My Most Interesting Thing: Meissen Vases

1.) What is it?
Meissen Vases

2.) Why have you chosen it?
Tells the best story

3.) When did it first catch your eye?
After reading the book 'The Arcanum' The Extraordinary True Story, by Janet Gleeson

4.) If it was yours, what would you do with it?
Display them in a glass cabinet

5.) What stuff do you (or did you) collect?
Some china

Name of selector: Renati O'Connell, Carrick Hill Guide

My Most Interesting Thing: Bronze Mortar

1.) What is it?
Bronze Mortar

2.) Why have you chosen it?
It's age, history and charm. 

3.) When did it first catch your eye?
When it arrived in the collection in the late 1980's

4.) If it was yours, what would you do with it?
Display it

5.) What stuff do you (or did you) collect?
Paintings, Asian works - Netsuke, ceramics and small bronzes.

Anonymous, Carrick Hill Guide

My Most Interesting Thing: Inlaid Box

1.) What is it?
Inlaid Box

2.) Why have you chosen it?
It has great charm and a certain simplicity.  A good 'domestic' piece.

3.) When did it first catch your eye?
20 years ago.

4.) If it was yours what would you do with it?
Have it on view in a chose spot.

5.) What stuff do you (or did you) collect?
Pictures, plates and silver

Chosen by: Charlotte Bright, Carrick Hill Guide

My Most Interesting Thing: The Willing Captive by John Dicksee

1.) What is it?
The Willing Captive by John Dicksee

2.) Why have you chosen it?
This work is ageless, the detail both in the sitter and the background is exquistie, and the story is open to interpretation by the viewer.

3.) When did it first catch your eye?
WHen I began my training as a volunteer guide

4.) If it was yours, what would you do wth it?
I would have it displayed in a prominent position to be enjoyed and view by everyone.

5.) What stuff do you (or did you) collect?
Hermes Silk Scarves

Chosen by: Wendy Laver, Carrick Hill Guide

My Most Interesting Thing: The English Settle

1.) What is it?
The English Settle

2.) Why have you chosen it?
It is the most practical piece of furniture - Oak late 17th century, padded seat, storage - hang hooks on back to hold meat etc in farm houses.  Sleep on near fire - back keep of draughts.

3.) When did it first catch your eye?
In the front hall - wonderful carving

4.) If it was yours, what would you do with it?
Use it as a room divider or near a fire place - put on cushions on it.

5.) What stuff do you (or did you) collect?
Noah's Ark's, Nativity Scenes and enamel candle holders.

Chosen By: Pamela Cheesman, Carrick Hill Guide

A quiet word from the List Mistress - Ivory Figures

The Carrick Hill volunteer guides regularly undertake personal research into specific objects or parts of the collection and this information is then shared with our visitors when they take a guided tour around the house.  This information is then routinely filed away and is usually only retrieved when individual researchers need.   Recently one of our guides, Wendy Laver, presented her research paper on a pair of small, highly detailed,  17^th century carved ivory figures.   The story behind the acquisition of these figures by Sir Edward and Lady Ursula Haywood is typical of the many unexpected objects that were acquired by them for their personal collection.

This pair of ivory figures were originally part of a vast art collection assembled by the Scottish engineer Robert Napier  (1791-1876) who made his fortune in shipbuilding.  Napier built himself a grand mansion named West Shandon, Dumbartonshire in the West central lowlands of Scotland.  The house was complete with a purpose built gallery to house paintings by English and European masters such as Rembrandt, Rubens and Rafael as well as his fine collections of bronzes and marble statues, carvings in wood and ivory, silver and decorative gold plate.  This collection became known as the Shandon Collection and in an 1865 catalogue these two figures were described as:

No. 1076

STATUETTE, in carved Ivory of a mendicant with a wooden leg fupporting himself on crutches;  on an ivory and ebony pedeftal.  Dutch 17^th or early 18^th century work.

No. 1077

COMPANION STATUETTE, of an old beggar woman.  Dutch 17^th or early 18^th century work

Height of each, including the pedeftals, 8¼in.

In 1877, the Shandon Collection of 3,541 lots was sold off at auction in London by Messrs. Christie, Manson & Woods at their Great Rooms, 8, King Street, St James Square, London, these two figures (Lots 1643 & 1644) were sold together for 27 guineas or £28.70.0.  Details of the purchaser are brief  but it is possible that they were bought on behalf of Ursula Hawyard’s grandparents Robert and Johanna Barr Smith.  

Ursula’s maternal  family had strong links to Scotland and this clever piece of detective work has given these two small objects a new provenance that enhances their story and their place in the Carrick Hill house collection.  Full details of this research will be added to the collection database.

My Most Interesting Thing: Emroidered Trifold Screen

1.) What is it?
Embroidered Trifold Screen

2.) Why have you chosen it?
Superb example of needlework.

3.)  When did it first catch your eye?
When I first visited Carrick Hill

4.) If it was yours, what would you do with it?
Display it with pride!

5.) What stuff do you ( or did you) collect?
China

Chosen by: Anonymous, Carrick Hill Guide