Visiteurs au musée de Cluny, Salle 9
© Agence LE MENU–Arthur M.Burt / musée de Cluny – musée national du Moyen Âge
Disseminating the collections
Bague de mariage juive du trésor de Colmar, Cl. 20658 © GrandPalaisRmn / Franck Raux
Loans for exhibitions
At the request of museum institutions, the museum's collections may be loaned for a limited period. These temporary exhibitions help enrich knowledge by bringing works together and comparing them.
Through dialogues centered on a theme, a specific use, a period, or even a typology, these loans help disseminate the museum's collections across France, Europe, and throughout the world.
Soulier à pont en dépôt au musée de la Chaussure, Romans-sur-Isère, Cl. 10402 © GrandPalaisRmn / Gérard Blot
Long-term deposits
Since the 19th century, the Musées de France have pursued a policy of long-term deposits with other public institutions, aimed at the mutual enrichment of collections. The deposit procedure allows one or more pieces from the collections to be displayed in another Musée de France or a public historic monument for a long period (five years or more).
Throughout its history, the Musée de Cluny has been particularly active in this field. Indeed, many works that do not fall within the medieval domain have been progressively offered to other locations across France.
Consequently, thematic collections are now on view throughout the country. At the International Shoe Museum in Romans-sur-Isère, 472 shoes are on display. To fully appreciate the passion for ceramic and glass arts held by Edmond Du Sommerard - director of the Musée de Cluny from 1843 to 1885 - one must look beyond the rooms of the Cluny museum and visit the Musée Romain-Rolland in Clamecy or the National Ceramics Museum in Sèvres. In Paris, the Museum of Jewish Art and History holds 249 works deposited upon its founding in 1996.
Every ten years, as part of legal inventory requirements (récolement), the Musée de Cluny team ensures the proper conservation of the 15,370 objects deposited across 75 museums or historic monuments.