To Reconstruct or not to Reconstruct: That Was the Question in Curating the New Display inside the Pharmacy Museum in Cluj-Napoca

Pharmacy museums are very specialized institutions, often located in the former rooms of old apothecary shops. One of the easiest ways of structuring the display is to recreate the interiors, with several variants: using original artifacts from that location (rarely preserved complete), using original artifacts from other locations, and using physical or virtual reconstructions (or various combinations). Though such atmospheric reconstructions are suggestive and create an immersive experience for visitors, they have the drawback of never reaching true historical accuracy. The History of Pharmacy Collection in Cluj-Napoca has been on display in the old Mauksch-Hintz pharmacy since 1954, with the addition of a recreated laboratory in the basement in 1972 and a complementary collection of medical equipment in 1997. A new display was designed in 2018–2024 following a major renovation of the monument. The present study discusses the choices and curating decisions behind the current Museum of Pharmacy exhibition in Cluj-Napoca, part of the National Museum of Transylvanian History.