Museums and Institutions

A face jug from the Ealing Martinware thefts has been returned – the second piece from the Ealing Council’s collection to be recovered in recent months.

A £2m pocket watch once owned by George III has been temporarily blocked from export to give a UK institution the chance to purchase it.

A group of hand-drawn Armada maps depicting a key moment in England’s history have been saved after a fundraising campaign by the Royal Navy museum.

An Egyptian polychrome painted limestone relief from the 12th dynasty has been bought by the State Museum of Egyptian Art in Munich, Germany.

Chawton House has bought a rare first edition of Poems by Jane Austen’s favourite poet, William Cowper, which was once owned by her brother.

Horsham Museum and Art Gallery has bought a presentation watercolour for three stained glass windows in local church St Peter’s in Cowfold from London dealers Abbott and Holder.

A record amount of paintings, antiques and historic objects were saved for the nation in lieu of tax in 2020, with £65m of objects accepted.

Movers & Shakers including news of the launch of Minster Auctions and a new home for The Pedestal.

More metal detective finds will have a chance to be saved for the nation under new rules set to come in next year.

A group of Martinware pottery items stolen across two break-ins back in 2005 and 2007 from buildings owned by Ealing Council are still missing but there are hopes some can be recovered.

Cambridge University Library has launched a public appeal for help to locate two missing notebooks from its archive – including one with Charles Darwin’s famous 1837 ‘Tree of Life’ sketch.

The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum (Royal Warwickshire) has bought a First World War ‘dead man’s penny’ memorial plaque.