Object of the Month

Statue of a man with Ptah Ancient Egypt, New Kingdom, 19th dynasty, ca. 1295 - 1186 BCBasalt Our October Object of the Month is this Ancient Egyptian statue of a kneeling man. He is presenting a stela, or commemorative tablet, with an image of the god Ptah. Ptah was...

Portrait Miniature of Maria Clementina Sobieska 1719Oil on copper set in a gilt oval pendant frame Our Object of the Month for September can be found in the castle’s Print Room as part of a new display on portrait miniatures. It is a portrait of Maria Clementina...

Canopic jar with head of Duamutef Ancient Egyptian, Late Period (664 – 30BC) Limestone Our Object of the Month for August was chosen and researched by work experience student Hope Humphrey. She chose this canopic jar with a lid in the form of the jackal-headed god...

Punch bowl with Charles Edward Stuart Lambeth Delftca. 1745Tin-glazed earthenware For July, we have chosen a punch bowl from the Stuart and Jacobite collection as our Object of the Month. This large bowl is made from a type of tin-glazed ceramic known as Delftware. It...

Temple bell Chinese, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1912)Bronze Our Object of the Month for June is this temple bell which is on display in the castle’s Buddhist Room. This medium-sized bell was cast from bronze and is decorated with studs, raised lines, and a swirling cloud...

Our object of the month for May is this small granite head which is on display in the castle’s Egyptian Room. The head would have originally been part of a full statue of a man, carved from mottled granite. His shaved head suggests that he may have been a priest.

April’s object is this elaborately decorated cabinet made in Japan for export to the Portuguese market. It is made in a distinct style known as ‘nanban’, with dense inlaid shell and painted gold lacquer.

Pair of portraits of William III and Mary II In the style of Willem Wissing17th centuryOil on canvas with gilt wood frames In celebration of re-opening, our March Object of the Month is a pair of portraits which hang opposite the front desk. The portraits depict...

Our February Object of the Month is a 16th-century Tibetan statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. It was made in gilt bronze with inlaid turquoise details. The position of the hands and other physical attributes identify the statue as Shakyamuni, the ‘historical Buddha’.

Sakazuki cup Japanese, 19th centuryUrushi lacquerware For January, we have chosen an object which is used for traditional New Year celebrations in Japan. It is a red urushi lacquer sake (Japanese rice wine) cup, known as a sakazuki. These shallow cups can vary in size...

HarpocratesAncient Egypt, Greco-Roman period, ca. 4th century BC - 1st century ADTerracotta Our Object of the Month for December is this small terracotta figure of the Ancient Egyptian god Harpocrates, or ‘Horus the child’. It was chosen for this festive season...

Portrait of Louisa Maria Theresa After Nicolas de Largilliere Oil on canvas in gilt frame 17th – 18th century This portrait hangs in the castle’s Print Room, where highlights from the Stuart and Jacobite collection are displayed. It depicts Louisa Maria Theresa Stuart...