Sir John Soane’s Museum House

Continuing my theme of sites in London worth a visit by collectors, the one that should absolutely not be missed is Sir John Soane’s Museum House, found just across the street from Lincoln’s Inn Fields (which is itself a lovely little spot for a morning coffee if you arrive before opening time – a good idea as the crowds can build quickly!)

And boy do you notice even small crowds, as Sir John’s house is filled from floor to ceiling with treasurers of all kinds, accumulated during his lifetime as an architect, collector, and antiquarian.  What makes Sir John Soane’s Museum unique is its incredible state of preservation from it’s time as his residence.  In fact, he stipulated that it must be kept true to its condition during the time in which he lived there when he decided to leave his collection available to “amateurs and students” upon his death.

From over 7,000 books to Greek, Egyptian, and other classical antiquities, furniture and stained glass to Hogarth political paintings, this house truly is a gem.  So great is his collection that Soane personally designed hinged walls in his picture room, which can open to reveal another wall behind them – doubling the wall space for his collection!  Warders will speak to visitors of how he spent hours arranging and re-arranging his magnificent acquisitions.  While some may think such behaviour a bit irregular, and his acquisitive habits a bit excessive, we collectors will feel right at home.  This is the home of a man who not only truly studied, learned from, and loved his collection, but one who ultimately wanted to share that very enthusiasm with the world.  I for one am glad he did.

Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace

I’ve landed in London with great anticipation for the 2010 Philatelic Exhibition that will open just two days from now.   In the meantime, I thought it best to take a few days before the show to enjoy the other sights the city has to offer collectors.  I would venture that the fascination most of us have with philately stems from a more general interest in history, and so I thought I would share a few impressions on a worthwhile stop for any collectors visiting London – the Victoria & Albert: Art & Love exhibit at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace.

Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort are familiar figures to all philatelists, but their own collecting interests are not as well known.  Though they did not share the later King George V’s fascination with stamp collecting, they were both enthusiastic collectors and connoisseurs of paintings and decorative arts, often commissioning works for each other as birthday presents or as gifts for other special occasions.

I won’t delve into the particulars of the exhibit – anyone interested can view the Gallery site here – http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/microsites/vanda/index.asp but do just the same want to recommend it to any visitors to London.  Unfortunately photos weren’t allowed, so I have none to share.

I think many will be surprised, like I was, by the extent to which  both Victoria and Albert – though particularly Albert – were involved in a very significant fashion both in the creation of their collection and in the creation of particular works.  Albert’s personal influence and ideas are reflected in projects ranging from an elaborate centerpiece to the design of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.  While Victoria’s reign is not often viewed in this context, both her and the Prince Consort’s contributions to Britain’s cultural legacy as both collectors and patrons cannot be ignored.

The exhibit continues until October 31, 2010 – if you can, have a look!