The Plectrum

The smallest object in the museum, and the newest. The main site’s Now page says into — Guitars, and a fascination that size eventually condenses into something you can hold: a 0.73mm pick, the polite middle weight, the one they hand you when you admit you’re starting.

It points across the corridor at the Sound wing, where the museum hung six playable strings in its honour. If the fascination holds, this exhibit will someday be joined by recordings. If it doesn’t, the pick stays anyway — museums keep evidence of intentions too.