Rare Ceramics Collection Returns to Public View After Decades

Strategic Insights -

A remarkable collection of Oriental ceramics, the Thornhill Collection, has been rediscovered and will be exhibited for the first time in decades thanks to a partnership between the University of Staffordshire and the city council. The collection, comprising more than 270 items, features a diverse range of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese pieces, spanning from the Shang dynasty (1700-1028BC) to the Qing dynasty (1644-1912AD). The collection will be displayed in a dedicated exhibition space at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, following the completion of the city council's planned extension, backed by £5m investment of Arts Council funding.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Thornhill Collection, comprising 270+ Oriental ceramics, has been loaned to the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery for an initial five-year period.
  • The collection features a diverse range of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese pieces, spanning from the Shang dynasty (1700-1028BC) to the Qing dynasty (1644-1912AD).
  • The collection was bequeathed to the North Staffordshire Technical College in 1944 by Ernest Thornhill and has not been displayed in public since 1988.
  • The university arranged a valuation of the collection by Sotheby's in 2013, and the collection has since been professionally stored and insured offsite.
  • The loan of the collection was announced at the opening of a new exhibition by Professor Neil Brownsword at Spode Museum, which explores the enduring legacy of the Willow Pattern.
  • The event also saw the signing of a cultural concordat between Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the City of Jingdezhen in China, aimed at promoting exchange opportunities and joint projects to celebrate their shared cultural heritage.
  • The University of Staffordshire's vice-chancellor, Professor Martin Jones, has stated that the collection represents a "rare and rich resource" for students, academic researchers, and professional practitioners.
  • Professor Neil Brownsword has emphasized the importance of acknowledging the influence of Oriental ceramics on Staffordshire potters, noting that the PMAG's existing collection of Staffordshire ceramics is world-renowned.

Statistics:

  • Over 270 items in the Thornhill Collection.
  • 1700-1028BC: Time period of the Shang dynasty.
  • 1368-1644AD: Time period of the Ming dynasty.
  • 1644-1912AD: Time period of the Qing dynasty.
  • £5m: Investment of Arts Council funding for the city council's planned extension of the museum.
  • 150 pieces: Number of items displayed from the Thornhill Collection at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in 1988.

Sources:

  • University of Staffordshire
  • Stoke-on-Trent City Council
  • Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
  • Sotheby's
  • Professor Neil Brownsword
  • Professor Martin Jones
  • Dr Tim Jenkins