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Institutional Loans

Exhibition Loans for Museums and Cultural Institutions

The Ridgewing Guitars archive collaborates with accredited museums and cultural institutions interested in exhibiting Ridgewing or Chrysalis instruments designed by Tim White. These rare and innovative guitars have been featured in exhibitions exploring instrument design, engineering, music history, and contemporary craftsmanship.

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Loans are considered on a case-by-case basis and are provided strictly for non-commercial, educational, and scholarly exhibition purposes. The archive does not charge loan fees of any kind. All loans follow standard museum practices for conservation, environmental control, handling, and insurance.

Loan Requirements

Accredited Institutions Only

Loans are available exclusively to established museums, curated cultural institutions, and similar organizations with the facilities and staff needed to properly care for historical instruments.
 

Insurance

Borrowing institutions must provide wall-to-wall insurance covering the instrument from the moment it leaves the archive until its return, including transit, storage, and exhibition periods.
 

Environmental Conditions

Institutions must maintain stable environmental conditions appropriate for wooden musical instruments, typically including:

  • Temperature: 68–72°F (20–22°C)

  • Relative Humidity: 40–55%

  • No direct sunlight or UV exposure

  • Secure display cases or supervised exhibition environment


A standard Facilities Report may be requested.
 

Shipping and Courier Requirements

Borrowing institutions are responsible for:

  • All shipping and transportation arrangements

  • Crating and packing (if required)

  • Insurance during transit

  • Courier travel, if requested for installation or de-installation


Shipping methods must meet professional art-handling standards.

Loan Documentation

All loans require completion of the borrowing institution’s standard documents, which typically include:

  • Outgoing Loan Agreement

  • Facilities Report

  • Condition Report (arrival and departure)

  • Exhibition details (dates, venue, security, environmental conditions)

 

The archive will complete or review loan forms as needed to ensure compliance with museum standards.

Available Instruments

Loan availability depends on instrument condition, conservation considerations, and prior commitments. If you have a specific instrument in mind, please include its model number or identifying description when inquiring.

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Information about Ridgewing and Chrysalis instruments can be found on the Guitars page or requested directly.

Research and Image Requests

Institutions preparing exhibition materials (labels, catalogs, press releases) may request additional:

  • high-quality images

  • design documentation

  • historical notes

  • instrument background

  • provenance information

 

Permissions for images follow the guidelines on the Credits & Permissions page.

How to Submit a Loan Inquiry

For all loan-related inquiries, please contact:

David Stuart
archive@ridgewing.org

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Please include:

  • Your institution

  • Exhibition title and dates

  • Contact information for the registrar or curator

  • Requested instrument(s)

  • Any deadlines for paperwork or internal approvals

 

Initial inquiries typically receive a response within a few days.

Non-Commercial Disclaimer

The Ridgewing Guitars archive is a privately maintained non-commercial digital preservation project. Loans are provided solely for educational, historical, and scholarly exhibitions. No fees, rentals, or service charges are ever associated with loans.

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