Scientific collections: looking at the authenticity of objects in science museums

Résumé

Museums have traditionally been described as “storehouses of artefacts”, of original, authentic, material and objects that have been collected, researched, and preserved over the years to educate the public. It is widely accepted, and expected, that the presentation of authentic objects is favoured and prioritised by museums. These objects often bear a level of historical significance and have a high economic value, increasing a museum's prestige and distinctiveness. The authentic collections make museums authentic places which consequently seek to provide “authentic” experiences for visitors.
Nevertheless, although museums are valued for the authenticity of their collections, they are sometimes challenged with sourcing or presenting new authentic material. As a consequence, museums often incorporate artificial artefacts into their collections, as is the case for many science museums and
scientific collections. In fact, the use of replicas and casts is ever more common in science museums for pedagogical, operational, and economic reasons. However, does this incorporation strip the museum and the object itself of authenticity? Does a replica communicate in the same way as the original object? Or can it ever be considered as having the same level of authenticity as the original object from a museological point of view?