It once belonged to Pope Sixtus V, but what did he store in its most secret drawers? Henry Hoare II, the visionary behind Stourhead's magnificent garden, would never reveal the sum he paid for it. Upon it's return to Stourhead, a series of miniature portraits were discovered in its drawers, each face hinting at a unique life story - but who were the sitters?
Stourhead volunteers and staff share the things that matter most to them
The six star objects from the Stourhead collection will be displayed side-by-side with six personal objects that belong to people from the Stourhead community. Staff and volunteers were invited to share objects with strong personal meaning.
The exhibition features an inherited evening bag, a career-defining crystal taxi cab, a childhood paintbrush, a key to the canals, a bronze bust of a woman with a secret, and a glass sculpture bought in celebration of 40 years of long-distance friendship.