Society of Antiquaries of London

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Society of Antiquaries of London

Society of Antiquaries of London We support conservation & scholarship related to material culture.
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The Society of Antiquaries of London focuses on the 'encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'. It supports an elected Fellowship of 3,000 academics, professionals, researchers, scholars and others working with material culture. It also supports conservation and grant programmes, a Public Lecture Series, an aca

demic lecture series for Fellows, and a conference and seminar programme. It manages an important research library and a museum at Burlington House as well as a historic property, Kelmscott Manor in Oxfordshire, that was the former Cotswold retreat for William Morris and his family.

18/02/2025

This pen and ink on vellum is a copy from a page from The Garland of Howth, St Matthew’s Gospel, by the illustrator, antiquarian and writer, Margaret Stokes. 'Christi autem generatio' is written beneath the drawing, which means 'the birth of Christ'.

The original Garland of Howth, also called Codex Usserianus Secundus, is held at Trinity College, Dublin.

14/02/2025

Are you feeling the love this Valentine's day? No matter who you're spending time with, partner, friends, family or solo date, we hope you have a fun day.

This cute watercolour comes from a sketchbook of George Henry Nevinson, made around the mid 1850s.

13/02/2025

These are wedding knives, from a segment in Archæologia Vol. XII titled 'Observations on Certain Ornaments of Female Dress'. The drawing shows a richly presented velvet sheath with gold braid, containing two knives with velvet-bound handles inscribed with the date 1610, one of which is shown separately.

12/02/2025

This beautiful engraving , 'Allegory of the Power of Love' by Cristofano Robetta from around 1500-1526, hangs at Kelmscott Manor.

In it, a group of sc****ly clad Bacchanalian figures are in a wooded glade. In the centre of the composition is a man whose left arm is being bound to a tree by Cupid. With his other arm he embraces the female figure to his right. To his left an embracing couple, the man looking down at a skull upon which a putto rests his foot. To his right a third male figure with another putto.

11/02/2025

Happy 800th birthday, Magna Carta! Our 1225 Magna Carta is a third reissue of the document, with the Charter of the Forest.

The Magna Carta is a document that established the rule of law and limited the power of the king in England. This was a revolutionary idea, and when King John signed the document, it confirmed that no one, not even the king, could be more powerful than the law. It's an idea that has impacted the world.

10/02/2025

This 18th-century votive offering in the shape of a human heart is one of a series of 11, representing various parts of the human body.

It was made using the technique of repoussé - a method of decorating metals where parts of the design are raised in relief from the back or the inside of the article, by means of hammers and punches.

09/02/2025

This etching of some 17th/18th-century wooden bellows have a lovely decorated centre carved with a geometric pattern. Around the outside is the inscription:

WHERE MAN AND WIFE IN LOVE DO DWELL
[J]OY AND PEACE DOTH THERE EXCELL

We wonder if the inscription was personalised for a specific couple or a general saying.

07/02/2025

The Portland Vase is a Roman cameo glass vase, dated between AD 1 and AD 25, and is the best known piece of Roman cameo glass.

The earliest provenance for it is the Palazzo Barberini in Rome, 1642, but it was sold in 1780 to James Byers who had a mould made of it, from whence sixty plaster copies were made. The original was later sold to Sir William Hamilton, who in turn sold it to the Dowager Duchess of Portland. Her grandson loaned it to the British Museum, who purchased it in 1945. The vase was badly smashed by a visitor in 1845, and reconstructed.

Modern interpretations of the scenes on the vase suggest the marriage of Peleus and Thetis, hence the vase was designed as a wedding gift.

Our lithographs of the Vase, of which one is shown here, were made in 1845 by Thomas Windus.

03/02/2025

This beautifully made enamel on copper object in our collection is the St Thomas Becket Casket from around 1195-1200 CE.

The illustrations on each panel of the casket narrate the story of St Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. Somewhat a figure of controversy, he had been in an ongoing conflict with Henry II after changing his allegiance from the Crown to the Pope and the Church.

Allegedly, four knights overheard the King’s shouts of frustration about the Archbishop and took them as orders to murder him in Canterbury Cathedral. This dramatic martyrdom was supposedly followed by a series of miracles and Becket was canonised within three years of his death.

The front plate depicts the murder of Saint Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury by four assailants. On the slope of the roof the Saint's burial is depicted. The two pentagonal end-plates each bear a figure of an Apostle.

The casket was purchased in Naples by the then-British Ambassador Sir William Hamilton FSA, who presented it to the Society in 1801.

31/01/2025

This stunning interior view of the crater of Mount Vesuvius, done in 1756, is from a printed book by Sir William Hamilton FSA, with watercolours by Peter Fabris.

