Items donated to art museums are typically kept in storage until they’re needed for exhibits or educational purposes. The Gregg Museum of Art & Design provided these photos of items from the Hodges Collection in storage. We purchased some of these items at the dusty (dry season) or muddy (rainy season) Bo Market and from charlies (traders) and gara men. They now reside in very clean, climate-controlled conditions.
Textiles require special care since they deteriorate in light and can break down along fold lines. At the Gregg, African lappas and woven textiles are carefully folded, cushioned with archival tissue paper, gently placed in archival storage boxes, and stored in the dark.
Bundu masks on a storage shelf 
Bundu masks among other collection items in the museum’s archival storage room 
Right Hand Traffic lappa and a Krio dress (in the box at upper left) being prepared for storage 
Right Hand Traffic lappa from 1971 in archival storage 
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