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Decorative Arts

 
The Decorative Arts Collection is made up of beautiful objects that were made to be admired or used. It includes metalwork, ceramics, glass, clocks and the Grice collection of ivories. The largest and most important part of the collection is metalwork.
 
montage of images from the Decorative arts collection  
 
The Decorative Arts Collection includes pottery from local factories such as Rockingham and Pinxton as well as examples from Worcester, Derby, Wedgwood and Leeds. There are some beautiful Dutch pieces commemorating the Restoration, apothecary jars once used by pharmacists and a 17th century slipware (decorative lead glazed earthenware) collection. Other commemorative pieces mark the Sheffield Flood or celebrate famous figures including Nelson, Queen Caroline and John Wesley. The influence of China and Japan can be seen in Oriental ceramics made in this country in the 19th century.
There are around 500 pieces of glass in the collection, many of which are from South Yorkshire factories such as Catcliffe. There are also some large 17th Century German beakers with painted designs.

A Taste of the Collection
 
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  Flood Plate
Holmes Pottery, Rotherham, 1864 White pottery plate with green printed view lettered ‘Sheffield Flood March 12th 1864. Daniel Chapmans house at Little Matlock'.

Derby Vase
Derby Porcelain 1811-49
Porcelain vase, bell shaped with two loop handles arising from Satyr’s masks. Painted panel "View on the Welsh Coast" by G. Lucas on one side and painted bouquet of flowers on the reverse. Mark of BLOOR DERBY with a crown.
 
click to enlarge

click to enlarge
  Greek Spode Sauce Dish
Spode Pottery, Staffordshire, late 18th Century
Sauce boat with lid, covered with blue printing of classical scenes, known as ‘Greek pattern’

Oriental Bowl
Worcester Porcelain, 18th Century
Porcelain basin decorated with painted Chinese figure and scenes
 
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click to enlarge
  Black Flower Candlesticks
Davenport Pottery, circa 1860
Pair of white pottery candlesticks with painted flowers on a black background.

Wesley Teapot
Castleford Pottery, late 18th Century
Octagonal teapot with portrait of John Wesley on two sides. Swan mounted on lid.
 
click to enlarge