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Artefacts Friends of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery Winter 2011
1. Artefacts
THE FRIENDS OF BIRMINGHAM
MUSEUMS & ART GALLERY MAGAZINE
Winter 2011
The Friends of
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION
Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery OF FRIENDS OF MUSEUMS
2.
3. CONTACTS
John Pownall -
Events and Artefacts Content
friends.of.bmag@googlemail.com
Myra Wheeldon - Events
myra.wheeldon@googlemail.com
Mary Whetnall - Events
mary.whetnall@googlemail.com
Margaret Boniface - Archivist Detail from
The Hat Shop,
margaret.boniface.fbmag@googlemail.com an Oil Painting
by Henry Tonks,
1892
Lynda Perrin - Membership
fbmagmembership@googlemail.com
John Nodding - Treasurer
johnnodding@yahoo.co.uk Chairman's Report 4
6
Ria van den Nieuwboer -
Volunteer Co-ordinator Friends' Events
riavanden@btinternet.com
Melissa Page - Administrator
melissa.page.fbmag@gmail.com
News from the Office 11
Friends' Office
Birmingham Museum & Art
Acquisitions V
13
Gallery, Chamberlain Square,
Birmingham. B3 3DH
Tel: 0121 303 3129
Staffordshire Hoard
Events: 0121 464 3353
14
friends.of.bmag@googlemail.com
www.bmag.org.uk/friends_of_bmag Rita McLean's Report
Reg. Charity No. 528895
Designed and Produced by:
PW Media & Publishing Ltd
What's On 16
Graphic Design: Paul Blyth Reviews 22
Printed By: WPG Print
Advertising Sales:
Diane Stinton - Tel: 01905 727903
Friends' Diary 23
diane@pw-media.co.uk WINTER 2011 ARTEFACTS 3
4. Our Chairman
Deborah de Haes
Happy New Year! I hope not too many The first ever meeting of the
Young Persons’ Advisory Panel
of you were stuck indoors over Christmas in early December was a lively
and New Year because of the snow. There and enthusiastic event. Thanks
to Buro Happold for hosting
have been some very beautiful moments this for us. The young people
but some very difficult times as well. I (aged between 20 and 30)
hope that by the time you read this, your were very interested in the
work of the Friends and full of
personal snow scenes will all be history! ideas. They have generously
Happy Birthday! This year, the Our Annual Lecture was a agreed to meet again to help
Friends of Birmingham Museums real treat this year with a us work through what some of
and Art Gallery is 80 years’ old. very informative talk about their questions and suggestions
Our actual birthday is 1 July and current research into the might mean in practice for the
we are planning a garden party Staffordshire Hoard from a very Friends. I am convinced the
at Blakesley Hall on Sunday 26 knowledgeable and engaging outcome will be of interest to
June in the afternoon. There will presenter, Leslie Webster. She all Friends whatever their ages.
be afternoon tea with a special raised as many questions as she
birthday cake, as well as a chance answered, all of which were In this our 80th birthday year,
to see the Friends’ border which fascinating and underlined I am reminded of the remark
was planted last year and is now the need for considerably made by the facilitator at the
growing well, I am told. I hope more research to be done into Trustees’ Awayday in 2010: ‘In
as many of you as possible will individual pieces, the deposits a long-standing charity like this,’
be able to come – more details left on them and the finer he said, ‘your responsibility is
in the next Artefacts. We are detail that will become clearer to hand the organisation on in
launching our birthday year with as the pieces are cleaned. Our good shape to your successors.’
a Friends’ private view of the Pre- fund-raising campaign is now I think back over the many
Raphaelites Drawing exhibition at closed and I am delighted chairmen, committee members,
6pm on 22 February. As well as to say that we have reached administrators, Council staff
an introduction to the Drawings our target of £25,000. An and volunteers who over the
from Victoria Osborne, curator enormous thank you to Jennifer years have dedicated so much
of the exhibition, we will also Young for coordinating this time and effort to making
be having a drinks reception in campaign, which has involved the Friends what it is today.
the Round Room, open to all considerable persistence and
Friends and their guests (booking effort, and thank you for With every good wish for 2011
essential). Again, I hope to see your contributions large and and I hope you are able to enjoy
as many of you as possible small – they all count and we at least some of the special events
at this very special event. are grateful for them all. planned for our birthday year.
4 ARTEFACTS WINTER 2011
6. Forthcoming
Friends' Events
lunch (not included), we will visit the Silk
Coach Pick-up Mill and see displays that tell the story of
the industrial heritage and achievement
Due to parking restrictions in Richmond of Derby and its people. There is a special
Hill Road we have changed our Harborne emphasis on the development of Rolls-
Pickup Point to Yateley Road. This is on Royce aero engines and the railway industry.
the other side of Harborne Road and is Other displays cover local industries such
slightly nearer to Harborne. The Post Code as mining, pottery and foundry work. The
is B15 3JP. For the next few coach events Power Gallery covers the story of motive
we will send a map with your tickets. power in industry with hands-on exhibits.
Ten minutes walk away is Derby Museum
Lisbon Art & Culture Tour and Art Gallery which houses a wide range
of important and attractive collections,
Wednesday 6 - Tuesday 12 April 2011 covering porcelain, paintings, archaeology,
Please note small change of dates. Details history, local regiments, geology and wildlife.
were in the last edition of Artefacts. Due Paintings by the celebrated 18th Century
to cancellations there are a few places Derby artist Joseph Wright, Associate of the
remaining; if you are interested please Royal Academy (1734-97) include portraits,
contact the office as soon as possible. landscapes, subjects from literature and scenes
of industry and scientific equipment that
represent this exciting period of pioneering
Derby, Rolls-Royce Heritage discovery. This is the largest collection of the
artist's work in any public gallery in the world.
