Ashmolean Museum In Oxford Receives Major Gift Of Renaissance Art


Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum has received a major bequest in the form of nearly 500 works of Renaissance gold and silver from the collection of Michael Wellby (1928–2012), the museum has announced.

Wellby was a well-known antiques dealer specializing in German and Flemish silver of the 16th and 17th centuries. He ran a shop in London for many years. As is typical with antiques dealers, he kept some of the best pieces for his personal collection.

Some of the pieces were made for royalty, like a silver gilt ewer made in Portugal c.1510-15 that bears the Royal Arms of Portugal. Another stunning item is a lapis lazuli bowl with gold mounts made in Prague in c. 1608 by the Dutch goldsmith Paulus van Vianen. Many of the pieces incorporate exotic materials such as ostrich eggs and nautilus shell, items that were just becoming available to the wealthy of Europe through the new global trade routes.

The collection will go on display in a temporary gallery this month and will remain there until a new permanent gallery is opened to house the collection. The Ashmolean already has an impressive collection of Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Early Modern art, including a large display of English silver.

The Ashmolean, like the equally famous Pitt-Rivers, are both free museums, making Oxford a good budget travel destination.

[Photo copyright The Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford]

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Cutlery on the Go

UncommonGoods.com has a lot of interesting travel gear for sale, including this Cutlery on the Go silverware set.

“Handy for travel, camping, and ‘on the go’ activities, the nomad is a fork, a knife, a spoon and a bottle opener in one – that folds neatly into a plastic compact cover when not in use.” The cover is attached to a 34″ nylon strap so you can wear it around your neck for easy access. Then you can punch some holes in ketchup packets and wear them as earings, duct tape some hot dogs to your chest, and fashion a shirt out of napkins.

You’ll be set for lunch. [via]

Wrenchware: Flatware For your Inner MacGyver

If you’re the kind of traveler who always seems to be fixing things on the road, then Wrenchware might be for you. Made from 18/10 polished drop forged stainless steel, the novel flatware comes in its own individual blow-molded heavy duty ABS plastic box. Available in sizes “standard” ($24) or “mini” ($19), Wrenchware is perfect for the traveler who does lots of biking or world-saving.

I’m planning on getting a set for myself as soon as they include a serviette that doubles as a grappling hook.