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Top 10 Silver & Metals

1. The Vegetable Dish and Cover 1808, by Paul Storr

One of a pair, this dish forms part of the large collection of Regency silver from the estate of the sixth Marquess of Ormonde. Accepted in lieu of capital transfer tax by HM Treasury and allocated to the Bowes Museum in 1982. Read More

2. The Cleveland Cup 1840

Won by John Bowes’ horse Hetman Platoff , one side of the cup is engraved ‘The Earl of Uxbridge’ and underneath ‘Lord George Bentinck’, bracketed together as ‘Stewards’. The other side is inscribed ‘Wolverhampton Races 1840.’ Read More

3. Spice Box, London 1610

Such an object was considered a great luxury in Jacobean England, a special container for expensive spices imported from the east. Note the latch for a tiny padlock or fastener on the lid! It is marked with the London date letter for 1610 and the makers mark ‘TT’ above a star, which is no longer identifiable as the records of the goldsmiths company were burnt in the Great Fire of London 1666. It also bares the later monogram of the Earl of Roseberry It was purchased by the Museum in 1977. Read More

4. Mouse Automaton 1818

Bought by Joséphine in London on the 12th May 1871 when the couple were sheltering from the siege of Paris, the item may have had a special significance for them, as John called Joséphine ‘puss’.  Decorated with gold, pearls, enamel and garnet eyes, the mouse is worked by clockwork and runs around, stops, and twitches its whiskers before continuing its journey. Read More

5. John Bowes’ Watch with Chain and Sealsc. 1860, French, maker Le Roy et Fils, Paris

This gold watch chain carries an amethyst seal cut with a sheaf of arrows surmounted by a buckled belt, carrying the Bowes family motto ‘sans variance terme de vie’, steadfast unto the end. The Bowes family originally headed a company of bowmen and archers in the service of William the Conqueror at Bowes castle . The Bowes coat of arms bears three long bows and a sheaf of six arrows. A gold cube set with garnets, as markings on a dice, is possibly a reference to the Streatlam stud. Read More

6. Lady’s Watch and Pearled Chainc. 1810, French, maker Charles Oudin, Paris.

This is possibly the watch acquired by Joséphine Bowes from the dealer Mme Lepautre in 1868, described as a ‘little watch - gold and fine pearls 55 francs’. Following John Bowes’ death in 1885, the Trustees of The Bowes Museum attempted to recover items in Paris destined for the museum, this included ‘a very small watch for the neck with a gold chain and pearls, 500 francs’ Read More

7. Fountain Mask

Gilt bronze grotesque fountain mask of a River God from the home of Philip d’Orleans, brother of Louis XIV Purchased in 1966 in memory of Tony Ellis (late Deputy Museums Director) Read More

8. Napoleon III Snuff Box c.1850

Strawberry coloured enamel, diamond studded N’s and an imperial crown are all features of this presentation snuff box of Napoleon III. The inside rim of the box is signed; ‘G. Lemonnier Joullier de la Couronne Place Vendome No.25.’ Gabriel Lemonnier became famous after showing his wares at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in 1851; he was particularly noted for two parures made for Queen Isabella II of Spain. He was awarded the ‘Medal of the Council’, the highest award, and after the exhibition was made a chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur by the Prince - President, and when the Empire was revived 31 May 1853 he was made jeweller to the crown Read More

9. Saint Sebastian c.1523 Spanish

This object depicts Saint Sebastian left for dead. Persecuted by the Romans, Diocletian sentenced Sebastian to death by arrows for attempting to convert Romans to Christianity. Miraculously the arrows did not kill Sebastian and he was nursed back to health, however Diocletian did manage to kill Sebastian c.288 by clubbing him to death.Sebastian’s hair is gilt as are the arrow-head and the column is engraved with acanthus leaf ornament. The foot is engraved with the date 1523. Read More

10. Sappho, Ancient Greek writer of lyric poetry 1848, James Pradier 1792-1852 French

Cast in solid silver, the standing Sappho is the most famous example of a series of sensual Antique women which Pradier created in the neo-classical style during the 1840’s. The elegant statue represents Sappho as poetess and brooding lover. The scroll is inscribed in Greek with the last stanza of her ‘Ode to Aphrodite’. Read More

The Bowes Museum is closed!

Due to the government announcement on Thursday 17 December, that County Durham is to remain in COVID tier 3 restrictions, The Bowes Museum unfortunately will remain closed to all visitors.

As we have already been shut for a number of weeks and there is much uncertainty around possible further restrictions, we have decided to use this period to undertake some work in Caf� Bowes, alongside performing some much-needed structural repairs to the building, notably to the windows. January and February are usually quieter times for the Museum, often due to severe weather, so we believe that this is the best time to carry out such works with the least amount of disruption to our visitors.

We have therefore decided to remain closed for a period of four weeks following any near-future tier 2 announcement from the government, as this will allow us time to deep clean the Museum prior to reopening our doors once again. We will, of course, keep you updated as the guidelines change.

Your ongoing support during these unprecedented times is hugely appreciated and we very much look forward to welcoming you back into the building as early as possible in 2021.

Do please remember, however, that the Museum�s park and grounds remain open to visitors from 10.00 � 4.00 daily, and that we are currently hosting a woodland fairy trail, clues can be found here.

We hope to be able to offer a few COVID-safe outdoor events over the coming months, about which we shall make further announcements as soon as possible.

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