Nefertiti

Nefertiti

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...
Guardian lions

Guardian lions

Pair of guardian lions China, 18th century Gilt-bronze This pair of roaring lions (shī in Chinese, shishi in Japanese), can be spotted in the castle’s Buddhist Room. They are miniature versions of the statues which usually stand at the gate or entrance of an important...
Inro with Lord Enma

Inro with Lord Enma

Inro with design of Lord Enma Reishousai Koji Japanese, 19th century Lacquerware This small lacquer case, or inro, is decorated with a dramatic design of one of the ten judges of hell, Lord Enma. He is depicted in high-relief red lacquer with a fierce expression, and...
Florence Nightingale’s pen tray

Florence Nightingale’s pen tray

Marble pen tray Derbyshire, 19th century Black marble Alongside 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,...
Stela of Siamun

Stela of Siamun

Stela of Siamun (Za-amun) Ancient Egyptian, first half of the 13th dynasty  Limestone Our Object of the Month for August is this limestone stela which was made for a man called Siamun or Za-amun, almost four thousand years ago. The stela tells us that Siamun was...
Kite box

Kite box

Box in the shape of a kite Japanese, late 19th century urushi lacquer  unsigned During the 17th – 19th centuries in Japan, urushi lacquer boxes were produced in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Alongside rectangular writing boxes and circular mirror...