ABSTRACT
Since collections are basic to the existence of museums and galleries, it follows that without them museums could not exist. Existence is one thing, however, and purposeful use another. Everyone knows the usual ways of using collections. We conserve them, store them, display them, and write about them, but in general we do not really apply the concept of collections research which illuminates the objects, and give perspectives which, on the one hand, can guide us towards selectivity rather than random in-gathering and, on the other hand, open up new paths of knowledge.
