The Gallery

It is perhaps fitting that a full length portrait of Duchess May should hang in the display gallery which contains so many of the charming objets de vertu collected by her after her marriage to the 8th Duke in 1903 up until her death in 1936. The collection of some 50 Bilston enamel tabatieres or snuff-boxes in the form of animals, birds, figures and fruit was acquired during the 1920's and it is believed that most of these were made in the decade after 1765. Leopards seem to have been a particularly popular design and one of the more gruesome is that of a leopard devouring an African warrior. Other items in the collection include make-up and cigarette cases, some from the workshops of Carl Faberge and a French mounted jade and enamel cigarette case by Cartier. Also made by Cartier is a French table clock and barometer and by Faberge a Russian silver-gilt and enamel desk-clock, two Russian oblong gold enamelled vanity cases and a Russian-silver-gilt and enamel bell-push. The oval gold and enamel snuffbox with a cover formed as a scallop shell is Louis XV and was made by Jean Gaillard, Paris in 1745.

In the cabinets beside the 18th century chronometer by Johnson of the Strand are displayed a fine late 18th century Berlin pierced dessert service painted with peacocks; a Meissen dinner service moulded with Dulong pattern; a Coalport dessert service printed with bouquets of flowers; a Meissen blue-chequered and gold mounted box and the Floors Castle goblet by Lawrence Whistler engraved with the arms of Innes Ker.

In the cabinets facing Duchess May's portrait are included a rare 18th century famine rose cider jug; a fine Tournai porcelain dessert service painted with birds, fruit and flowers; and a Meissen blue-ground travelling téte-å-téte painted with named views of Dresden after Belotto (the nephew of Canaletto). This service provides a valuable and authentic record of Dresden before the last war. The corner cabinet above the ram's head snuff-mull contains some fine examples of silver-gilt including a set of 16 wine labels and four honey jars by Paul Storr given to the 6th Duke by Queen Victoria in 1878 and a French vase-shaped tea and coffee service by Bointaburet, Paris.

To the left of the door leading to the display dining-room is a fragment from a 15th century orphrey (ecclesiastical vestment) of the Madonna and Child.