Almost every house in the care of the National Trust contains some ceramics and glass, making up one of the largest collections of its kind.
Some 75,000 pieces are included on the inventories. These range from the most utilitarian kitchenware to objects of the greatest rarity and beauty.
A selection of properties to visit with examples of ceramics or glass:
There are important indigenous collections at Saltram in Devon, Stourhead in Wiltshire, Dyrham Park in Gloucestershire, Petworth House in West Sussex, Erddig in Wales and Wallington in Northumberland.
At least one important collection has been added to a house, Mrs Gubbay’s at Clandon Park in Surrey. Lord Bearsted made a noteworthy collection at Upton House in Warwickshire which he presented to the Trust, as did Lady Binning at Fenton House in London.
The National Trust has itself made collections of ceramics to help dress otherwise under-furnished rooms, to help explain their function, as with the china closets at Beningbrough Hall in North Yorkshire.
There are collections of table glass at Chastleton House in Oxfordshire, Gunby Hall in Lincolnshire, Lyme Park in Cheshire, Mompesson House in Wiltshire, Tatton Park in Cheshire, Treasurer’s House, York, The Vyne in Hampshire and Wightwick Manor in the West Midlands.
Clevedon Court in Somerset has a collection of the local Eltonware and Nailsea glass.
Stained glass
The finest examples of ancient glass in the care of the Trust are the three windows in the Chapel of The Vyne in Hampshire, which, among others, contain portraits of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Their impressive appearance gives little hint of the conservation problems ahead. Close-up examination reveals serious paint loss, which is now being monitored.
|
