Collection: Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery

Collection-level records:

• Collection overview (Cornucopia)

  Archaeology Collection

  The Cornish archaeological collection is of high quality and ranges from prehistoric to the post-medieval period, with especially good concentrations of neolithic flint and stone tools; bronze age metalwork, including three exceptionally fine gold collars or lunulae; and iron age and Roman pottery. There are many prehistoric artefacts from other parts of Britain and Europe, including some important items such as the Ropley gold armilla from Winchester and the Westminster bronze sword, both dating to the last bronze age. There is a substantial collection of Danish neolithic flint and stone tools. Highlights of the significant collections of Egyptian, Greek and continental Roman and Byzantine artefacts are: a 25th dynasty mummy from Karnak; red-figure ware from Apulia, Italy, when it was a Greek colony; Roman glass from Tiberia, Palestine; and Coptic textiles.

  Subjects

  Archaeology

  Ancient Egyptian Collection

  The museum holds 908 ancient Egyptian objects. Classes of objects represented in the collection include: amulets; canopic jars; coffins; coins; faience figures; faience vessels; flints; funerary cones; glass vessels; jewellery; metal figures; animal remains (mummies); human remains (mummies); papyri; pottery; ‘Ptah-Sokar-Osiris’ figures; relief sculpture; ropes; scarabs/sealings; shabtis; stelae (stone); stelae (wood); stone figures; stone vessels; textiles/leather; toilet articles; tools/weapons; wooden figures; wall paintings. The collection includes a pink granite head of an Amarna princess (TRURI 1600.291), possibly from Petrie’s 1891 excavations at that site. Objects are known to have come from the following locations in Egypt (with the name of the excavator/sponsor and year of excavation given where possible): Akhmim (1923); Amarna?; Beni Hasan (Garstang – Liverpool University, 1904); Fayum; Helwan; Ehnasya (Petrie – Egypt Exploration Fund, 1903-1904); Karnak; Luxor; Memphis (Petrie – British School of Archaeology in Egypt, 1908); Oxyrhynchus (Grenfell and Hunt – Egypt Exploration Fund, 1904); Sedment (Currelly and Petrie – Egypt Exploration Fund, 1903-1904); Thebes (Belzoni, 1819).

  Subjects

  Antiquities; Ancient civilizations; Egyptian history; Antiquity; Archaeological sites; Archaeological objects; Egyptology; Archaeological excavations

  Biology Collection

  Fauna – most of the collection comprises mounted birds. There are good representative collections of moths, butterflies and other insects, including a comprehensive beetle collection. There is a substantial group of shells, both Cornish and world-wide. Flora – the museum has a number of 18th century herbaria, most of which are not relevant to Cornwall, and some are of foreign material. The most important herbarium is that of Hamilton Davy, formed before he wrote his book of the flora of Cornwall (1910).

  Subjects

  Biology

  Costume and Textile Collection

  This material comprises costume and accessories including civil and military uniforms, made and/or worn in Cornwall between the 18th and 20th centuries. The collection also includes Cornish examples of domestic textiles, sampler, quilts, etc. Of significance is the Crysede collection of pieces, lengths, garments, sample-book designs, tracings, company documents, printing-blocks and photographs. There are some European items of costume, also tapestry, embroidery and lace, as well as Far and Middle Eastern textiles, including shawls, leather work and embroidery.

  Subjects

  Costume and Textile

  Decorative and Applied Art Collection

  The principal Cornish ceramics are examples from Lake’s former pottery in Truro, Bernard Leach’s studio in St Ives and work by Michael Cardew and family. Items made for local use are also represented, such as ceramics for mining companies; and commemorative wares. The British and European ceramics collection comprises over 3,000 pieces of earthenware, stoneware and porcelain and is particularly fine and a strength of the museum. The non-European ceramics collection is strong ranging from an interesting early group of Chinese and Korean pieces to 19th century Japanese ware. There is a small number of Islamic and South American examples, including Islamic tiles. Glass is repesented by a large number of local glass bottles, and some drinking glasses with local associations; table and decorative glassware from Britain, Germany and Italy dating from the 16th to 19th centuries; and some stained glass. There are a few pieces of Middle Eastern glass. The most important items are examples of Venetian glass; a range of English wine glasses of 18th and 19th century date; and some Nailsea glass novelties. Metalwork in the museum includes silver, pewter and copper. There is a small but interesting collection of silver tableware from West Country sources, including a very rare 17th century spoon with a maker’s mark of John Parnell, who worked in Truro from c.1610 until his death in 1666. The pewter collection is a major strength of the museum. The museum has a good collection of decorative copper-ware, chiefly made at Newlyn c.1890-1940, and also at St Ives and Hayle. It was an important craft industry with links to the English Arts and Crafts Movement. There is a small collection of jewellery associated with Cornish families. The museum’s collection of Japanese sword-furniture, comprising some 180 items, has been described as one of the best collections of Japanese applied art in the provinces. There are a number of other interesting pieces of non-European metalwork as well. There is decorative woodwork from Cornish churches and other buildings; furniture, including chairs, cabinets, carving, small boxes, etc. from Britain and Europe; and Japanese netsuke and other Far Eastern and Near Eastern items, some of excellent quality. The two most significant items are a rare George II cockfighting chair; and a 16th century cross-framed chair, once the property of Henry VIII. The British ceramics collection includes examples of most of the principal factoreis and types from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The role of Cornwall as a source of ceramic raw materials – china clay, china stone, lead, cobalt and tin – and the trading links between the county and the major ceramic producers, as well as the quality of the collection itself, make this a highly significant collection. There are also good examples of ceramics from Holland, Germany, France, Italy and Spain which provide useful comparative material. The pewter collection is extremely fine and largely originates from the 1935 Major John Richardson bequest. It includes items of both local and national interest dating from c.1660-1840. Among a number of very rare 17th century pieces are a small cup dated 1668 and two ‘wriggle-work’ tankards c.1695.