Trust & Museums
Tuesday 29 March 2011 The Archaeology Gallery contains local
Our first stop will be at the Rolls-Royce Heritage material from the Stone Age to the
Trust site on the south side of Derby which Middle Ages, with several fine Anglo-
contains a representative selection of Rolls- Saxon crosses and a splendid sarcophagus.
Royce Limited aero engines and cars, from the There are also two Egyptian mummies.
formation of the Company to the present day.
Engines currently included are Eagle, Hawk, The Military Gallery (now totally refurbished),
Kestrel, Merlin, Griffon and gas turbines of tells the stories of local regiments such as the 9th
the Welland and Derwent to the Trent. /12th Royal Lancers, the Derbyshire Yeomanry
and the Sherwood Foresters, with information
We will then coach to the centre of Derby available on a touch-screen computer.
and park near the Silk Mill – Derby’s Museum
of Industry and History. After time for Cost: £15 – Includes coach & driver’s tip
6 ARTEFACTS WINTER 2011
7. Pickup Points: Yateley Road @ 8:30am until the last Lord Egerton died without heirs
or Chest Clinic, Gt. Charles St. @ 8:45am. in 1958. Maurice Egerton bequeathed the
Please note change of Harborne pick-up. estate to the National Trust and in 1960 a
lease was drawn up with Cheshire County
This event is open to non-members and an Council who managed and financed the
application form is included in this magazine. property on behalf of the National Trust until
April 2009 when responsibility transferred
to Cheshire East Council. As well as the
Tabley House & Mansion there are 50 acres of award-winning
historical gardens which are accessed through
Tatton Park (NT) the Garden Shop, and include the famous
Friday 13 May 2011 Japanese Garden, Italian and Rose gardens,
After coffee on arrival at Tabley House Arboretum, Topiary, Maze and Pinery/Vinery.
(included), we will have guided tours of the
House. Tabley House was designed by John Cost: £25.00 to include coach, driver’s tip,
Carr of York for Sir Peter Byrne Leicester, coffee and biscuits at Tabley House, tours of
Bt., and completed in 1769. His son, Sir Tabley House. Tatton Park is National Trust so
John Fleming Leicester, Bt., later 1st Lord please remember your Membership Cards.
de Tabley, was the first great patron and
collector of British paintings. He assembled Pickup Points: Depart Yateley Road 8:30am,
a splendid collection at Tabley and in his Chest Clinic 8:45am. Please note change of
London house during the first decade of the Harborne pick-up.
19th Century, ultimately with the intention of
establishing a National Gallery of British Art. This event is open to non-members and an
application form is included in this magazine.
JMW Turner, Henry Thompson and James Ward
were among the many painters who stayed at
Tabley. Today, important works by them can be College of Food
seen in the rooms for which they were created,
together with fine paintings by Dobson, Thursday 10 March 2011 at 12 noon
Lely, Reynolds, Cotes, Northcote, Callcott, Our 80th Year Annual Lunch has been
Fuseli, Lawrence, Opie, Martin and others. arranged at the College of Food in Summer
Row. As usual we have selected 2 starters
We will then coach the short distance to Tatton and 2 main courses. Please ensure your
Park (National Trust, entrance not included), selections are clearly indicated on your
arriving in time for lunch. There is the Stables applications, also any dietary requirements.
Restaurant for snacks and hot dishes, perhaps Desserts will be selected on the day.
bring a picnic with you or buy something
from the Housekeeper’s Store if the weather YOuR CHOICES OF STARTER:
is suitable. The Park has a history dating back A. Pan fried crab cake with a fritto misto
to Bronze Age farming and has been home of sea food and Tyrolienne sauce
to herds of deer since the 13th century. In B. Sauté’d pork on a salad of leaves,
the late Tudor period Tatton was acquired semi dried apricots, almonds, grilled
by the Egerton family who owned the estate Parma ham and balsamic vinaigrette
WINTER 2011 ARTEFACTS 7
8. MAIN COuRSES: centuries CE. He will illustrate this talk with
C. Delice of lemon sole with a herb farce Marguery photographs which he has taken on his visits
D. Roast Gressingham duck with black cherries to sites in Portugal and South Western Spain.
Because Roman history is always interesting
Cost: £19.50; this includes three courses, and there is ample space in the AV Room we
wine, coffee and service. have thrown the event open to all Friends.
We will meet in the AV Room at 10:45am
An Application form is included in this magazine. for an 11:00am start.
Cost: £5.00
80th Birthday Party
An Application form is included in this magazine.
Launch and Reception
THE POETRY OF DRAWING
Tuesday 22 February 2011 Friends Guided
We are launching our 80th birthday year with a
Friends' reception in the Round Room at 6pm.
Tours of BMAG
After speeches and the presentation of the These tours are exclusive to Friends and
Staffordshire Hoard fundraising cheque, you can are provided by official BMAG tour guides.
make your way to the Drawings and Paintings unless otherwise stated they all start at
Pre-Raphaelites exhibition in the Gas Hall and/ 11am in the Round Room and cost £6.00.
or to the Staffordshire Hoard. Curators will be Please note that Lunch is not included in
available to introduce the displays. Open to all these events (see Luncheon Clubs).
Friends and their guests (booking is essential).
We will meet in the Round Room at 6:00pm. GuIDED TOuR (103) - “FROM DARKNESS
INTO LIGHT” BY JANE HOWELL
Cost: £10 Friday 15 April 2011
The shortest day has passed and we look,
An Application form is included in this magazine. with relief, to the days drawing out. This
seasonal pattern has fascinated we humans
from the beginning of time. How have artists
The Romans in Lusitania tackled the subject? What do they show
about our emotional response to the event.
TALK IN THE AV ROOM SPEAKER In this tour we shall look at some works
- DAVID JOHNSON in the hope of finding some answers.
