Collection: Williamson Art Gallery and Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  Birkenhead’s Art Gallery and Museum was founded in 1913 and originally housed within the town’s old library, the museum collections begin at this point. Prior to this some paintings were collected for display in Birkenhead’s Town Hall which were subsequently absorbed into museum collections. The opening of the Williamson Art Gallery & Museum in 1928 expanded the possibilities offered by the service. With a purpose-built museum and art gallery the range and size of collections continued to expand. The reorganisation of local government in 1974 broadened the role of the gallery, now providing a museum service for the whole of the Wirral Metropolitan Area. This also involved taking responsibility for small collections that had been developed in Wallasey and Bebington.

  The overview is of currently accessioned collections. There is an acknowledgement that certain collection areas contain considerable numbers of unaccessioned items. Measures are being taken to tackle the documentation backlog in line with the Documentation Policy.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2016

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  FINE ART

  BRITISH WATERCOLOURS

  By means of a series of bequests and prudent purchases, notably in the period 1920-1935, the gallery has a significant collection of 18th and 19th century watercolour paintings and drawings by British artists. It is unrivalled in the area, representing most major figures in this medium. Since the publication of the watercolour catalogue in connection with the loan exhibition to Italy in 2004 there has been increased interest and a larger number of loan requests.

  THE LIVERPOOL SCHOOL

  Merseyside produced a large number of significant artists in the period 1810 – 1910. This “Liverpool School” is well represented in the Williamson collections and has been for over 30 years enhanced with a significant loan collection.

  PHILIP WILSON STEER

  Philip Wilson Steer was born in Birkenhead in 1860. He left the town as a child and has become especially important in the artistic heritage of the Wirral. Consequently the Williamson has built a collection of his work that is of national importance, including a major bequest from the artist’s nephew. A catalogue of the collection was published in 1998.

  LOCAL PAINTINGS

  The Williamson Art Gallery & Museum is the virtually the only institution on Merseyside actively researching and supporting local historic and contemporary painters. This important role has produced, through extensive research, much material evidence on the Royal Cambrian Academy, the Wirral Society of Arts and the policy of annual purchases from the Wallasey/Wirral Spring exhibitions, now Williamson Open, has continued to update this area.

  HISTORIC BRITISH PAINTINGS

  Apart from the categories above, the remaining British paintings in this collection are mixed. The earliest dates from c1670, some are by major artists, some are extremely trivial.

  CONTEMPORARY BRITISH PAINTINGS

  The collection of contemporary British work will be increased to include artists, styles or themes that aid the interpretation of modern painting. The support of the Contemporary Art Society and the National Art Collections Fund has added some important examples to the Williamson as have donations from the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest and transfers from the disbanded Bristol Schools Loans Collection.

  FOREIGN PAINTINGS

  Works by foreign paintings have been acquired in a random way and do not form any coherent group. There is no intention to seek additional items.

  PRINTS

  Based upon several large and important collections (John Finnie, Seymour Haden, Watson bequest and the yet to be accessioned Albert Taylor collection), the prints provide an interesting and valuable collection. Its main strength represents British printmaking of the first half of the 20th century.

  PHOTOGRAPHS

  There is a substantial collection of bromoil prints by Christophe Symes which has yet to be fully explored and researched. The gallery has actively encouraged the recent promotion of better photography on the Wirral, with local and national exhibitions. Photographic prints will not be usually purchased unless:

  1. they coincide with one or more of the above categories e.g. local history
  2. they form part of a special commission highlighting a particular aspect of local/social history
  3. they are/were produced by major local photographic printmakers
  4. they are designated for addition to archive resources rather than fine art collections.

  SCULPTURE

  Original plans for the Williamson provided for a sculpture/entrance hall. It has long ceased to serve that function. Sculpture once displayed at the exterior of the buildings has long since been removed in the 1930s due to vandalism. The small existing collection provides problems for storage and movement.

