Replica of Bust of Nefertiti Maker unknown20th centuryPainted plaster The bust of Nefertiti, which was purchased by Denys Eyre Bower, is a copy of the original one and is part of his Egyptian collection. It can be seen on the mantelpiece in the Egyptian room at...

This miniature pair of fierce guardian lions have been chosen as our November object of the month. Made from gilt bronze in China in the 18th century, they are smaller versions of the statues which stand either side of the entrance to important buildings, in particular Buddhist temples.

Our Object of the Month for October is an inro – a small tiered case which men carried hanging from their belts as part of traditional Japanese dress. The inro is decorated in lacquer with a bold design of one of the ten judges of hell, Lord Enma.

Marble pen tray Derbyshire, 19th century Black marbleAlongside the Ancient Egyptian artefacts, Asian works of art, and Jacobite memorabilia, the Castle collection includes objects which illustrate the life of Denys Eyre Bower. There is an archive of Denys’ letters,...

Our Object of the Month is a limestone stela, which reveals details of the life of a man called Siamun in Ancient Egypt. Stelas were monuments or plaques which could commemorate events or the lives of people with hieroglyphs and inscriptions. Siamun’s stela lists his titles, members of his family, and requests that expensive and luxurious offerings be made to please the gods.

Perfect for sunny weather, our Object of the Month for July is this Japanese box in the form of a kite. Flying kites was a popular form of entertainment during the Edo period (17th – 19th century). The box is decorated in Japanese lacquer sprinkled with gold powder. Its interesting design gives us an insight into life in Japan during the Edo period.

Amulet boxes, or ga-u, are used to carry precious and useful items. They can be worn on a cord across the chest or as part of a necklace, and are perfect for a nomadic life. Read more here about this copper ga-u, and the sacred objects we discovered still held inside it.

New for our 2023 open season, is this unusual leather bottle in the shape of Charles I. He is on display once more in the Castle’s Print Room, following extensive conservation.

For April, our object is a fragment of a sistrum decorated with the face of Bat, a version of Hathor, the Ancient Egyptian goddess of love and music. A sistrum was a musical instrument which produced a rattling sound when shaken.