Monday 4 April 2011
This talk has been arranged primarily for the GuIDED TOuR (104) - “ALL THE WORLD’S
Friends who are going on our Lisbon trip in A STAGE” BY CHRISTINE MOOSAVI
April, Lusitania being the Roman name for that Tuesday 19 April 2011
area. In his talk, David intends to outline the way BMAG's paintings collection is rich in drama,
in which the region was brought under Roman whether featuring players on a theatrical
rule after the second Punic war, the nature of stage or actors caught in a moment of
life in the Roman provinces of southern Spain dramatic tension the drama shouts at us.
during the golden age of the late 1st and 2nd
8 ARTEFACTS WINTER 2011
9. Those on this tour will enjoy the drama Application forms for these Luncheon
and even participate. Luvvies with pink (or Clubs are included in this magazine.
green) carnations are especially welcome.
Application forms for these Guided Date For Your Diary
Tours are included in this magazine.
GARDEN PARTY AT BLAKESLEY HALL
Sunday 26 June 2011
Luncheon Clubs There will be afternoon tea with a special
birthday cake, as well as a chance to see
The following luncheon clubs have been the Friends’ border which was planted
arranged for this next quarter. We meet at last year and is now growing well.
11:00am, the talks take about an hour and There will be more information and Booking
then we go to the Edwardian Tea Room Application forms in our next mailing.
for lunch. You will need to bring your
ticket for the lunch, the cost is £13.50. BRISTOL WEEKEND AWAY
Friday 23 - Monday 26 September 2011
THE POETRY OF DRAWING This year's weekend away will be based in
Tuesday 8 & Friday 11 March 2011 Bristol, visits to the Wye Valley, Bath and Bristol
Speaker Victoria Osborne, Curator (Fine will be included. More details will be published
Art). The Poetry of Drawing brings in the next Artefacts.
together works from Birmingham’s world
class collections of Pre-Raphaelite and
later 19th century art alongside key loans Event Applications
from public and private lenders, some of
which have never been seen before in BOOKINGS FOR EVENTS
public. It is the most comprehensive and A few statistics for you. An analysis of
beautiful survey of Pre-Raphaelite drawings, Events bookings for 2010 is as follows
designs and watercolours ever staged.
Artefacts Issue No. of No. of
Friends will meet in Gas Hall Reception Members Events
at 11:00am for a start at 11:15am. Applying Booked
THE SILVER COLLECTION Winter 2010 151 390
Monday 21 & Tuesday 22 March 2011 Spring 2010 177 369
Speaker Martin Ellis, Curator (Applied Summer 2010 181 471
Art). Martin will lead us upstairs to the Autumn 2010 99 231
galleries above the Edwardian Tea Room
where the majority of the collection is All of your bookings were initially entered onto one
displayed. If time permits we will look at spread sheet which gives an analysis of cheques
some of the silver in the picture galleries. received and bookings made. The majority of
these bookings were received within 10 days of
Friends will meet in Round Room at Artefacts being circulated. To help the booking
11:00am for a start at 11:15am. procedure to run smoothly we highlight below
WINTER 2011 ARTEFACTS 9
10. some of the areas where we frequently encounter valid for 12 months from the date of issue,
problems with the application forms which delay all credit notes issued since June 2010 clearly
the processing of your booking whilst we clarify state this. Any “old” credit notes should
or query the information you have given. therefore be used against your bookings for
either this or the next edition of Artefacts.
MEMBERSHIP NuMBER
Please include your membership number on SuMMING uP - PLEASE REMEMBER TO:
the booking form, this is the 4 digit number • Separate the individual forms
which is printed on your membership card. • Complete ALL details, don’t forget things like:
It is not 528895 which is frequently quoted, Pickup Point on Coach Trips, deleting dates
that is our Charity Registration Number. that you can’t come to Luncheon Clubs
et cetera.
LuNCHEON CLuB • Write ONE BULK Cheque made out to
When booking for a Luncheon Club you will FBMAG for all the events that you are
normally have a choice of dates. Please ensure applying for, but please do not include your
that you indicate clearly on the booking form Membership subscriptions in this bulk cheque.
which date you wish to attend. If you have no • Include a S.A.E. for EACH event
date preference indicate “either date” - you will • Send the Forms, Cheque and S.A.E.s
then be allocated tickets for the event which has to: The Friends' Office, Birmingham
the least bookings. Please check your tickets when Museum & Art Gallery, Chamberlain
you receive them to ensure that the tickets are Square, BIRMINGHAM, B3 3DH
for the date you require. This is a double check
in case you omitted to indicate a preferred date.
Tickets for lunch are only valid for the date shown.
COACH OuTINGS
Please indicate on the booking form where you
will be boarding the coach, if not indicated we
will use your departure point from a previous
event. The choice will be indicated on the tickets
- please ensure it is correct. We need to know
your boarding point to ensure that everybody
has arrived before the coach departs. If you
subsequently wish to change the boarding
point please advise us. Within 24 hours of the
trip if something crops up which means you
cannot attend please call the mobile phone
number on the ticket. The organiser will then
know not to wait for you. Cancellations prior
to the date of the outing should be telephoned
to the office number 0121 464 3353.
CREDIT NOTES
Please note that credit notes are now only
10 ARTEFACTS WINTER 2011
11. News
From the Office
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP education and started to study ACCA. I have
• Free entry to special exhibitions in Gas Hall good experience working on chartered accounts
• Artefacts magazine four times a year and now I work as book-keeper for the Friends
• Opportunity to join the many of BMAG. Here I have met a lot of wonderful
Friends’ social events and outings people, I enjoy to working with them very much.
