New collectors’ items on display at Saffron Walden Museum

Uttlesford Collectors at Saffron Walden Walden Museum (Image: Archant)

Uttlesford, a Community of Collectors, has gone behind closed doors to find out what people collect at home.

The first show included dried animal skulls, whimsical models of cats, ancient tokens used as coins, model military aircraft, military medals and commemorative china from the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.

The new collections are equally unusual.

Leah Mellors, the museum’s collections officer, said: “The most interesting parts of the exhibition are the personal stories behind the collections.”

Uttlesford Collectors at Saffron Walden Walden Museum (Image: Archant)

The exhibition runs until February 7. The project which began in August, is funded by a grant from Essex County Council Arts Development Fund. Angela Dyer

Angela has been collecting dolls and teddy bears from around the world since she was eight. Her display in the exhibition features dolls in regional costume from around Europe. Angela started collecting these dolls because she was fascinated by the subtle differences in the costumes that she saw on family holidays. Many of the dolls also reflect her love of dancing. Angela buys at least one doll in costume from every place she visits.

Christopher Dyer

Christopher’s collection is walking sticks and canes, which he began collecting in 1962. He bought his first walking stick in an antique shop, as a bit of a fashion statement and since then, his collection has grown to almost 300 sticks and canes.

Uttlesford Collectors at Saffron Walden Walden Museum (Image: Archant)

Christopher loved the individual story and tradition behind walking sticks and canes.

Sadly, Christopher died earlier this month but his family wanted to continue to display his walking sticks in the exhibition in his memory.

Ann Holloway

Ann has been collecting pestles and mortars for 36 years. She first used one in a Tudor re-enactment session at Kentwell Hall in Suffolk and she loved using one so much that she began to collect them. Ann says she feels a connection to all the women before her who have used them. She buys them in bric-a-brac and charity shops and her friends often buy them for her too.

Uttlesford Collectors at Saffron Walden Walden Museum (Image: Archant)

Jackie Damary-Homan

Jackie collects textiles and needlework, stitched by members of her family and by craftswomen around the world. Jackie’s love of textiles began in the 1960s, when she used to spend hours embroidering on an evening because her family didn’t have a television. Jackie buys handcrafted textiles from around the world, as a way of creating links with women in other countries.

June Baker

June has a collection of more than 600 pomanders, perfumed containers used to fragrance or decorate rooms. The collection was started 40 years-ago with a birthday present and since then she has bought pomanders from all over the world. Her aim is to find as many different shaped pomanders as possible. They were in use in the 13th century.

Uttlesford Collectors at Saffron Walden Walden Museum (Image: Archant)

Vic Mortlock

Vic, a farmer, has a collection of about 2,000 model pigs. As a young boy, he looked after pigs on his father’s smallholding and later he had his own herd of pedigree Tamworths. Vic and his wife started collecting pigs in 1970 after being given a pig from Canada and Vic has continued to collect in his wife’s memory.