The STAMcollection is that of the former Bijloke museum. STAM will select from the 17,000 or more items in that collection only what it needs to tell the story of the city.
The Bijloke collection is typical of the 19th century. What makes it such a treasure trove is its considerable heterogeneity of theme and object. From festive medals to freemasons’ symbols, from archaeological relics to historical interiors. Most of it is linked to the social history of Ghent prior to 1800.
STAM will extend this historical timeline and is also setting out a collection policy for the later periods (19th to 21st centuries). The changing nature of the heritage (moving images, for example) requires a different approach and is a great challenge.
the content
The collection can be divided into the following broad categories:
- archaeological artefacts: objects from prehistory, Gallo-Roman, Merovingian and medieval periods found on various sites in Ghent and the surrounding area;
- plastic arts (12th - 19th centuries): sculptures, paintings, drawings, watercolours and graphics relating to Ghent;
- applied arts (10th - 19th centuries): ceramic, glass and metal decorative and utility objects, costumes and textiles, furniture, musical instruments, coins, Masonic objects, tapestries and weapons;
- period interiors.
today
After 175 years of collecting, selecting, reorienting and exchanging items with other municipal museums, all the art disciplines are now represented in the Bijloke collection which forms the core of the STAMcollection. The Bijloke Museum closed on September 11th 2005 and the preparations for STAM entered a new phase.
