Why do museums keep objects in storage that are rarely displayed in exhibitions?

The dual ideas of education and preservation have motivated museums to acquire not only the best examples of objects for permanent display, but also other examples to explain the range and development of a particular form of object. Museums usually choose to display the best examples of the objects they have acquired and some additional examples to show variations. Owing to space limitations, many other objects remain in storage and are made available to scholars and collectors for further study. Museums usually try to rotate objects on display to reveal the extent of their holdings and to add variety for returning visitors. Objects from storage (and sometimes those on permanent display) are frequently made available to other institutions as short-term loans for traveling exhibitions. ... more