Over the course of three Society meetings from January 1775, the diplomat, archaeologist, volcanologist and antiquarian Sir William Hamilton FSA communicated an account of recent discoveries at Pompeii. His papers were illustrated with a series of gouache paintings by Pietro Fabris, a painter of English and Italian descent. Fabris had accompanied Hamilton on his travels to volcanic sites at Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius and Lipari.

29/01/2025

It's the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake, so we've dug out some scaly friends from our collections. Shown here are....

Two details from an Egyptian mummy case, found in Thebes in 1835. In the first detail, snakes appear as part of a crown, and in the second, two snakes with an ankh dangled around them and below are four snakes, two of which seem to be coming out of the sun.

A rubbing of the side of a Roman altar found at Tynemouth Castle by Major Durnford in 1783. It is dedicated to Jupiter and carved with a patera with a snake on each side.

A drawing of a Roman statue of Apollo, at Wilton House, with a few of his symbols and a snake.

A Bohemian astronomical clock of gilt brass, fabricated at Prague by Jacob Zech in 1525. Around the body of the clock, three sets of arms engraved in circles are shown, one of which is Poland's - a snake devouring a person.

27/01/2025

This object is one of the more violent remnants of history that the Society owns.

The spur was claimed to be found on the site of the Battle of Towton in Yorkshire. This battle took place on Palm Sunday 1461 in what is said to be the bloodiest clash of the Wars of the Roses. The dating of this spur as from the first half of the fifteenth century makes it a likely contender to having been worn, and lost, during such a battle.

Interestingly, the object features an inscription of the French phrase ‘en loial amour tout mon coer’ which translates as a surprisingly romantic statement, ‘you have all my heart with love.’ It could be argued that in this context is a pledge of loyalty rather than emotional sentiment.

It was exhibited at the Society in 1792 by the Revd John Brand FSA, the Society’s resident Secretary.

24/01/2025

This drawing comes from the collection of the Marquès del Carpio in Rome, which consists of images of statues, busts, bas reliefs, vases, fountains, etc. They were formed in Rome by Gaspar de Haro y Guzmán, Marqués del Carpio, while ambassador of Charles II of Spain to Pope Innocent XI, 1676-82.

This image shows a large figure derived from the description in Vitruvius, and others, of the proposal to carve the end of Mount Athos as a colossal figure of Alexander the Great. Alternatively, the figure is interpreted by G. Fusconi as an allegory of Rome.

Above the figure are the arms of the Marqués del Carpio, and below in a cartouche the title, 'DISEGNI D'Idoli, Statue, Filosofi, Busti, Vrne piccole, Bassi Rilieui, Medaglie, Inscrittioni, Vasi di Marmi e Porfidi, Fontane di Marmi, Alabastri e Metalli Antichi e moderni; Quali compre In ROMA.. DON GASPARO D'HARO EGUZMAN, Marchese Del Carpio e Helicce..'.

22/01/2025

It's and we don't want to brag, but we think we've got some pretty impressive shelves.

20/01/2025

Today's which is said to be the most depressing day of the year (according to a travel company...) so to jazz things up, we recommend following this chap's example and taking a walk in nature to spot some wildlife to get the dopamine going!

This caricature was published in 1803 by Piercy Roberts, who was a caricaturist, printmaker and publisher.

18/01/2025

The Avebury henge complex is one of the most impressive in Britain.

Stukeley first visited the site in 1719, his interest aroused by reading John Aubrey’s suggestion that the Ancient Britons were responsible for building the stone circles. Stukeley was also concerned about the site’s destruction by local landowners, who saw the stones as merely a source of building material.

He used a theodolite, a measuring instrument fitted with a telescope that is used to determine the level of the land, and the latest survey techniques to draw an exact geometrical representation of the layout and orientation of the monuments. This allowed him to calculate the original number of stones.

Combining his results with previous research, he was able to show where standing stones had been removed in previous decades, as well as providing dates of those losses.

16/01/2025

One of the highlights of a visit to Kelmscott Manor is seeing Dante Gabriel Rossetti's 'The Blue Silk Dress'.

In this portrait, Jane Morris sits at a table with her hands folded beneath her chin, a pink carnation is at her waist. On the table are a vase of white flowers and an open book, with a second pink carnation on the open page. A Latin couplet runs across the top of the painting which translates as 'Famed by her poet husband and of surpassing fame for her beauty, now let her win lasting fame by my painting.'

Kelmscott's currently closed for the season, but don't worry, you can visit them again from April!

14/01/2025

Do you recognise this coastline? This lovely watercolour shows the cliffs at Whitby and was painted in July 1882. It's part of a collection of three sketchbooks containing landscapes, architectural and miscellaneous drawings by George Henry Nevinson.

