ASCOUGHFEE HALL & GARDENS
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Ayscoughfee Hall Museum, Churchgate, Spalding, Lincolnshire PE11 2RA
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An 18th century silver dish linked to Spalding’s famous Johnson family is coming home to Ayscoughfee Hall Museum.
The silver Tazza, dated 1712, was made by French-born goldsmith Pierre Platel and accompanies a cup made by the same silversmith which was purchased by the historic venue in 2008.
The Tazza has been secured with help from the Art Fund, the Arts Council England/Victoria and Albert Museum Purchase Grant Fund and the Museums Association Beecroft Bequest as well as South Holland Councillors who contributed from their designated ward budgets.
The Tazza goes on display at Ayscoughfee on Friday. It was previously displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York before being put up for sale.
It is silver gilt, circular and sits on a pedestal foot. It bears the hallmark for 1712, and was presumably made for the same individual who commissioned the companion cup (now known as 'The Johnson Cup') that resides in the permanent collection at the museum.
Cllr Gary Taylor, portfolio holder for Arts Development, said:
“This is fantastic news for the museum.
“Ayscoughfee Hall is clearly the most appropriate place for this Tazza and we are delighted to have acquired something with such close links to the district and the Johnson family.
"The museum's staff are to be commended for their work on this project. I would also like to say a big thank you to The Art Fund and the Purchase Grant Fund for working with us and allowing us to bring the cup home."
Julia Brettell, National Programmes Manager at the V&A said:
“This is the first time the Purchase Grant Fund has supported Ayscoughfee Hall Museum and we are pleased to be able to help the Museum bring back the Tazza to Spalding.”
Stephen Deuchar, Director of the Art Fund, said:
“Back in 2008 the Art Fund helped Ayscoughfee Hall Museum buy the Johnson Cup, and now seven years later we’re supporting its reunion with a companion piece, this striking silver Tazza. Congratulations to the museum on making this important addition to their collection.”
It is possible that the cup was a wedding gift to Theophilus Fairfax Johnson, who was born in Ayscoughfee Hall and married Millicent Anne Moore in 1821.
Theophilus Johnson grew up at Ayscoughfee Hall before later moving to nearby Holland House.
He held the post of High Sheriff in 1847 and captain in the South Holland Yeomanry Cavalry.
The group was established as an antiquarian learned society, and is still in existence today, maintaining an Accredited museum and lecture series.
Historic manuscript goes on display
An historic manuscript charting the details of Lincolnshire families over hundreds of years has gone on display at Ayscoughfee Hall Museum.
The museum is currently displaying a range of items belonging to the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society, focussed on the recently acquired manuscript.
The piece is an 18th century manuscript titled ‘Armes and Memoires of ffamilies in Lincolnshire’ compiled by Maurice Johnson of Ayscoughfee Hall.
The striking green and gold document depicts the genealogies of a number of renowned Lincolnshire families.
It is believed to date from the 1710s or 1720s and features beautifully written and illustrated entries for various local families, presumably known to Maurice Johnson.
Over 200 families are listed, some of whose histories are traced back to the eleventh century.
The exhibition also features an index of names which visitors are able to search, and also to order facsimile copies of pages from the Society, which they hope will help genealogical researchers visiting Spalding.
Cllr Gary Taylor, SHDC portfolio holder for Arts Development, said: “Anyone who has a passion for local history will be fascinated by this exhibition which has already attracted much interest.”
A spokesperson for Spalding Gentlemen’s Society said: “The Council of the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society would like to extend a special thanks to the Friends of the National Libraries, whose generous support enabled the Society to purchase ‘Armes and Memoires of Ffamilies in Lincolnshire in 2014’.
The objects displayed show the broad range of collections held by the Society, which are accessible by appointment and at the Society’s open Sundays, held on the third Sunday of the winter months.
The exhibition is open until the end of March. Admission is free.
For more information and opening times at Ayscoughfee Hall museum visit www.sholland.gov.uk.
Ken McErlain | Communications Officer | South Holland District Council
Direct Dial:
www.sholland.gov.uk
Tel: Email:
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Opening Times - Museum
Weds to Sunday, 10.30am to 4pm Bank Holidays, 10.30am to 4pm |
Opening Times - Café
April to September, every day from 10am to 5pm. October to March, every day from 10am to 3.30pm. |
Opening Times - Gardens
Monday to Saturday, from 8am until dusk. Sunday, from 10am until dusk. Closing hours change throughout the year. |
Silver Tazza comes home
An 18th century silver dish linked to Spalding’s famous Johnson family is coming home to Ayscoughfee Hall Museum.
The silver Tazza, dated 1712, was made by French-born goldsmith Pierre Platel and accompanies a cup made by the same silversmith which was purchased by the historic venue in 2008.
The Tazza has been secured with help from the Art Fund, the Arts Council England/Victoria and Albert Museum Purchase Grant Fund and the Museums Association Beecroft Bequest as well as South Holland Councillors who contributed from their designated ward budgets.
The Tazza goes on display at Ayscoughfee on Friday. It was previously displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York before being put up for sale.
It is silver gilt, circular and sits on a pedestal foot. It bears the hallmark for 1712, and was presumably made for the same individual who commissioned the companion cup (now known as 'The Johnson Cup') that resides in the permanent collection at the museum.
Cllr Gary Taylor, portfolio holder for Arts Development, said:
“This is fantastic news for the museum.
“Ayscoughfee Hall is clearly the most appropriate place for this Tazza and we are delighted to have acquired something with such close links to the district and the Johnson family.
"The museum's staff are to be commended for their work on this project. I would also like to say a big thank you to The Art Fund and the Purchase Grant Fund for working with us and allowing us to bring the cup home."
Julia Brettell, National Programmes Manager at the V&A said:
“This is the first time the Purchase Grant Fund has supported Ayscoughfee Hall Museum and we are pleased to be able to help the Museum bring back the Tazza to Spalding.”
Stephen Deuchar, Director of the Art Fund, said:
“Back in 2008 the Art Fund helped Ayscoughfee Hall Museum buy the Johnson Cup, and now seven years later we’re supporting its reunion with a companion piece, this striking silver Tazza. Congratulations to the museum on making this important addition to their collection.”
It is possible that the cup was a wedding gift to Theophilus Fairfax Johnson, who was born in Ayscoughfee Hall and married Millicent Anne Moore in 1821.
Theophilus Johnson grew up at Ayscoughfee Hall before later moving to nearby Holland House.
He held the post of High Sheriff in 1847 and captain in the South Holland Yeomanry Cavalry.
The group was established as an antiquarian learned society, and is still in existence today, maintaining an Accredited museum and lecture series.
Historic manuscript goes on display
An historic manuscript charting the details of Lincolnshire families over hundreds of years has gone on display at Ayscoughfee Hall Museum.
The museum is currently displaying a range of items belonging to the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society, focussed on the recently acquired manuscript.
The piece is an 18th century manuscript titled ‘Armes and Memoires of ffamilies in Lincolnshire’ compiled by Maurice Johnson of Ayscoughfee Hall.
The striking green and gold document depicts the genealogies of a number of renowned Lincolnshire families.
It is believed to date from the 1710s or 1720s and features beautifully written and illustrated entries for various local families, presumably known to Maurice Johnson.
Over 200 families are listed, some of whose histories are traced back to the eleventh century.
The exhibition also features an index of names which visitors are able to search, and also to order facsimile copies of pages from the Society, which they hope will help genealogical researchers visiting Spalding.
Cllr Gary Taylor, SHDC portfolio holder for Arts Development, said: “Anyone who has a passion for local history will be fascinated by this exhibition which has already attracted much interest.”
A spokesperson for Spalding Gentlemen’s Society said: “The Council of the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society would like to extend a special thanks to the Friends of the National Libraries, whose generous support enabled the Society to purchase ‘Armes and Memoires of Ffamilies in Lincolnshire in 2014’.
The objects displayed show the broad range of collections held by the Society, which are accessible by appointment and at the Society’s open Sundays, held on the third Sunday of the winter months.
The exhibition is open until the end of March. Admission is free.
For more information and opening times at Ayscoughfee Hall museum visit www.sholland.gov.uk.
Ken McErlain | Communications Officer | South Holland District Council
Direct Dial:
www.sholland.gov.uk