  DECORATIVE ARTS

  LIVERPOOL PORCELAIN

  Several factories were producing porcelain of various types and quality in Liverpool between c.1750 and c.1800. The Knowles Boney collection of some 300 pieces at the Williamson is very comprehensive and was presented some 40 years ago. It has remained on almost continuous display as a condition of the gift. Whilst it is noted that some 10% of the total is not of Liverpool origin, it remains as one of the country’s most important collections. The retention of the Knowles Boney collection intact is an essential part of their use and interest.

  DELLA ROBBIA POTTERY

  The collection of Della Robbia Pottery at the Williamson Art Gallery & Museum forms an unrivalled addition to the history of Merseyside ceramics. Produced in Birkenhead 18941906 it is natural that the Williamson should add to its growing Della Robbia collection (presently some 250 items). Items purchased in the 1920s from the founder Harold Rathbone form the basis of this comprehensive collection. There is a significant number of important pieces of high quality while others document individual workers or styles, some of which are in poor condition.

  The Gallery has made public its interest and consequently the collection has grown significantly in the period since the publication of an “Interim Report” on the history of the Della Robbia Pottery to coincide with a major exhibition in 1981, and the Antique Collector’s Club volume published 2014.

  OTHER MERSEYSIDE CERAMICS

  The Williamson Art Gallery & Museum has a significant collection of Seacombe Pottery, the little known factory purpose-built in 1852 to produce wares mainly for export. Examples are rare and would be pursued unless they already exist in the collection.

  Liverpool tin and lead glazed creamwares are poorly represented in the permanent collections. Additions will be acceptable at low prices or by donation only.

  Herculaneum pottery was the only major factory to continue manufacturing in Liverpool in the first half of the 19th century. The Williamson houses some half dozen items attributed to Herculaneum (some unmarked) and small number on loan.

  BRITISH CERAMICS

  A good collection of 18th and 19th century British ceramics exists albeit with some important omissions. Additions will fill these gaps or act as background reference to the major collections (eg. Merseyside ceramic history, Della Robbia).

  CRAFTS

  The Williamson has a commitment to exhibit contemporary crafts on a regular basis. This extends to collection policy and items have been acquired through the Contemporary Arts Society and by purchase through the region’s foremost exhibitions. Financial restrictions have prevented development of this collection.

  ORIENTAL

  Since the early Williamson bequest (1916) there has been a small oriental collection, mainly ceramics, but including lacquer, jade, cloisonné, bronze, prints and paintings. Whilst there is a small number of superb exhibits the majority of the collection, though decorative, is not significant.

  CONTINENTAL

  There is a small number of continental items in the collections, mostly ceramics (Meissen and Sevres). Acquisitions in recent years in this area have only been to contextualise other areas of the collection.

  LEE FABRICS

  When A.H. Lee and Sons Tapestry Works closed in Birkenhead’s North End in 1970 the Williamson acquired a small amount of machinery, a quantity of sample materials and extensive archival material. The Victoria and Albert Museum and Liverpool Museum also acquired material. The collection is one of the most complete records of any textile factory in the 20th century, missing only order books. The collection continues to create interest, especially following the major exhibition of 2008-09.

  TEXTILES & COSTUME

  No coherent or representative collections have been formed at the gallery. A small reference collection of textiles is included in the Lee Tapestry archives. This includes oriental braids, 18th century crewelwork, Berlin wool work, samplers and other embroidery.

  GLASS

  Existing collections include 17th century Venetian glass, a strong group of 18th century drinking glasses, Irish glass and 19th century decorative glass.

  METALWORK

  Civic Silver forms the major part of metalwork included in gallery collections. This includes Mayoral regalia from Wirral and those Boroughs that existed before local government reorganisation in 1974. There are other utilitarian objects with little artistic merit together with a small pewter collection.

  JEWELLERY

  The jewellery collection is very small and ancillary to costume. Items have also been acquired as part of the craft acquisition policy.

