Another history of museums: from the discourse to the museum-piece

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Abstract

The history of museums could get inspired on the procedures of material studies and of Anthropology in order to take a new stand and move away from the institutional approach and consider the approach of objects traditionally labelled as museum objects. The so-called "museum pieces" are supposed to have a number of characteristics, particularly some great historical and artistic qualities, sometimes an heritage quality, but above all the ability to make "friends" around the community or around the world. In all these respects, it is proposed here a number of research procedures that may supplement or enrich the directions usually assigned to the history of institutions.

Translated abstract

L'histoire des musées pourrait s'inspirer de la démarche des material studies et de l'anthropologie pour réviserson point de vue, et passer de celui de l'institution à celui des objets qualifiés traditionnellement d'objets de musée. Leur définition évoque uncertain nombre de traits, laqualité, en particulier historique et artistique, ou encore patrimoniale, lacapacité à susciterautour d'euxdes "amis", enfin l'utilité publique. Sous tous ces aspects, on propose ici une série de démarches de recherche susceptibles de compléter ou d'enrichir la conduite habituelle d'une histoire des établissements.

Translated abstract

A história dos museus poderia se inspirar nos caminhos dos material studies e da antropologia para rever seus pontos de vista, e passar do ponto de vista da instituição para aquele dos objetos tradicionalmente qualificados como objetos de museu. A definição desses objetos evoca um certo número de características, sua qualidade, particularmente a qualidade histórica e artística, ou ainda patrimonial, a capacidade de suscitar "amigos" em torno deles, enfim, sua utilidade pública. Sob todos esses aspectos, propõe-se aqui uma série de caminhos de pesquisa que podem completar ou enriquecer a direção que normalmente se dá à história das instituições.