ABSTRACT
Most museums and galleries in the United Kingdom cling steadfastly to their two core functions of preservation and study, entering the market-place only as a last resort and then by a side door. As a result, when a de-accessioning does take place little consideration is given to current market values or to which items can best be dispensed with. Cases of disposal, although rare, are accompanied by outcries from the press, followed by further legal and administrative controls and apologetic responses from museum curators and directors. More often than not the motives behind disposal are inglorious, rather than an underlying desire to rationalize the collection. Rarely have the proceeds from sales been used to upgrade the exhibits or seriously tackle the problem of overfilled store-rooms; in fact, profits from these surreptitious deals normally go towards maintenance costs. Only occasionally does the interest from the capital sum go towards setting up a purchase fund.
