Posts by date: May 2011

Marie Antoinette’s Blue Diamond?

In the late seventeenth century, Jean Baptiste Tavernier, the French merchant and traveller, acquired a large blue roughly triangular shaped diamond, which originated in the Kollur Mine in Golconda, India.  It was sold to Louis XIV of France, and recut,… Read more

The Late Shows – Northern Print

Saturday 14th May 2011 –  The Late Shows: Northern Print This year was the 5th anniversary of The Late Shows and I was lucky enough to be able to volunteer in both the run up to and the event itself.… Read more

Hoards of Treasure

Tuesday 26th April –  Monkwearmouth Station Museum Back in April, during the baking hot easter holidays I volunteered at the Hoards of Treasure drop in activity day at Monkwearmouth Museum. This activity was inspired by the coins found in the… Read more

Hello, Dolly!

We recently had a visit from Olivia Bristol, ex-head of the Doll, Teddy Bear and Toy department at auctioneers Christie’s. We spent an action-packed afternoon working through Discovery Museum’s doll collection with Olivia, and she kindly helped us to identify… Read more

Bob Renaut Blog No. 2 – Guest blog by South Shields Museum & Art Gallery Volunteers Jean and Wendy

Bob was born on 8 April 1944, unfortunately only seven months after his father was killed on active duty as a Pilot Warrant Officer in the RAF. He attended South Shields Boy’s Grammar School, where he received school colours for… Read more