Quote of the week

Life isn't about finding yourself, it is about creating yourself'

George Bernard Shaw
If you cannot mould yourself entirely as you would wish, how can you expect other people to be entirely to your liking?
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/wish.html

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Gainsborough's House wins 'Object Award'


Gainsborough's swordstick

To University College Suffolk yesterday evening to attend the awards ceremony for Suffolk Museum of the Year.

For the second year running Gainsborough’s house was shortlisted for this award, but once again I am afraid we were not successful in winning the main prize.  That went to Ickworth House, where the National Trust has clearly made a great effort in recent times to improve presentation and interpretation for visitors.

Nevertheless we were very pleased to be ‘there or thereabouts’ once again, and new Director, Mark Bills, did not come away empty handed.  The museum won the ‘ Object Award’.  This competition relies on votes from the public, who decide which particular object, nominated by all the museums in the competition, they like the best.

Our object was Thomas Gainsborough’s Swordstick, which he was probably carrying when robbed while travelling by stage into London with a group of friends (including the composer J.C. Bach)He lost cash and a pocket watch, but these were returned to him when the highwaymen were caught, and later executed.  The stick is on display with other objects belonging to the artist at Gainsborough’s House

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