Plus discounts at the following venues
(terms and conditions apply): During my stay in England I met my
• BM&AG and Community Museum shops husband Martin, he is from Slovakia and
• 50% entrance discount to Thinktank we have a wonderful daughter Julia Anna.
at Millennium Point www.thinktank.ac She will be 2 years old in March.
• Shakespeare Birthplace Trust shops (excluding
admission prices) www.shakespeare.org.uk I enjoy reading books, going to cinema,
• Ironbridge Gorge Trust shops provided a travelling and visiting new places. I like to
minimum of £5 is spent in one transaction. travel around the uK, thanks to it historical
Offer excludes books, certain sales and culture heritage it is worth seeing. I also
items, admission prices and café/restaurant love gardening and I enjoy working on our
purchases) www.ironbridge.org.uk allotment which is close to our home.
• Potteries Museums & Art Gallery shops/
cafés www.museums.stoke.gov.uk NEW MEMBERS
A warm welcome is extended to our new
INTRODuCING OuR BOOKKEEPER members: Miss KEW Blunt, Mrs H Bush, Mr P
Hi, I am Anna Voscek. I am Polish and came to Harrington, Mr P & Mrs C Harris, Dr A Harris,
England 7 years ago. After completing university Miss M Page, Mrs BJ Andrews, Mr AW & Mrs
of Economics in Poznan (Poland) I came here to B Macrae, Mr CM Edwards, Mr & Mrs WN
study English. Because I got so fascinated by this Houghton, Mr J & Mrs A Mann, Mr D & Mrs J
country I have decided to stay for a bit longer. Marks, Mr P & Mrs E Baker, Mr P McLauchlan,
Mr & Mrs JL Cunnington, Mrs J Chapman, Mrs L
Ingram, Mr G Yardley, Ms C Hagen & Mr A Clay,
Mrs EJ Blakey, Mrs J King, Ms JM Holmes, Mr N
& Mrs P O'Kane, Ms J Salmons, Mr SJ Cardinal.
Please remember to let us have your email
address if you have not already done so.
GIFT MEMBERSHIP
We were very pleased that 15 members have joined
I studied AAT in order to be more familiar with through Gift Membership and thank everyone who
uK accountancy systems and graduated in 2008. participated. Don’t forget that Gift Membership is
However I have decided to carry on with my available all year round and runs for 15 months.
WINTER 2011 ARTEFACTS 11
13. Application
Forms
Your Pull-Out Application Forms follow
Detach Application(s), complete all relevant details, send
with One Cheque to “FBMAG” (unless otherwise stated)
for all events & Stamped Self Addressed Envelopes for each
event to:
Friends’ Office,
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery,
Chamberlain Square,
Birmingham, B3 3DH
WINTER 2011 ARTEFACTS I
15. Cultural Champions
Cultural Champions from for their support of and public or business community
the Birmingham Museums commitment to the Arts in who has shown outstanding
and Art Gallery being given the West Midlands. Deborah support and commitment to
their awards by Ed Vaizey said, ‘I am delighted and an arts or cultural organisation
MP at the West Midlands greatly honoured to receive in their local community
celebration event in the Water this award which I feel is on
Hall on October 5th 2010. behalf of the work of ALL the A major event is held in
Friends and not just myself. each English region, with a
In October 2010, Deborah de It is wonderful that the work Government Minister or VIP
Haes, our own Chairman of of this great organisation is as guest of honour to help
Friends, Ian Reaves, Deputy being so widely recognised.’ celebrate the support and
Chairman and Shirley Stirling, dedication shown by these
a Friend who has worked What is a Cultural individuals and businesses
for 28 years as a volunteer Champion? to the arts in communities
with BMAG, all received the A Cultural Champion is an across the nation.
Cultural Champion award individual from the wider
WINTER 2011The Friends of BM&AG
Autumn 2010 ARTEFACTS IIIIII
17. Acquisitions
In the last Artefacts we
featured our first Acquisition,
the Indian Miniature portrait of
Muntaz Mahal, in this edition
we are reproducing a couple of
pictures from the 40’s and 50’s.
Study of Two
Gondolas and Figures,
an Oil Painting by
Luca Carlevaris,
Presented by the
Friends of BMAG
Acq. No. 1948P50
Cost £89
The Hat Shop,
an Oil Painting
by Henry Tonks in 1892
The subject, a hat shop, reflects
Tonks interest in etiquette and
fashion. The loose handling
of the paint and the use of
the effects of light reflects
the influence of the French
impressionists Manet (1832-
83) and Degas (1834-1917).
Presented by the
Friends of BMAG
Acq. No. 1951P105.
Cost £210
Gillian Wearing Acquisition
The Friend's first purchase in our 80th year was a Limited Edition C-Type print representing the British model
Lily Cole wearing a slightly damaged mask, made of her own face. The contemporary artist Gillian Wearing
is Birmingham born and rose to prominence as one of the group known as the YBA's (Young British Artists).
She featured in the RA's exhibition Sensation, and won the Turner Prize in 1997.
The print measures 61x48cm and the cost was £791.
WINTER 2011 ARTEFACTS V
19. If you are finding this magazine interesting
and you are not a member of
Friends of Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery
Please consider joining us,
or giving membership to someone as a present
(Gift Membership gives 3 extra months free)
A Membership Application Form is printed overleaf
If giving membership as a gift please complete your
details below and your recipient’s details overleaf
Your Name ............................................
Address ............................................
............................................
Post Code ............................................
Tel No ............................................
Email ............................................
Send Gift Package direct to recipient? q Yes q No
To help us with our future publicity would you please tell us where you
picked up your copy of Artefacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP OF
FRIENDS OF BIRMINGHAM MUSEUMS & ART GALLERY
PLEASE WRITE IN CAPITAL LETTERS
Title . . . . . . . . . Initials . . . . . . . . . . . Surname . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.............................................................