  FURNITURE & CLOCKS

  The acquisition of furniture has been and is restricted because of limitations in space and adequate environmental control. Existing collections are of local interest – Arrowe Park furniture and work by local craftworkers. Other items may be useful for the display of decorative arts such as oriental ceramics in an oriental cabinet.

  MARITIME

  MODELS

  The Williamson displays a large number of maritime models: ferries, tug boats, cargo and passenger vessels and associated items such as engines and half-block builder’s models. Most concentrate on Birkenhead’s link with Cammell Laird’s Shipbuilding, the River Mersey and Birkenhead’s dockland history. A collection of miniature models recently catalogued is being explored for display, especially for its usefulness to demonstrate relative scales.

  PICTURES

  An archive collection of paintings, prints and photographs related to locally-built vessels is housed at the gallery. Also, dockland views and pictures that show ships in their correct context rather than just ‘portraits’ is a useful adjunct to the model collection.

  ARTEFACTS

  These items are used to interpret life at sea, the economic and social impact of shipping on Wirral’s history, techniques of navigation and construction etc.

  SOCIAL HISTORY

  These are items that, while shedding light on other items of the collection do not fit readily into that category. These include toys, domestic equipment, office equipment etc. Particular emphasis is placed on the educational use of sometimes relatively humble material and will be acquired with the schools service in mind.

  NATURAL SCIENCES

  The gallery collections contain no significant natural history specimens. Items of special interest were transferred to Rawtenstall Museum as early as 1916. What remains have been re-catalogued but are in poor condition, have little or no associated source information or have deteriorated through poor storage or display. What remains is currently used as source material for schools and colleges.

  ARCHAEOLOGY

  LOCAL

  Archaeological items from Birkenhead Priory constitute a small but significant group.

  Items of local archaeological sources are of natural interest to the gallery. Staff have liaised with specialists at the National Museums & Galleries on Merseyside whose skills permit the responsible monitoring of Wirral finds and excavations. This co-operation will continue along with such acquisitions that avoid conflict of interests.

  Staff cannot ignore the activity of metal detectors whatever may be felt about the dangers and irresponsible damage to sites caused by the worst offenders. Valuable finds brought to the attention of gallery staff include the discovery of Roman and Medieval material.

  Wherever possible it is the policy of the gallery staff to encourage members of the public to make their finds known to curatorial staff without actively furthering damage to existing sites. Attention is drawn to the conditions imposed upon acquisition were damage has been caused to ancient monuments.

  NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

  A number of smaller collections include items from various periods, eg. prehistoric, Cypriote, Roman and Pre-Columbian etc. There is no intention of seeking further additions but rather to consolidate and research existing items in the gallery.

  ETHNOGRAPHY

  The collections documented during the re-cataloguing programme have revealed a modest collection sufficient for present resource purposes. There is no intention of adding new items.

  GEOLOGY

  The Geology collection comprises a single large range of samples amassed by Charles Chambres. This represents an interesting and cohesive group and, being well catalogued is used in conjunction with specialists for the education authority. There are no plans to expand this collection.

  MILITARY

  There is a small collection relating to the local regiments in particular the Cheshire Rifles. This includes banners, swords, uniforms, guns, badges and archives. There are also a few weapons from the first and second world wars as well as the Boer war.

  The Fine Art collections include a number of items that relate to the First and Second World Wars, especially the work of Thomas Burke and Albert Richards.

  TRANSPORT

  Following the acceptance of a large loan collection (the ‘Baxter’ collection) in 1988 Wirral Borough Council expressed a long term commitment towards the development of a heritage trail embracing a transport museum with particular emphasis on the Wirral’s heritage. The Museums Service collected vehicles and associated information, memorabilia and museum items with particular emphasis on tramway history and the Mersey Ferries.

  The Baxter collection was returned to its owners in 2015 and the separately housed transport collections are vested in the volunteer group Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2016

  Licence: CC BY-NC