Florence Nightingale’s pen tray, black Derbyshire marble, 19th century

Chiddingstone Castle guidebook, signed by Denys Eyre Bower in June 1965

A Tibetan statue of the Buddha from the 1500s sits beside Denys in this portrait, reflecting his identity as a collector. The Buddhist collection is the smallest of Denys’ four collections, but it held a deep personal meaning to him as a Buddhist.

Portrait of Denys Eyre Bower by Dame Laura Knight, 1950s - 1960s

Pair of long and short swords, daisho, with dyed and lacquered shark skin scabbards, 18th - 19th century

Full mask, somen, iron, signed ‘Myochin’, 19th century

Suit of armour attributed to the daimyo (lord) Okochi Masatada, black lacquered iron with blue lacing, 18th - 19th century

Laws were frequently passed in the Edo period (1603 – 1868) which aimed to restrict clear demonstrations of wealth, for example wearing expensive clothing. A luxurious lacquer inro or accessory case was a subtle way for a man to show off his taste and refinement.

Inro with fans, urushi lacquer, late 19th century

Inro in the form of folded paper, with ho-o birds, paulownia branches, and peonies, urushi lacquer, signed Tachibana Gyokuzan, late 19th century

Inro with ho-o birds or phoenixes, urushi lacquer, 19th century

Many of the Japanese lacquerwares in the collection were made to suit the lifestyles of the Edo-period elite. The materials and time required to produce lacquerwares meant that they were expensive. Only the upper classes, and eventually wealthy merchants in the cities, could afford them. The designs on these lacquerwares were chosen to reflect the interests and status of their owners.

Picnic set, urushi lacquer, 1650 - 1750

Writing box decorated with a flower basket, urushi lacquer and inlaid shell, mid-17th century

This tray is decorated with the mon or crests of the Nakagawa samurai family. It may have been made as part of a set for a wedding. One of the crests incorporates a Christian cross. Christianity was banned in Japan in the early 1600s, so it is likely that the Nakagawa family adopted this crest before then. Christian samurai used crests incorporating a cross to identify themselves as Christians and express their faith.

Tray, urushi lacquer, 18th century

The design of this box reflects the traditions of the Imperial court. The folded paper shape references the elegant poems and letters that courtiers would write one another. The decoration also references the tradition of soaking the wheels of the imperial carriages in the Kamo River. The owner of such a box could show off their understanding and appreciation of court culture.

Box in the shape of folded paper, urushi lacquer, 1650 - 1750

‘God bless ye King, God bless our faith Defender, God bless, what harm in blessing the pretender.’

Ceramic mug with salt glaze and inscription in blue

Oak leaves were a Jacobite symbol. Wearing this button would have been a subtle way for a Jacobite to show his allegiance to the Stuarts and to identify himself to other Jacobites.

Silver button decorated with an oak wreath, attributed to the Jacobite ‘Cycle Club’, c. 1780

Portrait of Charles II wearing armour, unknown artist, painted after Riley or Kneller, oil on canvas in gilt wood frame, 17th century

Portrait miniature of Charles Edward Stuart, Sir Robert Strange, oil on paper set in circular wooden pendant frame, 1745

Silver mounted cup made from a coconut shell, with portraits of Charles I, Charles II, James Duke of York, and Henry Duke of Gloucester, 1665

James II died in 1701 whilst in exile in France. He was treated like a saint after he died, with parts of his body preserved as relics. The silver locket is said to contain a small part of his heart, which was brought back to England after the French Revolution in the 1700s. The small box apparently contains a tiny piece of his hair and garter ribbon.

Relic set of James II, ca. 1701 - 1730

Image credit Paul Gardner

Statue of Tsongkhapa (1357 - 1419), founder of the gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, gilt bronze with pigment, Tibeto-Chinese, 18th century

Signed photograph of the Dalai Lama, with label ‘Portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (sent to Mr. Bower 1973)’

Prayer wheels contain a small rolled up piece of paper with Buddhist prayers, or mantras. Handheld prayer wheels such as this one are carried by Buddhist practitioners in daily life. It is believed that turning the prayer wheel is the same as saying the mantra many times. This prayer wheel may have been made from an archer’s thumb ring.

Prayer wheel, jade, inlaid stones, and horn, Tibetan, 19th century

A gau is an amulet case used to carry blessed medicines or other sacred materials. It is worn in Tibet by men and women, usually across the body or around the waist.

Gau amulet case in copper, containing a blessed knot, a printed text, and a tsatsa or stamped clay amulet, Tibetan

Tsatsa amulet of White Tara, a Buddhist deity who bestows longevity, painted clay, Tibetan

In Tibetan homes, it is usual to have a dedicated shrine room which includes a model stupa. A stupa is an ancient burial monument. Stupas contain sacred material such as texts or relics. For a Buddhist practitioner, they represent the Buddha and his teachings.

Buddhist stupa, gilt bronze, Tibetan, 19th century

A mandala is a sacred diagram of Buddhist deities. This mandala is important in Japanese Tendai or Shingon Buddhist initiation ceremonies. During the ceremony, the mandala is placed on a low platform and a flower or sprig is thrown onto it. The deity on which it lands will become the personal deity of the initiate. They will visualise and identify with that deity during their practice.   

Mandala of the diamond world, Japanese, 19th century

Statue of a kneeling priest holding a stela (stone tablet) of the god Ptah, basalt, New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty, ca. 1295 - 1186 BC

From the inscription, we know that this statue was made for a man called Peftjawyneith, which translates as ‘his life is in the hands of the goddess Neith’. The statue was probably donated to a temple of Neith in the Ancient Egyptian city of Sais. 

Statue of Peftjawyneith, basalt, Late Period, 26th Dynasty, 664 - 525 BC

Pharaohs were believed to be divine. They were depicted in paintings and statues interacting with the gods. Amulets, with their names, were worn for protection and to bring good fortune in daily life.

Plaque amulet inscribed with cartouche of Thutmoses III on one side and a sphinx on the other side, ca. 1086 - 30 BC

Mask, gilded cartonnage, Ptolemaic Period, 332 - 30 BC

A ba bird was a representation of a person’s non-physical being, sometimes described as a ‘soul’. It was believed that after death the ba could travel outside of the body of the deceased, but had to return to the tomb regularly. 

Ba bird, wood with traces of blue and red paint, Late Period, 26th Dynasty, 664 - 525 BC

This shabti, or model servant, was made for the tomb of a woman called Nesy-khonsu. She was the daughter of a high priest of Amun at Thebes, and she held several important religious and political roles herself. Another of her shabtis can be found in the National Museums Liverpool, accession number 56.22.588.

Overseer shabti of Nesy-khonsu, blue faience, Third Intermediate Period, 21st Dynasty, ca. 1069 - 945 BC

‘An offering which the King gives to Osiris, foremost of the Westerners, great god, lord of Abydos, so that he may give bread and beer, oxen and fowl, pure things, alabaster and linen, for the soul of the Osiris Irethoreru.’

Inscription translated by Dr John Taylor

Coffin lid for a man called Irethoreru, painted wood, 25th Dynasty, 760 - 656 BC

Stela were monuments which commemorated people or events. Stela for people usually included their name, titles, and image. They sometimes included information about their family. This ensured that they would be remembered for eternity along with their legacy.

Stela of a man called Siamun, limestone, ca. 1991 - 1783 BC