Postcode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tel. No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Email address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY AND ANNUAL RATES (Please tick)
SINGLE £30 []
Conc. £20 []
Student £15 []
DOUBLE
(Includes children under 16) £45 []
Conc. £30 []
PATRON
Burne-Jones, Southall, Cox and Boulton categories are available
For further information contact our Membership Secretary
LIFE
(Single Payment)
SINGLE £500 []
RETIRED £350 []
DOuBLE £750 []
RETIRED £550 []
I enclose a cheque for £___________
Please send this completed form, together with your cheque made payable to
F.B.M.A.G to the address on page 2 of Artefacts.
DATA PROTECTION ACT - For membership and accounting needs your details are
held on a computerised Database for Friends' Office use ONLY
Please tick here if you are NOT a uK taxpayer
21. FBMAG Staffordshire
Hoard Appeal
Wonderful news! I am research, conservation and Myra Weldon for organising
delighted to be able to tell you display of the Hoard. tickets. The biggest 'thank
that the FBMAG Staffordshire you ' is of course due to
Hoard Appeal has achieved its I would like to thank all of you and your friends
target and raised £25, 000. everyone who helped with who attended the various
the Appeal. All those who events and also the Private
When asked to undertake organised coffee mornings, Views of the Hoard and the
the role of Appeal organiser dinner parties and luncheons, Annual Lecture, many making
I accepted with some lectures, art shows and sales, extra donations as well.
trepidation as I had serious opened their gardens or held
doubts whether it would be a treasure hunt. Special thanks The FBMAG Staffordshire
possible to raise a significant are due to the Marriott Hotel Hoard Appeal is now closed
sum due to the recession and for hosting the champagne as the target of £25,000
also, although the money reception and showing of has been raised. Again
needed to purchase the Hoard the National Geographic profound thanks to everyone
was raised quickly many film. FBMAG members in the and best wishes for 2011.
people did not realise that office gave great assistance
BMAG and the Associated especially John Nodding Jennifer A. Young
Regional Museums required and Joyce Elliot for financial FBMAG Staffordshire
a further £1.7 million for help and Mary Whetnall and Hoard Appeal
WINTER 2011 ARTEFACTS 13
22. Rita McLean's
Autumn Report
Visitor numbers continue to increase and investigated is to develop
options for new governance and
we had 720,000 visitors to the end of
delivery arrangements. Options
December 2010 – an increase of 46,000 currently being scoped include
on December 2009. The Staffordshire the most appropriate/effective
trust arrangements e.g. a single
Hoard continues to be popular with
trust for Museums/Heritage
over 205,000 visitors since its return to Services and Library/Archives; or
BMAG in March 2010. The Steve McCurry a separate trust for Museums
and separate trust for Libraries.
Retrospective was a great success with
Consideration will also be given
almost 50,000 visitors, and by the end of to the integration of BMAG
December there had been 15,000 visitors and Thinktank operations. I will
keep you informed on progress.
to the New Art Now show in Gallery 20.
As many of you may be aware, Museums” which will be seen As part of the need to be more
we have been in receipt of as part of a national network entrepreneurial and to increase
Renaissance in the Regions of museum provision. Core income generation, an admission
government funding since 2003. Museums are likely to be the charge of £3.50 for adults (16yrs
I am pleased to report that major museums services in and over) was introduced at
the funding will be continuing England’s conurbations having the Museum of the Jewellery
but, in line with many other over c400,000 visitors, a local Quarter in January 2011. Friends
national programmes, it will be population over c350,000 of BMAG will still be able to
at a reduced level. However, and with significant museum visit the MJQ free of charge.
the fact that it is continuing collections. BMAG will be
is universally seen as a “good submitting an application to be The Staffordshire Hoard - focus
result” and recognition by the a Core Museum in due course. continues to be on fundraising
Government that Renaissance for research, conservation and
has been a success story. A As with all local authorities long-term display so that the
key change, however, is that around the country in the full story of the Hoard can be
the existing regional “Hub” current economic climate, told. I understand that the
delivery partnership model will Birmingham City Council has Friends’ target of £25k has been
cease during 2011/12 and a to deliver major savings over reached. This is wonderful news
new model for the programme the next few years. In order and our sincere thanks go to
will be implemented from to provide a more sustainable Jennifer Young and to everyone
2012/13 onwards. The change future for its Cultural Services who contributed. A selection
includes the setting up of (Museums, Libraries and Arts), of items from the Hoard was
a limited number of “Core one of the proposals being recently taken to the Centre
14 ARTEFACTS WINTER 2011
23. National De La Recherche functions reliably as a world class with disabilities – please refer to
Scientifique at the Louvre so exhibition space and complies the BMAG website for details
that analysis on the garnets and with environmental specifications or ring us on 0121 464 4335.
the gold could be undertaken required by lenders. Following its
to help determine their origin. showing at BMAG, the Poetry Finally, it is with great sadness
The service was very generously of Drawing exhibition will tour that I have to inform you that
offered free of charge by to Australia from 17 June. Tessa Sidey, one of our Curators
the laboratories, a gesture of Fine Arts, died in the New
showing the Hoard’s worldwide I’m afraid that the BMAG Year following a long illness.
importance. The results of these Passenger Lift in Edmund Tessa worked at BMAG for 27
analyses will inform much of the Street is currently out of use years and was a prominent and
subsequent research and again whilst major repair works are well respected member of the
I will let you know the outcome being carried out. We do not museums service. Over the years,
which should be very interesting. anticipate it being back in Tessa brought many artworks to
action until April/May and, the Friends Committee and was
The Poetry of Drawing: Pre- therefore, at the moment very successful in persuading
Raphaelite Designs, Studies and disabled access is only via the them to support the purchase of
Watercolours exhibition runs Great Charles Street entrance. the acquisition for the collection.
