Description: | The ceramic collection is small, but excellent in quality. It comprises: a small general collection of English 18th and 19th century wares; and pottery made in pre-1974 Somerset, principally at Bristol (earthenware, tin-glazed earthenware, slip wares, stoneware and whiteware), Clevedon, Wincanton, Donyatt, Bridgwater and other country potteries; Chinese ceramics; a representative collection of pottery types from all over the world; and work by Somerset and other contemporary craft potters.
There is glass made in Somerset and Nailsea.
Silver is represented in the collection by 17th century secular silver, mainly spoons and most by Somerset makers with the Dare family of Taunton particularly well represented. There is church plate of 16th to 18th century date, which is mainly on loan, and a miscellaneous collection of 18th and 19th century silver, most of which does no have local association.
Pewter is represented by 17th to 19th century pieces, chiefly plates, but also dishes, flagons, tankards, measures, flasks, spoons, ladles, egg cups and candlesticks. Almost all the identified pewter was made in London.
There is a substantial collection of candlesticks, mostly of brass, and largely from a collection made by E C Trepplin.
There is a good collection of pocket watches, and also wrist watches, dress watches, sun dials, long case clocks and carriage clocks. Eight of the pocket watches were made in Somerset (Taunton, Ilminster and Martock), as were both the long case clocks (Crewkerne and Shepton Mallet). |