As you probably know, the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford has been closed for nearly three years. It reopened last week for previews. I have been surprised not to see any recent announcements of this in Rete, so thought I might be permitted to post a report of my visit of last Saturday. As you will see, my main interests are sundials and astrolabes.
Jim Bennett, addressing the British Sundial Society last month, seemed rather defensive about the new approach to be adopted. This, as I understand it, puts objects into a historical context, with a new emphasis on patrons, customers and collectors, and relating sundials, surveying and navigating instruments to one another. One result is that relatively few of the museum's thousands of sundials will be on show (on the ground floor, at least), and they will not be sorted by type. Jim feared that this might not appeal to the typical BSS member. Well, I don't know if I'm a typical member, but I certainly have no complaint about the number, variety and quality of the sundials and astrolabes on display, although I wasn't looking for any specific instruments. I cannot comment on how successful the new approach will be, because it depends on explanatory labels, which are not yet in place. Although the museum is open the new library is not, because of a water leak, so it has been impossible to create labels. I did not get a date for the opening of the library, or the labelling of exhibits. The ground floor has a relatively large number of small displays, beautifully lit and mostly with glass all round, so you can see both sides of the astrolabes, for instance. One corner of the ground floor has a large number of portable sundials from the Lewis Evans collection, including the wooden one from Florence that Jim has recently traced back to its maker. Upstairs, I have to confess I didn't notice a huge change, but maybe my memory is going. Anyway, there are large numbers of astrolabes and sundials taking up most of the room. With hardly a label in sight, it is difficult to see any logic to the displays, though I am sure there is one. In the case of sundials, I would like, if possible, to see them correctly oriented, but the room faces north so they don't get much direct sunlight. The basement is still unfinished. It has the microscopes and many relatively recent (nineteenth century?) exhibits. It seems rather crowded. Sundials and astrolables are getting a better deal. It was great to be able to see again such a wonderful collection. There are still more instruments on display than you could reasonably ask for and they are well positioned and lit. It will be a lot better when labelled. Chris Lusby Taylor Newbury Berks 51.4N, 1.3W
