Managing Ceramic Collections in Kenyan Museums

Abstract

Ceramic management as an aspect of collections management presents certain storage and preservation challenges despite the relative stability of the ceramic materials. They are not only affected by poor handling, poor storage, poor conservation, but also by salt, humidity/water and dust. Systems analysis and SWOT analysis were used to analyse the archaeology department in Nairobi museum. While the museum boasts of longstanding staff, with great knowledge and expertise, lack of resources and motivation was found to threaten the treasures under museum care and archaeological collections are no exemption. The study recommends that proper storage principles be adhered to, staff be stimulated and requisite materials provided to facilitate conservation/preservation of this invaluable heritage. In addition, the study proposes that new storage facilities be established at certain reachable regions to ease space pressure at Nairobi and Fort Jesus Museums.