Museum Rooms Cabinets of Curiosities

The countries represented here, from Iran, Syria, Tibet, India and Burma (Myanmar) to name just a few! The beads in the foreground are hand carved bone - probably from Yak. They were bought in Mongolia Ulaanbaator, each bead is hand carved into an individual human skull. They are intertwined with another Buddhist set from Tibet - brought from Everest base camp North, also probably Yak or Nak. (Male and Female Yaks!). You can also make out 3 Buddhist statues in the background, one is from Sri Lanka - Sandalwood, as well as a modern 20th Century. brass Buddha from Erdene Zuu Monastery and blessed by local monks.

An odd mix we’ll agree, but some amazing artefacts on display, .. On the same shelf as a Japanese Inro (the red lacquered hanging case) there is a huge Megladon Tooth (Carcharocles Megalodon) 12.5cm over 3.6 million years old! They were 3 times the size of a Great White and Teeth to match! By comparison there is a great white tooth in front of it. The silver plated salt and pepper pot is from the SAS offices mess in Hereford, whilst a pre-columbian necklace in the form of a mask in blue jade is lent across a plaster cast of an Ocelot from Ecuador, as part of the Rio Mazan expedition (more about this in the museum). Grave goods in the form of a typical blue and black glazed form from the 21st Dynasty of the Egyptian Empire. This one is from the Kings scribe - Bakenmut - you can find out more about his intriguing story in the museum.

A Spitfire speedo (working) from a Mk9 Spitfire, which we have flown in. This one goes twice round the clock up to 480 mph! There’s also a 1st stage regular from an Apeks Black Pearl dive set with a scene of an old diving helmeted diver on it. Items from over 11 countries including Russia, Belarus, China and Bosnia. There also a Petrol Coupon from 1957 during post war rationing in Britain, a 1950’s Driving Licence and a Model of the De-Havilland racer - from the De-Havilland Museum in Radlett. Centre stage (3rd Shelf) is a souvenir from Solidarity Centre Gdansk Shipyard and the solidarity museum with a resistor attached - Lech Watesa was an electrician in the shipyard and went on to be one of the leaders Solidarity leaders.

This cabinet has a Nordic flavour with a birch bark box from Iceland - and yes we know they few very large tress from probably made in Denmark, where most of the reindeer skins which are sold in Iceland come from. Sitting on top of the birch bark box is another interest artefact from the Okavango Delta and the San Bush people (Botswana) in the form of bracelet made of leather - probably goat skin? and Ostrich shells, with an Ostrich shell button. We also have two equally beautiful bracelets from the Evens (Sami) People from Russia, who may now number as few as 2000 persons in this region The bracelets are iintricately woven with silver thread and red and black embroidery, with reindeer antler buttons and reindeer hide leather.

Countries - Represented 18 - Belize, Seychelles, Wales, Latvia, Kallingrad, South Africa, New Zealand, Switzerland, Lithuania, Zante (Greece), Senegal, Orkney Isles (Scotland) , Spitzbergan, Australia, Iran, Mongolia, Mexico, England, Åland Islands.

Example Contents

Top Shelf - Jaguar Carving from a nut river Boarder Crossing Belize - South America - Geode with crystals - Flaming Mountains of Bandang - Mongolia

Middle Shelf - Mini Minerals collection Istfan Iran - Merganser Duck Aland Islands - Mallard Duck with bird ring Cronin Spit Kaliningrad

Bottom Shelf - Corals - Seychelles, Pink Sea Shells Kaikōura New Zealand, Bladderwrack Orkney Islands