Calke Abbey's treasures

Calke Abbey (see also yesterday's post) is so rammed full of treasure that it was difficult in a quick look round, which was all I had time for really, to see and appreciate what was there. These photos show just a few of the things that made me pause to look. The huge doll's house must have been beautiful at one time, and a delight to any child that played with it. 

Equally, the rocking horse, now rather sparse in mane and tail, must have given hours of pleasure to a child. 

I was much taken with this soft-eyed ceramic pig, with its shamrock decoration, perhaps hinting at an Irish connection? 

The mobile shower unit was a thing of wonder! 

One of the most precious treasures must be this state bed, carefully preserved in a 'room within a room' - a glass box that enables the temperature, humidity and light to be carefully controlled. The bed hangings are a rare example of early 18th century Chinese silk, produced for the European luxury market and possibly made for George I. They are believed to have been a wedding gift to Sir Henry Harpur and his bride Lady Caroline Manners in 1734 and for some reason they were never used, kept in a box and so protected from light damage until they were rediscovered in 1985. 

Lastly, just one example of the hundreds of display cases containing natural history specimens, in this case a pelican swallowing a fish. Weird, wonderful and rather endearing in its way!