until 15 May. This is the first However, for the Poetry of We will all miss her very much.
exhibition using the upgraded Drawing exhibition in the Gas Rita McLean
air conditioning plant which will Hall, we will need to make Head of Museums &
ensure that the Gas Hall now special arrangements for visitors Heritage Services
WINTER 2011 ARTEFACTS 15
24. What's On
Upcoming Events
MAIN MuSEuM & ART the original Brotherhood, their mentor John
GALLERY OPENING TIMES AND Ruskin, and the second generation of Pre-
TELEPHONE NuMBERS Raphaelites including Edward Burne-Jones,
Times: Mon - Thurs and Sat 10am - 5pm, Fri Frederick Sandys and Simeon Solomon, as
10:30 am - 5:00 pm, Sun 12:30 pm - 5:00 pm. well as later artists influenced by the Pre-
Telephone Numbers: Control Room 0121 Raphaelites such as Aubrey Beardsley. There
303 4215, Reception 0121 303 2834 will be a rare chance to see textiles, stained
glass and ceramics by designers such as William
Morris, William de Morgan and Florence Camm
Gas Hall alongside their original working drawings, and
significant watercolours and drawings never
THE POETRY OF DRAWING: PRE- seen in public before, including examples by
RAPHAELITE DESIGNS, STuDIES Rossetti, Arthur Hughes and Burne-Jones.
AND WATERCOLOuRS
Until Sunday 15 May 2011 While drawing is often seen as secondary
The Poetry of Drawing is the most to painting, this exhibition will show how
comprehensive survey of Pre-Raphaelite for the Pre-Raphaelites it was central to
works on paper ever staged, showcasing the activity of making art.
the collections of fine and applied art
held at BMAG alongside key works After its showing in Birmingham, the exhibition
from public and private collections. will tour to the Art Gallery of New South Wales
in Sydney, Australia.
The exhibition explores the role of drawing
and design in the work of the Pre-Raphaelites, This is a paying exhibition; Friends will get in
their associates and followers, from the earliest free on production of their membership card.
days of the Brotherhood to the development
of Symbolism and Art Nouveau. It includes A Book Launch, two Luncheon Clubs and
watercolours and coloured drawings alongside a Reception have been arranged in conjunction
works in pencil and pen and ink, and stained with this exhibition; see Forthcoming Friends’
glass, textiles and ceramics alongside their Events for details.
original designs. Through the portraits and
caricatures the artists made of one another and
often gave as gifts, the exhibition also provides In the Main Galleries
an insight into the Pre-Raphaelites’ relationships
with their fellow-artists, friends and lovers. GALLERY 16 -
THE STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD
The Poetry of Drawing will include works by all
the leading figures of the movement, including GALLERY 20 - ART NOW ExHIBITION
16 ARTEFACTS WINTER 2011
25. can imagine, held in storage for BMAG.
Public Gallery Events
Arranged by BMAG Free tours of the MCC take place on the
last Friday of every month at 11:00am and
SINGLES NIGHT 2:00pm. There is no charge but booking is
Friday 11 February 2011, 6:30pm - 10pm advisable on 0121 303 2836 / 675 2579
Back by popular demand, this event is the
perfect opportunity for like-minded people MCC PuBLIC OPEN DAY
to mingle in the opulent surroundings of our Monday 2 May (Bank Holiday),
galleries, enjoying a glass of wine, some live 10:30am - 5:00pm.
music and (hopefully) wonderful company... Come along to another of our popular free
Tickets cost £10.00 and include free admission open days when visitors get a chance to explore
to our Gas Hall exhibition, 'The Poetry of the stored collections at their leisure. There
Drawing'. Advance booking is required; to is always a new nostalgic treat to discover,
book a ticket, please call the box office on whether your interest is in ceramics, transport,
0121 303 1966, visit the Gas Hall reception, science and industry, domestic objects,
or book on-line at www.bmag.org.uk/events. sculpture, natural history, and much more!
Please note there is free car parking on-site.
ADuLT WORKSHOPS
A number of adult workshops are taking place If there are any Friends willing to volunteer
at BMAG in the Spring. Tickets for each on one of these most enjoyable days please
workshop are £20.00. To book a ticket, contact Phil Watson on 0121 303 4366 or
please call the box office on 0121 303 phil.watson@birmingham.gov.uk. The main
1966, visit the Gas Hall reception, or book duties are staffing the aisles, store rooms
on-line at www.bmag.org.uk/events. Please and other areas and helping out with the
contact Louise Taylor, Public Programmes visitor evaluation. Only qualities required
Officer, for more information (louise.a.taylor@ are that you be ’helpful and watchful'!
birmingham.gov.uk or 0121 675 2579)
Jewellery Making with Jolene Smith Community Museums
Saturday 29th January, 11am - 4pm
The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is open
Life Drawing, with Anne Brierley (including a 10 all year, Tues - Sat & Bank Holiday Mondays
minute introduction to The Poetry of Drawing), 10:30am - 4:00pm. Aston Hall, Soho House,
Saturday 19th February, 10:30am - 4pm Blakesley Hall and Sarehole Mill have now
closed for Winter except for some special
events, see details below or contact the venues
The Museum directly. They will re-open 9 or 10 April.
Collections Centre
The MCC is at 25 Dollman Street, Nechells, Museum of the
Birmingham, B7 4RQ; it is one of the biggest
museum stores in the country, a warehouse
Jewellery Quarter
crammed with every type of object you 75–79 Vyse Street, Hockley, Birmingham
WINTER 2011 ARTEFACTS 17
26. B18 6HA. Tel: 0121 554 3598. everyone plenty of opportunity to create their
own masterpiece (charge of £1 per head).
