Collections in our care
As Europe’s largest conservation charity, the National Trust is responsible for the collections of some 200 historic houses. At Hughenden, over 7,000 items, furniture, books, paintings, ceramics, manuscripts and sculpture are cared for and conserved.
Treasured explores past conservation practices and highlights the conservation work we carry out today, 363 days a year.
The exhibition showcases 11 items from Victorian Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli’s personal collection, which have all undergone specialist conservation treatment.
Disraeli’s personal collection
Mary Anne Disraeli was an avid collector of hair, from friends, family and royalty. Collecting hair was popular in the Victorian era, it was a tangible link to a loved one before access to photography was widespread. The portrait miniature above depicts Mary Anne’s brother Colonel John Viney-Evans and has his braided hair inset in the reverse.
An Arctic photographic album was presented to Benjamin Disraeli by The Admiralty in July 1877. The 107 individual photographs were the first to be taken in the polar regions and document the unsuccessful attempt to reach the North Pole in 1875. The box created to contain the photographs includes a letter personally addressed to Disraeli in thanks for his endorsement of the expedition’s funding.
To celebrate being made Viscountess Beaconsfield in 1868, Mary Anne Disraeli embroidered coronets and ‘B’s onto the furniture at Hughenden, including this chair. It was a favourite of Mary Anne’s and is typical of her decorative taste.