Object of the Month

Our October Object of the Month was written by work experience student April McCarthy. April chose this small statue of striding Anubis. Anubis was the Ancient Egyptian god associated with mummification and the dead. Alongside Osiris, he had a key role to play in the afterlife.

Our September Object of the Month, a small Japanese dagger in a wooden scabbard decorated with insects, was chosen and written by work experience student Jasmine Burke.

Our object of the month for August was chosen, researched, and written by our volunteer James MacDougall. James recently finished his MA in Buddhist Studies at SOAS, London. This small gilt bronze statue of Sadaksari Avalokiteśvara can be seen in the Castle’s Buddhist Room

Our July object of the month is this brightly painted fragment of an inner coffin. It was made around 1069 – 945 BC, the 21st Dynasty in Ancient Egypt. It is decorated with painted images of the gods associated with death and the afterlife.

Pair of cufflinks attributed to Flora MacDonald Gold filigree 1746 The piece of card attached to these small gold filigree cufflinks reveals the reason why they have been so preciously kept. The inscription claims that they were given ‘during his flight’ by Prince...

Our Object of the Month for May, written by Chiddingstone Castle trustee Graham Dixon, is this large mandala painting on display in the Buddhist Room. This ‘Diamond World’ mandala was painted in Japan in the 19th century for use in Buddhist rituals. A mandala can be described as a map of a sacred space, with many Buddhas and other Buddhist deities.

Celebrate Spring and the re-opening of the Castle and Tea Room with this Japanese iron tea kettle, decorated with carved cherry blossoms and birds.

This March we have chosen to highlight this pair of Nepalese trumpets in the shape of a mythical beast. They are part of the Castle’s Buddhist collection. These decorated trumpets play an important part in Tibetan Buddhist ritual and dance.

Our Object of the Month for February is this Ancient Egyptian statue fragment of a man with a balding head. Although it is small and roughly carved, Denys believed that it was made of a very rare and precious material. Read more to discover the mystery behind this artefact.

Sake cup Signed on the baseJapanese, 19th centuryLacquerware Ready to welcome in the New Year, our Object of the Month for January is this sake (rice wine) cup with a design that symbolises good fortune, prosperity, and longevity. A crane and a turtle can be seen next...

Our Object of the Month for December is this miniature coffer which was made in Japan for the Portuguese market. It is covered in lacquer with gold decoration and cut shell pieces.

Our Object of the Month for November was chosen, researched, and written by estate and collections volunteer Luke Davis. It is a 16th-century oil on canvas portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots.