
- Description
- Crucifix figure
- Artist/Maker
- Gualterio, Giovanni Antonio
- Location and Date
- Italy, ca. 1599
- Materials/Techniques
- Ivory, Carved, Painted
- Museum Number
- A.7-1923
- Description
- Statuette
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location and Date
- Spain, 15th century
- Materials/Techniques
- Wood, Carved, Painted
- Museum Number
- A.26:1 to 3-1911
- Description
- Seated male figure
- Artist/Maker
- Stevens, Alfred George
- Location and Date
- England, 1850-1857
- Materials/Techniques
- Plaster, Cast
- Museum Number
- RPS.3879-2024
- Description
- Hepworth Studio Photograph Album
- Location and Date
- Great Britain, 1895-1921
- Materials/Techniques
- Paper, Ink, Card, Letterpress