Research and Projects
Collections Projects
St Luke’s Secrets: Pigment Analysis of Illuminated Manuscripts
In collaboration with the Hamilton Kerr Institute and the Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, the Fitzwilliam Museum has launched a new research project on the pigment analysis of illuminated manuscripts. St Luke’s secrets will run as a two-year trial project (October 2011-September 2013) thanks to the generosity of a private donor and the support of the Newton Trust.
Medieval Islamic Lustre Ware Pottery
Medieval lustre wares form a significant part of the Museum's Islamic pottery collection, currently being researched and recorded. A new technique called polynomial texture mapping is being used with selected objects. This enables viewing of an item on screen under varying light conditions in a way that previously was only possible by handling the object.
Rediscovering Greece & Rome
On 30 January 2010 the Gallery of Greek and Roman Antiquities (gallery 21) reopened after an 18-month period of refurbishment. The physical refurbishment of the gallery is part of a larger research project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, which runs until October 2011.
Virtual Egypt
In May 2006 the newly refurbished Egyptian galleries opened to the public. The curator is now working on a project to allow wider access to this resource in the form of a virtual version of the galleries.
Chinese Vases Conservation
An incident in the Museum on Wednesday 25 January involving a member of the public resulted in damage to three oriental porcelain vases which had been on display for many decades...
Cambridge Illuminations Research Project
The project, which began in 2003 with a three-year grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and continued with a one-year grant from the Modern Humanities Research Association (2007), is now supported entirely by a private sponsor.
Ancient Egypt Project
On 4 October 2004 the Egyptian Galleries at the Fitzwilliam Museum closed to allow a major project of renovation and redisplay to be carried out. After 20 months the new displays were formally opened by the His Excellency Mr Gehad Madi, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and became open to the public again on 25 May 2006.