les réserves

English translation: the stockroom(s)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:les réserves
English translation:the stockroom(s)
Entered by: Edna Pais

15:51 Sep 19, 2016
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting / painting
French term or phrase: les réserves
Son contact avec les galeristes était légendaire. Partout elle était reçue avec déférences alors qu’en fait elle n’achetait principalement que des œuvres sur papier à l’encontre des gros collectionneurs qui s’arrachaient les derniers succès à la mode. Mais son flair, son regard juste, son appréciation réfléchie, sa modestie incitaient même des marchands à lui réserver des pièces qu’elle découvrait avec ravissement dans les réserves derrière les cimaises officielles. Il lui arrivait d’être interpellée plusieurs fois par une même pièce, à différentes occasions, avant de se dire que la pièce l’avait choisie plutôt qu’inversement. Ce fut la belle histoire en 2006 de la rencontre avec le Motherwell, Figure 4 n#12.
Edna Pais
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:12
the stockroom(s)
Explanation:
For a museum or public gallery I think the place where stuff not on display is kept is called a depot if it's a separate building, though "storage building" is also said, or a storeroom or store if it's within the museum building itself. You'll find plenty of references to museum storerooms if you look, and here's what I think is a good reference, an editorial from the Burlington Magazine on the National Gallery storerooms:

"But complaints about overstuffed storerooms ignore the obvious practicalities of space and display to which museums that actively acquire are subject. [...] In older museums such stores are frequently below ground level and have climatic controls different from the galleries ‘upstairs’. Such spaces are often in need of renovation, costly projects that do not attract the more glamorous funding of a museum’s public areas. Some museums have storage buildings miles from the museum (and from its curators). One major Scottish gallery recommends that visitors to its storerooms take their own refreshments, if need be, as they are remote from any shop or café."
http://www.burlington.org.uk/archive/editorial/in-store-at-t...

However, this text, as I read it, is not about "réserves" in museums but in commercial galleries where dealers ("marchands") sell artworks. And in that context I think the word is stockroom:

"We're currently unpacking a grand new shipment direct from sculptor Carol Peace's studio, containing numerous never before seen, limited edition pieces. This moment is too exciting to keep to ourselves, so here's a snapshot from the stockroom:"
http://www.thompsonsgallery.co.uk/article.php/Peace-Aplenty-...

"Terms and Conditions of Exhibiting at the Milton Art Gallery [...]
7. Whilst every effort is made to display your work we may occasionally have to store items in our stockroom"
http://www.scottishpotters.org/userfiles/file/still_life_ope...

"Obituary: Leslie Waddington, contemporary art dealer [...]
A long lost collage by Richard Hamilton, which was the original design for the inside cover of the Beatles’ White Album, turned up in his stockroom."
http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-leslie-wadd...

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Note added at 1 hr (2016-09-19 17:39:39 GMT)
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It is about buying works from dealers: "galéristes", "elle n’achetait principalement que des œuvres sur papier", "marchands".
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 07:12
Grading comment
Thank you
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1the stockroom(s)
Charles Davis
4 -1(museum) depot
Helen Shiner


  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
the stockroom(s)


Explanation:
For a museum or public gallery I think the place where stuff not on display is kept is called a depot if it's a separate building, though "storage building" is also said, or a storeroom or store if it's within the museum building itself. You'll find plenty of references to museum storerooms if you look, and here's what I think is a good reference, an editorial from the Burlington Magazine on the National Gallery storerooms:

"But complaints about overstuffed storerooms ignore the obvious practicalities of space and display to which museums that actively acquire are subject. [...] In older museums such stores are frequently below ground level and have climatic controls different from the galleries ‘upstairs’. Such spaces are often in need of renovation, costly projects that do not attract the more glamorous funding of a museum’s public areas. Some museums have storage buildings miles from the museum (and from its curators). One major Scottish gallery recommends that visitors to its storerooms take their own refreshments, if need be, as they are remote from any shop or café."
http://www.burlington.org.uk/archive/editorial/in-store-at-t...

However, this text, as I read it, is not about "réserves" in museums but in commercial galleries where dealers ("marchands") sell artworks. And in that context I think the word is stockroom:

"We're currently unpacking a grand new shipment direct from sculptor Carol Peace's studio, containing numerous never before seen, limited edition pieces. This moment is too exciting to keep to ourselves, so here's a snapshot from the stockroom:"
http://www.thompsonsgallery.co.uk/article.php/Peace-Aplenty-...

"Terms and Conditions of Exhibiting at the Milton Art Gallery [...]
7. Whilst every effort is made to display your work we may occasionally have to store items in our stockroom"
http://www.scottishpotters.org/userfiles/file/still_life_ope...

"Obituary: Leslie Waddington, contemporary art dealer [...]
A long lost collage by Richard Hamilton, which was the original design for the inside cover of the Beatles’ White Album, turned up in his stockroom."
http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-leslie-wadd...

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Note added at 1 hr (2016-09-19 17:39:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

It is about buying works from dealers: "galéristes", "elle n’achetait principalement que des œuvres sur papier", "marchands".

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 07:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 48
Grading comment
Thank you

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Daryo
4 hrs
  -> Thanks!
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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
(museum) depot


Explanation:
It is where work is stored when it is not on display.

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Note added at 15 mins (2016-09-19 16:07:12 GMT)
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The key issue when designing a museum depot is to preserve an irreplaceable collection. No matter whether the collection comprises works of art, tapestries, ceramics, furniture, instruments, jewellery, clothes or natural history artifacts, the perfect solution has to be tailored to your museum.
http://www.constructor-group.co.uk/References/Museum/Rijksmu...

A very formal term for this is 'repository', but I never hear anyone use it in day-to-day museum business.

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Note added at 6 hrs (2016-09-19 22:04:34 GMT)
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Given Daryo's post, I should add that there are several key periods in modern history where museums have sold work wholesale, so his objection is inappropriate in museological terms. The context in this case has become gradually clearer, and it is, indeed, probably a gallery context rather than a museum one. There is, however, no reason not to refer to a depot in the case of a gallery selling modern art. The objection is specious.

Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 348

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Daryo: you know many museums that are regularly selling their art to private collectors?
5 hrs
  -> Yes, actually, during certain periods of modern history, museums sold their works in large amounts. Nazi, Communist purges, just to mention a few major events of the kind.
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