Collection: Burlington House

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The Society of Antiquaries effectively acted as a national museum for British antiquities before public museums were given this statutory role in the mid nineteenth century. Today the registered collections of the Society form a key resource for research and learning in archaeology, the decorative and applied arts and architectural history, and in the wider study of material culture. Although a small collection, it includes objects of national and international importance. Until the late 20th century the collection grew mainly organically, as objects brought to the Society’s meetings to be studied by its Fellows were often deposited afterwards. Large bequests only began after the Society received its Royal Charter in 1751. These have included gifts of prints and drawings, manuscripts, rare books, and paintings. As such, the collection reflects the broad and evolving interests of Antiquarians over more than 300 years.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2023

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The Society of Antiquaries Museum collection comprises over 45,000 objects stored and displayed across two sites: Burlington House in London and Kelmscott Manor in West Oxfordshire. The collection represents material culture and fine and decorative art collected by the Society, as well as objects associated with the development of the Society itself, and its own position as an organisation of historic standing.

  The Society’s Museum collections at Burlington House are also pre-eminent for the study of the history of collecting, together with the discipline of archaeology and related historic material culture studies in Britain and other countries.

  Periods

  The Society’s core museum collections at Burlington House span the prehistoric period to the 19th century.

  Themes

  Predominantly represent the history, archaeology, and art of the British Isles. Likewise, a core element of the Society’s collections relates to its own history and development.

  Geography

  There is a smaller percentage of continental and world culture objects, and a smaller number of objects relating to the Society’s history in more recent years.

  Other collection types

  The Society is currently developing handling collections.

  Burlington House summary of collections:

  • Approximately 2000 archaeological artefacts spanning the Prehistoric to the early post-medieval period, collected predominantly from the United Kingdom but also representing archaeological sites and cultures across Europe, the Middle East and Far East. The archaeological collection includes Egyptian, Etruscan and Roman material.
  • A small number of monumental brasses dating from the 15th -17th centuries, previously belonging to Warner and Sons (Spitalfields Foundry) and Rev J Fuller Russell (FSA 1853-84).
  • Approximately 13,000 rubbings of monumental brasses dating from the 15th -17th centuries, predominantly from the British Isles, with some continental examples.
  • A small but significant collection of clocks, including a gilded brass table clock made by Joseph Zech in 1525 – the oldest known spring-driven clock in England.
  • 84 historic oil paintings, including panel paintings of medieval and Tudor monarchs, two of which represent the earliest surviving portraits of two British kings, Richard III and Henry VII.
  • Subject paintings, predominantly showing historic views of buildings and ancient monuments.
  • Approximately 20,000 prints and drawings, including works commissioned by the Society for its publications, and images of regional landscapes, buildings, and churches, including details of their architectural features.
  • Approximately 11,000 seal impressions, casts and seal matrices, predominantly representing seals and matrices from England (mainly medieval) and some examples of seal impressions and casts from Britain, America, Africa and Europe of different types and periods. Some seal matrices also have links to historically important individuals, such as Edward Gibbon (FSA 1788-1794).
  • Commemorative medals, many representing individuals who played a role in the Society’s early history. The medals mainly date from the 16th century onwards.
  • Society regalia representing the history and development of the Society since the 18th century.
  • 17th to 19th century furniture associated with the Society’s history both at Somerset House and at Burlington House.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2023

  Licence: CC BY-NC