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Videos

It's that time of the year - Halloween, Samhain/Sauin, Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Eve, or however you like to commonly refer to it as. Here's a spooky phantasmagoria video artist Frank Waterton made for us, using ghoulish and mysterious imagery found in our library collections!

Shown here are scribblings and marginal drawings of instruments, plants, animals and human figures from ‘Medical and Surgical Collections of John Arderne’, produced circa 1400. John Arderne was a well-regarded surgeon, who was known for his medical texts and procedures he championed. This volume Includes much relating to the treatment of fistulas (for which his pioneering treatment of was one of his achievements) and a wide variety of recipes, for example a cure for rabies. What do you think, would you want John Arderne to be your local GP? #antiquary #books #bookstagram #medieval #marginalia #medicine #doctor #archive

What's the story behind the 18th-century engravings that will be on display in our exhibition, The Reign? Find out in this video, featuring @matthewjohnhaley Managing Director of Knightsbridge and Auctioneer @Bonhams1793 and expert on @bbcantiquesroadshow . Don't forget, you can also bid to own these engravings in an online auction, open now, and there will be further engravings available to be bid on during the live auction on 4 July. And visit us from 28 June to see these works, and more, on display. All relevant links and info can be found in our bio. @urs.linley.art @londonartweek_ #reign #history #engraving #tudors #antiquary #auction #exhibition #history

What's the story behind the 18th-century engravings that will be on display in our exhibition, The Reign? Find out in this video, featuring Matthew Haley, Managing Director of Bonhams Knightsbridge. Don't forget, you can also bid to own these engravings in the online auction, open now! https://the-reign.uk/ There will be further engravings available to be bid on during the live auction, on 4 July. Tickets available here: https://www.sal.org.uk/event/reign-gala/ And visit us from 28 June to see these works, and more, on display: https://www.sal.org.uk/event/reign/

Are you into astrology? What’s your star sign? This drawing shows a clock face with engraved roundels with the signs of the zodiac. It is perhaps sixteenth century in date. Proceedings from the Society in 1855 state that a 'Mr Morgan exhibited a cylindrical or drum-shaped Table Clock, of silver gilt, resembling the Bohemian clock in the Society's Collection in form and construction, and probably of the same date...There are also on the face revolving discs and indices shewing [sic] the course of the sun and moon through the Zodiac, and the phases of the moon. A mark at the bottom shews [sic] it to have been made at Nuremberg.' #antiquary #zodiac #astrology #starsigns #clocks

Get ready for The Reign! Join us from 28 June - 5 July for an exhibition of contemporary artworks created by Adam Dant and Dan Llywelyn Hall, inspired by items from the Society’s historic collection, as well as a selection of our 18th-century engravings. Additionally, don't miss a whole host of associated events to go with the exhibition: Monday 3 June, 6pm: Q&A with artists, chaired by Cerys Matthews MBE. https://www.sal.org.uk/event/reign-qa/ Friday 28 June, 12pm – 3.30pm: Exhibition open to the public. Friday 28 June, 5pm – 8pm: Late event at the Society of Antiquaries with artists. https://www.sal.org.uk/event/reign-late/ Monday 1 July – Friday 5 July, 10am – 4pm: Exhibition open to the public. Thursday 4 July, 6pm – 8pm: Auction of artworks with guest host auctioneer Matthew Haley. https://www.sal.org.uk/event/reign-gala/ All information about the exhibition can be found here: https://www.sal.org.uk/event/reign/

Veteran jewellery specialist on @bbcantiquesroadshow, antiquary, writer and Fellow @geoffreymunn gives us a quick insight into one of his favourites works in our collection, the portrait of Mary I by Hans Eworth. You could see this portrait too if you join us as an Affiliate member. For as little of £5 per month (or £2.50 for students), you can have access to our world-renowned library of over 130,000 books and manuscripts! Find out more through the link in our bio. #antiques #antiquary #tudors #library #london #bookstagram #books

Veteran jewellery specialist on the BBC Antiques Roadshow, antiquary and writer Geoffrey Munn FSA gives us a quick insight into one of his favourites works in our collection, the portrait of Mary I by Hans Eworth. You could see this portrait too if you join us as an Affiliate member. For as little of £5 per month (or £2.50 for students), you can have access to our world-renowned library of over 130,000 books and manuscripts! Find out more at https://bit.ly/3PHUocK

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Our Story

The Society of Antiquaries of London focuses on the 'encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'.

It supports an elected Fellowship of 3,000 academics, professionals, researchers, scholars and others working with material culture, and also supports conservation and grant programmes, a Public Lecture Series, an academic lecture series for Fellows, and a conference and seminar programme.

It manages an important research library and a museum at Burlington House as well as a historic property, Kelsmcott Manor in Oxfordshire, that was the former Cotswold retreat for William Morris and his family.

Visit our website for more information: https://www.sal.org.uk/