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Collection

Objects of Love, Hope and Fear: a World Collection

From talking drums to ornate weapons, this co-produced display of objects from around the world will captivate your head and heart.
Collection Highlights
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Child's rattle from Cyprus

Rattles have been used for thousands of years as toys to distract or soothe babies and young children. In Ancient Cyprus the sound from rattles was also used to ward off evil spirits. This pottery rattle is in the shape of a wild pig. Pigs were associated with Demeter, the Greek goddess of harvest and fertility, symbolising rebirth and rejuvenation. They were offered as sacrifices at rituals intended to protect children in life and death. Pig rattles have often been discovered in children’s tombs during archaeological excavations. This little wheel-made rattle was probably found in a child’s tomb, although there is no record of where. During the British occupation of Cyprus (1878-1960) many archaeological objects like this were taken from tombs and other sites by British officials and their families and brought to the UK as curios and souvenirs. Their archaeological significance is now lost.
1928-128

Ibibio Ekon Society puppet figure from Nigeria

This puppet figure dates from the time of early British colonial rule in Nigeria. It wears a British pith helmet and probably represents a colonial official, missionary or trader. Puppet figures are used in plays put on by the Ibibio men’s Ekon society. The plays are performed both to entertain and to encourage social change. They comment on society, politics and religion, often satirising particular people or attitudes and giving moral messages. This figure was donated in 1928 by Douglas Johns, a timber merchant from Duffield. We think he probably imported it to the UK with a consignment of timber from the forests of West Africa. During British colonial rule huge areas of forest were logged by European companies who shipped the timber to Europe and America. Deforestation has continued and today 90% of forests in Nigeria have been destroyed.
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Glass spearheads made by Australian Aboriginal prisoners

Made from European bottle glass by Aboriginal Australian prisoners at Derby Gaol in Western Australia in July 1911. The gaol opened in 1906 and to start with it mainly housed Aboriginal prisoners accused of cattle killing and resisting the expansion of European farms onto their land. The gaol was an open-air cage where prisoners were chained for months or years with up to 100 other inmates, although it was designed to hold only 30 prisoners. The gaol was unchanged until it closed in 1975. The label on one spear reads ‘Spearhead to be thrown at a man or big animal such as kangaroos made by Tandiko M[…] prisoner who cast the spear at Rufus, & it went through his right buttock & came our between his legs. This stopped the boy as he was running away.’
1910-435-1

Miniature Asante stool

This was given by Asantehene (King) Prempeh I of Asante to a Captain Roberts, in Sierra Leone in 1900. In 1896, during the ‘Scramble for Africa’, the British invaded the Asante Kingdom intending to make it into a British protectorate. Prempeh advocated non-violent resistance but was taken prisoner, along with other members of the royal family and several Asante chiefs. They were first held captive in Sierra Leone, then in 1900 exiled to a British prison island in the Seychelles. Captain Roberts may have been one of Prempeh’s captors, or captain of the ship, the Dwarka, that took them to the Seychelles. The British declared the Asante Kingdom the British Gold Coast colony. Prempeh and the other surviving exiles were allowed to return in 1924. Prempeh died in 1931. The Gold Coast became the independent Republic of Ghana in 1957.
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The Common Kitchen For All, by Gurbux Singh Theathi

This painting depicts the legend of Guru Amar Das’ Free Kitchen, a key story in the development of langars (free community kitchens) in Sikh gurdwaras (temples), where everyone eats together as equals. The painting was given to the museum by Derby’s Guru Arjan Dev Gurdwara in 2001. In the story, the Muslim Mughal Emperor Akbar and the Hindu Raja of Haripur visit the Sikh Guru Amar Das, at his place of Sikh learning in Goindwal Sahib in the Majha region of Punjab, India. The Guru welcomes them and suggests they eat with everyone else, seated altogether on mats on the floor regardless of their religion, caste or status, so demonstrating equality amongst all humans. Across the world volunteers still run langars in all gurdwaras, offering nourishing food to everyone who visits, regardless of their faith or background. For example, anyone can visit Derby’s gurdwaras and eat in their langars. The artist Gurbux Singh Theathi was born in Punjab in 1923 and had a successful and varied career as a designer and artist. During the 1980s he spent time in the UK creating religious paintings, like this, for gurdwaras and community centres.
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Wayang shadow puppets

