"The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A), set in London, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects. It was founded in 1852, and has since grown to now cover 12.5 acres and 145 galleries. Its collection spans 5,000 years of art, from ancient times to the present day, in virtually every medium, from the cultures of Europe, North America, Asia and North Africa" - abreviated from Wiki

At any one time there is only so much of this material on display, much of the rest of it being stored away, and seldom (if ever) seeing the light of day.

The idea is therefore to establish a V&A object lending library, so that many of the stored items (large and small) may be borrowed and enjoyed outside of the confines of the museum environment.

Fancy drinking from a 17th century goblet? No problem - the V&A probably has a room full of them gathering dust in a basement, but with your V&A&me membership, you can simply sign out a box of them, at no charge at all (you just use your house as collateral, or get a friend to act as your guarantor)

Larger objects, such as heavy stone buddhas or Roman marble statues, can also be borrowed. No object is considered too large or too small. If it's listed in the Lending Section, then you can take it away, and of course return it. (note - overdue fines will be levied in proportion to the value of the object)
-- xenzag, Feb 04 2011

How many of these items should be returned to their former countries, if they're sitting around collecting dust?
-- RayfordSteele, Feb 04 2011


They could be borrowed by "ethnic" residents in UK.
-- xenzag, Feb 04 2011


I rather prefer "borrowed" in quotation marks, like they were when they were "acquired."
-- RayfordSteele, Feb 04 2011


Big bucks for insurance for this kind of lending...
-- xandram, Feb 04 2011


I remember a TV show years ago, where the prize was to win a 16th century Venetian cityscape oil painting for a day. I remember seeing footage of the big lorry delivering it to a suburban house, and the huge crate being carried in the front door - the painting was installed in the main room, where it entirely filled one wall. There were two burly security guards, one at each side of the painting, at _all_times_...
-- pocmloc, Feb 04 2011


Yes... all that may be necessary.
-- xenzag, Feb 04 2011



random, halfbakery