By Matthew McMahon- Museum Collections Officer
Fig. 1
When you go to the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium this summer time you will note our latest momentary exhibition, centered on among the treasures held in our historic assortment of scientific devices and archives. Cupboards of Curiosity has been curated and designed by college students from Queen’s College Belfast Historical past division as a part of the module ‘Cupboards of Curiosity: Museums Previous and Current’.
The scholars concerned had been in a position to go to the Planetarium earlier this 12 months and work with our Heritage employees to grasp inform a narrative by exhibition textual content and deal with valuable historic items safely, whereas additionally studying about them. Researching these historic objects entails a variety of expertise, from protected dealing with to figuring out totally different supplies and manufacturing strategies, in addition to a eager eye for hidden particulars like serial numbers, the names of makers, and stamps! After being skilled they got entry to things from the gathering and inspired to pick out objects to show. The objects had been drawn from our intensive assortment of over 32,000 entries, and vary in age from the mid 1700’s to the late 1980’s!
The scholars had been in a position to come again a number of months later, having researched their chosen objects by books within the library at Queen’s, and the web. Earlier than the instances had been stuffed, we did a ‘test-fit’ within the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium library which gave the scholars the chance to ensure every part would match, and to group objects into themes, in addition to time to experiment with layouts and guarantee every part was seen from totally different angles.
Fig. 2
The objects had been diversified, and embody books, toys, uncommon scientific devices and even an digital calculator! Primarily based on the historic cupboards which had been outstanding in wealthy properties all through the Rennaissance and into the Eighteenth and Nineteenth centuries, the exhibition was a chance to focus on the vital function of objects within the each day lifetime of the Observatory and the individuals who lived there. A few of the objects have fascinating connections between one another, and we’d prefer to encourage you to consider what connections you’ll find within the instances!
Because of Prof. Elaine Farrell and Prof. Christopher Marsh for choosing Armagh Observatory and Planetarium because the 2024 ‘Cupboards of Curiosity’ Venue, and to all the scholars for his or her wonderful work, we hope you benefit from the exhibition!
