About
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery houses Designated Collections and displays fine and decorative arts, costume, local history, archaeology and natural history collections as well as the world's greatest collection of Staffordshire ceramics. It is also home to the fascinating Staffordshire Hoard and the outstanding Spitfire Gallery. Relax at the museum cafe or browse the Foyer Shop for unique quality gifts. Follow children's trails and enjoy drop-in activities and special events. There are also changing exhibitions throughout the year.
Galleries and exhibitions include:
Staffordshire Hoard: Treasure of Mercia
In 2009, a metal detectorist uncovered the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver ever found. Most of the items are decorative parts of swords and other high-status warrior equipment. These precious objects were made in different Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, but buried together in the Kingdom of Mercia between 650 and 675 AD.
Mercia was a powerful but mysterious kingdom – rising from obscurity to dominate the Anglo-Saxon world. More than 10 years of research has revealed the story of the Staffordshire Hoard – and the people of Mercia. It is a story of daily life and death, faith and belief, and a cycle of war and conflict with neighbouring kingdoms.
Spitfire Gallery
Spitfire RW388 was donated to the City of Stoke-on-Trent in 1972. It honours Reginald J. Mitchell, the designer of the Spitfire, who was raised in North Staffordshire before becoming one of the greatest aeronautical engineers of his generation. The iconic plane has undergone a three-year project to restore it to its former glory and it now takes pride of place in the 3800 sq ft, glass-fronted gallery, allowing for 24/7 viewing. As well as the RW388 Spitfire, the permanent exhibition also includes displays and a celebration of iconic designer Reginald Mitchell.
Ceramics Gallery
The gallery includes a technical section illustrating the production techniques of pottery and also includes more unusual collections, such as the Keiller collection of 667 cow creamer jugs and the Marjorie Davies collection of nearly 300 frog mugs.
Local History Gallery
The Local History gallery transports visitors through the history of the people of Stoke-on-Trent. The gallery is arranged as a series of room settings depicting domestic and working life and includes a schoolroom, a pub and a chip shop.
Archaeology Gallery
The archaeology gallery showcases Staffordshire’s rich and diverse archaeological heritage from prehistoric technologies to daily life in a Roman household, medieval monasticism to the early potters of Burslem.
Natural Science Gallery
The Natural Science gallery depicts the geology and wildlife found in the different habitats in and around the Potteries area, including moorland, forests and wetlands. In our Discovery Zone explore the diversity of life and find out what we can do to protect it.
Fine Art Gallery
Displayed works include examples from the key artistic movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries such as urban and industrial painting- including the Camden Town School, and French-influenced early twentieth-century artists such as the Slade School and the Scottish Colourists.
Design Gallery
The gallery showcases a diverse selection from the decorative arts collection, including textiles and costume, alongside contemporary design pieces.
Visit www.stokemuseums.org.uk for further information.
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