Rescue operation at national museum

UNTOLD treasures lie scattered under a thick layer of dust on shelves in a dimly lit storage room belonging the National Museum of Namibia.

Most of these items, ranging from furniture, pianos and farm implements to smaller items like typewriters, hat boxes, bottles and irons, were donated to the museum by different people over the years. In 1998 they were collected from different locations in and around Windhoek and stored in the hall.During a break-in most of the beautiful pieces of the collection were stolen and the rest scattered about.Now Antje Otto and two colleagues have taken it upon themselves to clean, sort, restore and catalogue the remaining items.In the future all the articles will be thoroughly cleaned and treated with the right chemicals to preserve the artefacts.It is hoped that once all the items are listed and sorted, institutions can borrow them for exhibitions.It is also hoped that the storeroom can be cleaned up to such an extent that open days can be held where the public can get the opportunity to view the treasures of days long gone.In 1998 they were collected from different locations in and around Windhoek and stored in the hall.During a break-in most of the beautiful pieces of the collection were stolen and the rest scattered about.Now Antje Otto and two colleagues have taken it upon themselves to clean, sort, restore and catalogue the remaining items.In the future all the articles will be thoroughly cleaned and treated with the right chemicals to preserve the artefacts.It is hoped that once all the items are listed and sorted, institutions can borrow them for exhibitions.It is also hoped that the storeroom can be cleaned up to such an extent that open days can be held where the public can get the opportunity to view the treasures of days long gone.