ABSTRACT
Researchhereexploresthehistorical,socialandintellectualforcesthathave brought,andcontinuetobring,thecollectionsoftheVictoriaandAlbert Museum(V&A),London,intoexistenceandthewaysinwhichthose collectionshavebeencontinuouslyreinterpreted.IByexaminationofthe V &A'shistory,aseriesofinterconnectedthemescanbediscerned:the relationshipbetweenamuseum'sstatedpurposeanditscollecting;the waysinwhichshiftinginterpretationsofamuseum'scollectionsalterthe statusofobjectsandsoinfluencefutureacquisition;andthewaysinwhich acquisitionsaffectamuseum'spurposeandcollecting.Thoughderived fromthehistoryofaparticular,evenexceptional,institution,theseissues arecentraltocollectinginallmuseumstoday.