The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter
(open throughout the year), houses a
perfectly preserved jewellery workshop
offering a unique glimpse of working life in
Soho House
Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter. Soho Avenue, Handsworth, Birmingham,
B18 5LB. Tel: 0121 554 9122
Aston Hall EASTER HALF TERM HOLIDAYS
Tuesday 12th April – Monday 25th April 2011
Trinity Road, Aston, Birmingham, B6 6JD ‘Once upon a time’ children’s trail. Free.
Tel: 0121 675 4722 Follow the fun fairytale clues around the house.
The staff at Aston Hall are preparing for a DROP-IN FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITIES
busy season of events prior to their opening Tuesday 12 - Monday 25 April 2011, 12:30-3:30pm
on Sunday 10 April. They will offer something £1.00 per child
for everyone this year, and are sure all visitors
will enjoy the beautiful house and gardens. SAIL AWAY Tuesday 12 April 2011
Make a box sailboat. Drop-in children’s craft activity
On Wednesday 4 May they will be offering
tours of Aston's cellars, giving visitors a HOP TO IT! Friday 15 April 2011
chance to see some of the less glamorous, Make a lily pad frog. Drop-in children’s craft activity.
but very essential, parts of the Hall, and
to find out about how they were used. For MAD HATTERS Tuesday 19 April 2011
another insight into Aston's life behind it's four Make an Easter hat. Drop-in children’s craft activity.
walls, they will also be hosting one of their
popular garden tours on Tuesday 10 May. TEA CuP SuRPRISE! Friday 22 April 2011
Make a pop-up mouse puppet.
For children and families, they will be bringing Drop-in children’s craft activity.
out a new range of activity trails, so there
will be something new for even our most EASTER TRAIL
regular visitors. Children can also sign up Good Friday 22 - Easter Monday 25 April
for the second year of the History Detectives 2011, 12noon-4pm. Free. Complete our
passport scheme, collecting points every time garden Easter egg hunt and win a prize!
they visit a museum, to win prizes. Last year's
scheme was very successful, with hundreds of SPECIAL EVENT DAY
children taking part and the top 10 highest STEAM ME uP WATTY
scorers being invited to Blakesley Hall for a Bank Holiday Monday 25 April 2011, 12noon-4pm
Knight School and the chance to serve the Free event with Traction Engine in steam, Working
master of the House! The children's craft steam model engines from Birmingham Society of
activities will be restarting with Easter Basket Model Engineers, Miniature railway Birmingham
making on Wednesday 13 April. They are Society of Model Engineers (50p per ride) and a
introducing new timed slots for these, to give children’s drop-in craft activity (50p per child).
18 ARTEFACTS WINTER 2011
27. IF YOU WOULD LIkE TO
ADVERTISE IN ARTEFACTS
MAGAzINE pLEASE CONTACT
DIANE STINTON ON:
DIANE@pW-MEDIA.CO.Uk
01905 727903
m
PW MediA & PubliShiNg
GET YOUR BUSINESS NOTICED
WINTER 2011 ARTEFACTS 19
28. A NEW BONNET FOR MISS BOuLTON
A new costume commission at Soho House Blakesley Hall
has recreated one of Anne Boulton’s bonnets
Blakesley Road, Yardley, Birmingham,
based on a shopping bill from a London
B25 8RN. Tel: 0121 464 2193.
milliner in 1820 and fashionable designs of
the period. A first floor room at Soho House
WINTER TOuRS
has recently been refurbished to feature new
£3.50 per person. Refreshments available
displays on the Boulton family and their life at
at an additional charge. On the following
Soho. Anne Boulton, daughter of Matthew,
Tuesdays at 11:00am - February 1, 8, 15, 22.
had a keen interest in fashion throughout
March 8, 15 & 29. Pre-booking essential.
her life and this bespoke commission has
brought to life the fascinating detail revealed
Fully open from Saturday 9 April.
in her shopping bills including fancy bonnet
designs and luxury fabrics and trimmings.
FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITIES 12:.30-3.30pm
Tuesday 12 April, Thursday 14 April,
Tuesday 19 April, Thursday 21 April,
Tuesday 31 May 2011. £1.00 per child.
SHAKESPEARE DAY
Saturday 23 April 2011, 12-4pm
Come along and meet ‘the Bard’ and help
him work on his new play. Garden tours on
a Shakespeare theme.
TuDOR TuNES
Bank Holiday Monday 2 May 2011, 12-4pm
An afternoon of Tudor and Elizabethan music
with costumed musician Richard York.
GARDEN PARTY
Bank Holiday Monday 30 May 2011, 12-4pm
A celebration of Blakesley’s wonderful
gardens. Garden tours, country dancing,
plant sales and garden games.
The bonnet is a bespoke commission from
the Costume Project at Ironbridge Gorge
Museum Trust, who specialise in reconstructing Sarehole Mill
18th and 19th century costume. The bonnet
Cole Bank Road, Hall Green, Birmingham,
has been handmade from an ivory duchess
B13 0BD. Tel: 0121 777 6612
satin with silk lining and is trimmed with
silk ribbons and a fine french cotton lace.
WINTER TOuRS
The project has been supported by private
£3.50 per person. Refeshments available at an
donation and the Soho House Appeal Fund.
20 ARTEFACTS WINTER 2011
29. additional charge. On the following Thursdays avoiding the steep and narrow internal stairs.
at 1:00pm - February 3, 10, 17, 24. March This new arrangement means that Sarehole Mill
- 3, 10, 17, 24, 31. Pre-booking essential. is now accessible on the ground floor as well
as on the first floor. The first floor provides a
Sarehole Mill is fully open from Saturday 9 good view of the working water wheel, steam
April until the end of October, Tuesday to engine, mill stones and ancillary machinery.
