University of Birmingham Collections
A cornucopia of extraordinary artefacts - from West African masks in the Danford Collection, to important twentieth century paintings such as Peter Lanyon’s mural in the Arts Building comprise the University of Birmingham Collections. The University owns, displays and teaches from groups of objects within seven distinct collections which variously play ceremonial, commemorative, decorative and didactic roles in university life. The University of Birmingham Collections include:
The Danford Collection of West African Art and Artefacts. This celebrates the extensive cultural traditions and expression from West Africa. Its contents range from historical utensils to contemporary fine art, and it is a rare and important group of objects. The collection is an active teaching resource in the University. It comprises approx 800 items, including carvings, metalwork, textiles, painting and domestic and votive objects.
The Ancient History and Archaeology Collection This is also an actively used teaching collection of approx. 2000 examples of Greek, Mycenean, Roman and Egyptian pottery, funerary, domestic and religious objects. Its collection of Rhodian vases is one of the most important of its kind in the UK. The rediscovered Egyptian mummy case lid was redisplayed in 2001-see entry: Egyptian Wooden Coffin Lid, from Beni Hasan, Egypt, c. 550BC
The Physics Collection of Historic Scientific Instruments in the School of Physics and Space Research illustrates the history of physics teaching, and equipment developed at the University of Birmingham for pioneering experiment and research. This collection, which includes such seminal objects as the magnetron – the foundation stone for both radar and the microwave oven - is currently being redisplayed.
The Biological Sciences Collection – (Herbarium and Zoology
Collections)
comprises zoological specimens collected for teaching purposes since the
1880s. The Herbarium, approx 150,000 specimens, collected over the past one
hundred years or more by several eminent botanists.
The Campus Collection of Fine and Decorative Art comprises commissioned portraits of distinguished University figures by artists including Sir James Gunn RA, Norman Hepple RA, Tom Wood, Humphrey Ocean, Peter Edwards and Tom Phillips RA. Other portraits include important works relating to Shakespeare, such as the portrait of Abd el-Ouahed ben Messaoud ben Mohammed Anoun, Moorish Ambassador to Queen Elizabeth I, considered to be the inspiration for Othello.
Since the 1960s the collection has developed to include works by artists including Sonia Lawson RA, Roger Fry, John Bratby RA, John Uzzell Edwards, Hughie O’Donoghue, Austin Wright, Julian Meredith, Simon Packard, David Prentice and Sir Eduardo Paolozzi RA. The university also has important murals by John Walker and Peter Lanyon and displays an outstanding range of sculpture within the University campus, including works by Barbara Hepworth and Anthony Caro.
For further information on the University Collections, visit www.collections.bham.ac.uk and to search the collections online go to www.mobius.bham.ac.uk