  Subjects

  Ceramics; Metalwork; Decorative and Applied Arts

  Ethnography Collection

  The main countries represented by this collection are: China, Japan, India, the Middle East and North Africa. There are individual items from Korea, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Borneo, Papua New Guinea; Micronesia, Fiji, Polynesia, Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, Oceania and Sub Saharan Africa. The collection developed as a result of Cornishmen collecting while abroad, so the material is varied and not comprehensive in any particular area, though intrinsically interesting.

  Subjects

  Ethnography

  Fine Art

  Paintings – Half the paintings have Cornish connection and are mostly 18th to 20th century in date, though there are a few 17th century works. There are some 19 works by John Opie, the best known 18th century Cornish artist; and 12 works by Truro-born miniaturists Henry Bone and son. The Newlyn and St Ives schools are represented by around 40 works of 19th and early 20th century date. The remaining painting collection comprises European paintings ranging in date from c.1400-1900. As well as British artists, there are French, Dutch, Italian, Flemish and German works. The most significant group is a series of early Italian panel paintings by Giovanni Boccati, Francisco Nicolas Borras, Naddo Ceccharelli, Benozzo Gozzoli, Sebastiano Ricci and a triple portrait by Lucas Cranach. In addition, there are paintings by Tiepolo, Hogarth, Constable, Dirk Hals, Godfrey Kneller, Peter Lely, Poussin, Alfred Stevens, Lord Leighton and Sargent. There are also about 40 miniatures. Drawings and watercolours – Again, half the collection has a Cornish connection, the most significant, works by the Newlyn school artists such as Dame Laura Knight, Lamorna Birch, Ralph Todd, Henry M Rheam and Henry Scott Tuke. Most of the works are of topographical themes. The European drawings and watercolours range in date from the c.15th to the 20th century, and include works by British, Italian, German, Dutch and Flemish artistis. Artists represented include Correggio, Il Guercino; Francesco Guardi, Tiepolo, Descamps, Gericault, Callot, Guys, Pater, Claude Lorrain, Boucher, Rubens, Van Dyke, Constable, Cotman, Samuel Prout, Hogarth, Gainsborough, George Romney, Turner, Alfred Stevens, Rowlandson, Rossetti and John Sargent. Prints – There are approximately 100 prints with a Cornish association, most of topographical interest. The most significant are a series by Allom and Daniel. There is an important collection of prints by European artists such as Canaletto, Claude and Tiepolo. Sculpture – Cornish sculpture is represented mainly by portait busts of subjects associated with Cornwall, by Cornish sculptors and those with Cornish associations. The principal groups are works by Northey Burnard (most on loan), Alan Wyon and Howard Bate. The European collection is small and includes interesting examples of Gothic and Renaissance sculptures in wood, ivory and bronze. There is also a series of 18th century plaster casts of classical sculptures. Non-European material includes oriental carving, bronzes, etc. principally from Japan, China, India and, to a lesser extent, Islamic countries. The Japanese collection is of major importance.

  Geology Collection

  The museum’s mineral collection is widely acknowledged to be one of the finest in the country. It comprises mainly specimens from Devon and Cornwall, built on the private collection made in the 18th century by Philip Rashleigh, but includes some foreign material, especially from Europe and Russia, and a world-wide selection of cassiterite. There are also fossils, though few of these are from Cornwall.

  Subjects

  Geology

  Medals Collection

  There is a small, but good, collection of campaign medals.

  Subjects

  Medals

  Numismatics Collection

  There is a good representative collection of Cornish tokens; a quantity of local Roman coins, including several hoards; and an interesting collection of Cornish bank notes and associated material relating to Cornish banking.

  Subjects

  Numismatics

  Science and Industry Collection

  Among the collection, there is a small collection of old cameras and several items of scientific equipment of the type used to demonstrate scientific principles.

  Social History Collection

  This collection embraces industry, trade, mining, fishing and military, social and political life. Individual items are of great interest, especially those linked to families living in Cornwall today. In recent years, post-medieval church plate and silverware, and a 20th century tourism collection have been added. There is an attractive collection of toys, mainly Victorian and Edwardian, with good examples of dolls, dolls’ houses and models. Many have a Cornish connection.

  Subjects

  Social History

  Transport Collection

  Among the transport collection are the Trewinnard coach and the Tangye bicycle.

  Subjects

  Transport

  Photographic Collection

  This is one of the most important of the museum’s collections comprising a substantial number of images in different formats of Cornwall and Devon, ranging in date from the 1840s to the present. There are also 16mm films by Major Gill, taken in the Truro area in the 1930s and notes from his family; also a small selection of early 1900s audio recordings of Richard Jose, the Cornish tenor, and others on folklore and specific Cornish topics.

  Subjects

  Photography

  Archives Collection

  The archive collection at the museum is highly significant and the Courtney Library, which houses it, is one of the main sources for the study of the history and culture of Cornwall. The library is strongest on Cornish subjects and includes lengthy runs of original files of local newspapers and periodicals. There are archives of various leading local families; and extensive holdings of documents originally collected by the local historian Charles Henderson and bequeathed to the museum in the 1933. There is also an extensive collection of autographs dating from the 17th century; and printed and manuscript plans, maps and engravings.

  Subjects

  Archives

  Other

  Agriculture; Arms and Armour; Maritime

  Source: Cornucopia

  Date: Not known, but before 2015

  Licence: CC BY-NC