Collection: Museum of Gloucester

Collection-level records:

• Collection overview (Cornucopia)

  Archaeology Collection

  This archaeology collection is extremely strong. Highlights include the Bourton-on-the-Water hoard of bronze age socketed axes; the Birdlip grave-group of Celtic ornamented metalwork, of which the bronze mirror is extremely important; Roman sculptures from Gloucester, Lower Slaughter and Bisley which comprise on of the best series in Britain; the Roman Kingsholm warrior grave group of Visigothic silver; two Roman pottery kiln groups from Gloucester; and the Frocester goblet of engraved glass. The major items of later material are the Anglo-Saxon sculptures from St Oswald’s Priory; the Viking Tibberton enamelled stirrup; and medieval material including the Gloucester tables set, the oldest complete backgammon set in the world; the St Nicholas’ closing-ring of sculptured bronze and the Woodchester reliquary of sculptured lead. There is also an important collection of Roman military and personal items. The museum holds a comprehensive collection of finds from Gloucester, including the records of 25 major excavations covering 2000 years of occupation in the ancient city and its hinterland. There are also important collections from other sites in Gloucestershire such as Nympsfield long barrow; Bevan’s Quarry round barrow; Uley Bury hillfort; Birdlip iron age cemetery; Bourton-on-the-Water Roman town; Lower Slaughter Roman settlement; and Frocester and Boughspring Roman villas.

  Subjects

  Archaeology (industrial); Archaeology (cemeteries); Archaeology; Archaeology (settlement)

  Decorative and Applied Art Collection

  The decorative and applied art collection is of high artistic quality and its principal highlights are items from the period from Charles II to Victoria and the work of some outstanding Gloucestershire craftsmen. The decorative and applied art collection is strong and includes sculpture; pottery and porcelain; silver including work by William Corsely of Gloucester (1640-1691); glass; furniture; and clocks, watches and the finest provincial collection of barometers. This collection dates from Queen Anne to George III and includes works by outstanding Gloucestershire craftsmen, including William Simmonds. Further highlights include glass by James Giles, barometers by Daniel Quare and a 13th century Limoges Enamel Crozier.

  Subjects

  Ceramics; Metalwork; Sculpture; Furniture; Decorative and Applied Arts

  Numismatics Collection

  The coin collection is particularly strong, including Gold 7th century Thrymsa from Newent and coin dies of George III and medal master dies of George II This extensive collection includes the Roman coin hoards from Oldcroft and The Gloucester Cross, the Cross hoard being one of the largest found in Britain; medieval silver pennies from the mints of Gloucester, Berkeley and Winchcombe; Gloucestershire tokens of 17th, 18th and 19th century date; and Gloucestershire 19th century inn checks, 19th century traders’ checks, 18th to 20th century commemorative medals; and 13th to 19th century seals (casts and matrices). There are English coins from 7th to 20th century date; and three 17th century coin hoards from the county; 17th and 18th century coin weights and reckoning counters from 13th to 18th century date.

  Subjects

  Coins and Medals; Numismatics; Medals; Coins

  Fine Art Collection

  This collection contains some important works and it of high artistic quality. The main strengths are in landscape paintings; and the work of Gloucestershire artists. It includes oil and watercolour paintings; drawings; and fine art and topographical prints. Particular highlights include paintings by Phillip Wilson Steer, Richard Wilson, Walter Sickert, Adriaen Van de Werff and Ary de Vois.

  Subjects

  Fine Art

  Geology Collection

  The fossil collection is particularly strong, including Jurassic mammal teeth, Cetiosaur and Megalosaur bones and a complete Plesiosaur. This collection comprises 7000 British fossils, including 5000 brachiopods; British rock samples; and a world-wide collection of minerals. The collection comes from the important Jurassic site of Hornleasow.

  Subjects

  Fossils; Geology

  Biology Collection

  The biology collection is extensive and has a significance far greater than that of a county collection. The museum has a substantial herbarium of some 16000 specimens, including the archive of the Definitive Flora of Gloucestershire published in 1948. There are also British collections of beetles; butterflies; moths; other insect groups; birds and mammals; and land and freshwater molluscs. There is a worldwide collection of marine shells and a substantial collection of palaearctic birds’ eggs. There are several special collections within the biology collection including the Lloyd Baker, Clutterbuck, Greville Smith and Wild collections of birds, mammals and insects; and the Millard, St Brody, Montgomery, Butt, Riddelsdell and Haines herbaria.

  Subjects

  Mammals; Natural Sciences; Plants; Fish; Birds; Insects; Biology

  Ethnography Collection

  An historic collection of mainly stone artefacts from around the world.

  Subjects

  Ethnography

  Source: Cornucopia

  Date: Not known, but before 2015

  Licence: CC BY-NC