Javanese 19th century wayang shadow puppet plays are based on two epic stories from India, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, combined with Buddhist and Muslim ideas and Javanese folklore. The stories often illustrate the fight between good and evil and were written by numerous authors over many centuries. Wayang shadow puppet shows are performed in the open air for special occasions such as births and weddings, accompanied by a gamelan (traditional Indonesian orchestra) and singers. Performances can last several days and the puppets are painted in bright colours as they may be used in daytime as well as for night-time shadow performances.
About the collection

Highlights of our world collections are showcased in the Objects of Love, Hope and Fear: A World Collection, with ordinary and extraordinary objects from around the world. The exhibition is built on a foundation of shared experiences that are common to people across the world and these values, emotions and actions have shaped and informed every step of the project.

The room is arranged into seven zones entitled Consume, Believe, Create, Conflict, Furnish, Adorn and Communicate. Each of the objects you’ll experience in the gallery has a history of human connection, having been crafted, used, loved, lost, stolen, collected, stored or hidden and now displayed with the greatest of respect. They connect to historic events full of pain, joy and everything in between. From talking drums and wooden pillows, to weapons and jewellery, each zone will offer both comfort and discomfort and we challenge you to not find something that captivates your head and heart.

Thousands of people worked closely with us to co-produce this stunning display of 1400 objects. We are indebted to everyone who offered their time, energy, skill, honesty and knowledge. The people on the streets of Derby, the co-production volunteers and new friends across the globe who have cleaned, photographed, researched, interpreted and displayed this important collection of objects. It is through being open with each other that we can fully connect.

We invite you to explore and admire the objects and to take time to talk with other visitors in the gallery to discover new perspectives and different points of view. One person’s object of comfort will symbolise oppression to someone else; find out what people think and why.

With thanks to our friends at V21 ARTSPACE you can explore a tour of the gallery below.

What can I see?

A set of seven suitcases, full of incredible objects to hold and explore, will pop up in the gallery. The objects they contain are not replicas; they’re the real deal! Friendly co-production volunteers will share their story of the gallery and support you in your quest to learn, experience and encounter.

Pick up our friendly telephone full of welcome messages. We’ve recorded greetings in a variety of languages that the kind people of Derby have left for visitors to the gallery. #CityofSantuary

Some of the objects you’ll see in the gallery went out onto the streets of Derby with us on a series of walks to connect with as many people as we could. Historic combs visited barber shops and shoes headed into shoe shops. Click here to check out the interactive map that documents some of those object walks and the people we met along the way.

What can I do?

Experience a compelling soundscape that drifts and swirls around the gallery. The music was co-produced by talented composer Adam McCready of Poetical Machines and contains recordings of visitors playing the historic instruments you see on display. There’s plenty of space to dance too!

This vibrant gallery has been created with people, for people. The space is yours and we hope that you’ll find time to relax, react, discuss and respond while you’re here. The bookshelves contain reading material and a set of trails designed by co-production volunteers. Leave your thoughts about the objects and themes that matter to you. Take time to talk with someone new.

What can I learn?

Learn about the objects from around the world and how they came to be in Derby Museums. Understand how these amazing objects appeal to the diverse and interesting people living in and visiting Derby. Learn about each other and how to use the space as a friendly community gallery.

During Covid pandemic some of the interactives in this gallery have been temporarily removed to keep our visitors safe.

Some of the images in our Collection Highlights were created by photographer David Edge.

Model Railway Volunteers at work 1 – photo credit Oliver Taylor

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We welcome people with a broad range of skills, experience and availability to join our friendly and diverse volunteer team.

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