Sunday from 12:00 to 4:00pm. Milling takes
place on the first Sunday of the month. Closed The platform provides entry to the mill but
on Mondays except for Bank Holidays. also offers a lovely view over the mill pond
which is surrounded by trees and is a secluded
FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITIES haven for wildlife. The pond is home to a heron
Wednesday 13 April, Wednesday and is regularly visited by kingfishers nesting
20 April 2011, 1pm-3pm along the river Cole.
£1.00 per child.
The path and platform were paid for from
RAMBLERS’ GET WALKING DAY Birmingham City Council’s Corporate
Saturday 7 May 2011, 12-4pm Access Budget.
(Walk at 1pm). Join family activities or an
organised taster walk along the river Cole.
Free step counters for new walkers. Weoley Castle
MIDDLE EARTH WEEKEND Alwold Road, Weoley Castle, Birmingham,
Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 May 2011, 11-5pm B29 5RJ. Telephone bookings via Blakesley
Entry to the mill and grounds are free. Some Hall 0121 464 2193
activities /performances may charge.
WINTER TOuRS
NEW VIEWING PLATFORM £3.50 per person. Refreshments available
AT SAREHOLE MILL at an additional charge. On the following
For the first time since Sarehole Mill opened as Fridays at 2:00pm - Feb 4 and March 4.
a museum in 1969, visitors will have access to Pre-booking essential.
the area behind the mill to view the pond that
stores the water to power the mill machinery. FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITY
Wednesday 20 April, Friday 3 June
A newly installed gently sloping path runs from 2011, 1.30 - 3.30pm. Free
the mill yard to the pond viewing platform
at the rear of the mill. Because the mill was GuIDED WALK
built against the earthen dam that holds back Sunday 8th May 2011, 2pm. Free
the water of the pond, the path starts at
ground level in the yard and slowly rises to the
viewing platform which is at the same level
as the pond and the first floor of the mill.
Visitors can therefore enter the mill at first
floor level from the viewing platform, thus
WINTER 2011 ARTEFACTS 21
30. Reviews
Autumn Events
Marble Hill Hall and the house. The “piece de resistance” is the
Long Gallery with fan vaulting in white and
Strawberry Hill gold and rich crimson damask walls 55ft long,
On the 14 December we arrived around noon 17ft high and 13ft wide. The other beautifully
at Marble Hill house in Twickenham. After restored room was the Tribune with mint
lunch at a local hostelry we had a guided green walls and gold tracery on the ceiling.
tour of Henrietta Howard's house, Henrietta
was the mistress of George II. Marble Hill Hall Perhaps another visit, please, could be
was one of the first Palladian villas to be built arranged to see the further restorations
in Britain. The villa was designed by Colen in a couple of years.
Campbell under the direction of Lord Henry Ann Crump
Herbert, the “Earl Architect”, between 1724
and 1729 and built by Roger Morris. We started
the tour in the hall, the windows looking out
Stoke-on-Trent –
over the park with views down to the Thames. The Potteries Museum
We then toured the reception rooms and & Art Gallery
bedrooms, climbing to the top of the house Tuesday 11 January. A warm welcome from
via a beautiful mahogany staircase. The Great the Committee Members of their Friends
Room, the main reception room, is a prime greeted us on arrival at Stoke-on-Trent
example of the symmetrical Palladian style Potteries Museum. Deborah Klemperer
measuring 24ft long, 24ft wide and 24ft high. Principal Collections Officer, who has been
closely involved in all matters relating to the
Then we travelled further along the Thames Hoard since its discovery, generously gave us
to Strawberry Hill House, 1743-1790, her time to explain the follow-up work now
the Gothic folly of Horace Walpole, the in progress and it was particularly interesting
third son of the Prime Minster Sir Robert to hear of the high level detailed investigation
Walpole. Horace Walpole was an avid art into the source of the garnets used.
collector and built Strawberry Hill to house
his collection of paintings, armour, china, We were fortunate to be able to spend our
cameos, snuff boxes and stained glass. The remaining time viewing the ceramics collection
stained glass was incorporated into the at Stoke, which is designated as one of national
gothic windows throughout the house. importance. After a day full of interest we
returned to Birmingham after an easy journey.
The house has recently undergone a £9
million restoration to restore Walpole's This has raised £335 towards our Appeal for
original decorations and designs. In fact the the cleaning and conservation of the
work is still being carried out so we had to Staffordshire Hoard.
avoid ladders and paint pots as we toured Myra Wheeldon
22 ARTEFACTS WINTER 2011
31. Friends'
Diary Dates
February
11 ** Guided Tour (102) – Jane Howell – Fortunes of War
22 * 80th Birthday Party Launch and Reception
March
8 * Luncheon Club – Victoria Osborne – The Poetry of Drawing (1)
10 * College of Food
11 * Luncheon Club – Victoria Osborne – The Poetry of Drawing (2)
21 * Luncheon Club – Martin Ellis – The Silver Collection (1)
22 * Luncheon Club – Martin Ellis – The Silver Collection (2)
29 * Derby – Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust, Silk Museum & Art Gallery
April
4 * The Romans in Lusitania, Speaker – David Johnson
6 - 12 # Lisbon Art & Culture Tour
15 * Guided Tour (103) – Jane Howell - From Darkness into Light
19 * Guided Tour (104) – Christine Moosavi - All The World’s a Stage
May
13 * Tabley House & Tatton Park
June
26 + Blakesley Hall – Garden Party
September
23 - 26 + Bristol Weekend Away
* Details and application forms are enclosed with this mailing
** Fully booked, sorry
d n
Ap lis d ,
in pub 11 e cts
+ Dates for your diary, no applications in this mailing
ril he itio
e 20 tefa
# Included in a previous mailing, but still some places available
r
wi prin xt A
$ Event arranged by BMAG
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