Hi Emma,
This is a great question and, as usual, there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. Questions to ask re. each object include:
Is the box/container the original one? If not, does it have historic/associative importance as the container for the object (e.g., handwritten note from the VIP donor saying "Christmas decor")? If it is the original one, is this an example of a "collectible" ornament or toy where the presence of the original packing, preferably in pristine condition, drastically increases the financial value of the donation?
Will the housed object be harmed by being stored inside the container, or vice versa? For example, many plastics emit damaging compounds as they age, harming the container or vice versa. There might not be room inside the container to add sorbents to absorb these pollutants. Similarly, if the object is tightly fitted into the container there may be physical damage of one or both over time, as well as a greater risk of damage when trying to remove or replace the object in the container. Given these risks, the default policy may be to store objects and containers separately however ...
Whenever we store pieces of one object separately, we increase the risks that their association may be lost, or that one of the pieces may get lost altogether. The likelihood of this happening is largely based on the number of pieces, the robustness of your collection management system and the size of your collection. For example, for a board game with many small pieces, it often makes sense to keep the pieces inside the original box, wrapping them individually or in bundles (e.g., cards), or using an accordion-folded piece of cardstock to keep the pieces from rattling around inside the box. In some cases it makes sense to store both the contents and the box in yet another container.
Unfortunately, if your collection storage area is already jam-packed, storing pieces separately or placing them in a larger container will exacerbate all those annoying overcrowding-related risks.
There is also the question of access. If the object is likely to be in demand by curators or other researchers, keeping the pieces together might be preferable.
To speed up the decision-making re. keeping as one or separating, perhaps an easy (ha!) decision-making flow chart would help down the road. For now, since you are dealing with one donation of related items, I am crossing my fingers that you'll need no more than one or two solutions for the whole batch!
Although this isn't the straightforward answer you were probably hoping for, I hope it helps.
All my best,
Fiona
------------------------------
Fiona Graham
she/her
Graham Conservation
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
fiona@grahamconservation.com+1-613-888-2915
www.grahamconservation.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2024 16:19
From: Emma Simpson
Subject: Storing in Original Boxes
We just got a new donation which includes ornaments and toys with their original boxes. What is the best way to store these? Should we leave them as is in original boxes? Wrap them in tissue in the boxes? Store the boxes and ornaments separately?
I was looking around for resources, but the only sources that say one way or the other are self storage companies and I am not sure I trust their insight.
------------------------------
Emma Simpson
------------------------------