Metal Case Contents

Metals are shiny minerals that can be melted, manipulated and combined for a wide variety of purposes. Most things around us today rely on metals.
  • Bracelet
Apache pinfire knuckleduster pistol

Apache pinfire knuckleduster pistol

about 1850

Signed ‘Dolne-Bar’ on barrel of revolver

Arms and armour have been made of metal since the Bronze Age. This weapon has a nickel-silver frame revolver with six-chambered fluted cylinder and folding butt. It combines this with a knuckleduster and blade.

Presented by Mr James Todd of Pound Lane, 1919
Reference: 393
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Badge of the Ancient Order of  Foresters, Miniature ‘Legion  d’Honneur’ medal and metal seal

Badge of the Ancient Order of Foresters, Miniature ‘Legion d’Honneur’ medal and metal seal

Silver, gold, other metals and enamel

Presented by Mr Alexander Wetherelt, by 1884
Reference: 2000.13.1
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Bracelet

Bracelet

Reference: 6149
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Bracelets and anklets

Bracelets and anklets

From northern Nigeria in Africa.

Lent by Dr David Heathcote, 2012
Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Brass buttons

Brass buttons

This set of buttons were authenticated by the collector as having belonged to Sir Sydney Smith in 1810.

Presented by Mr Alexander Wetherelt, by 1884
Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Bronze arrowheads

Bronze arrowheads

Bronze age

Presented by Lieutenant Colonel Copeland
Reference: 2008, 2011, (nn)
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Cannon ball

Cannon ball

Iron

Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Cassiterite – tin oxide

Cassiterite – tin oxide

Black and white crystal form on rock.

Reference: 2002.132
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Coffee cup and saucer with gilded rim

Coffee cup and saucer with gilded rim

18th century, Vienna, Austria

Fine porcelain with painted decoration of a cherub and swans, and rich gilding added after firing.

Bequeathed by John Irving, 1915
Reference: 5517, 5518
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Coins

Coins

A principal use for metal since ancient times has been for minting money.

Presented by Mr Alexander Wetherelt, by 1884
Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Commemorative medal

Commemorative medal

Oscar Roty, 1872, France

Silver

This medal shows the fine detail of decoration that can be reproduced in metal. It was presented in 1872 to the Mayor and citizens of Canterbury by the French Association for the Advancement of Science, to commemorate their visit to the city. The obverse (front) has two figures in classical drapery, standing on a hillside overlooking factories, ships and trains all belching steam, with sunrise over a distant mountain signifying a new dawn. Lettering above them says ‘Pour la science, Pour la patrie’, which means ‘for Science and Country’. The reverse has a personification of the city of Canterbury as a classically draped female figure, sitting and reading a book with further books and mathematical instruments beside her, all set within an idyllic wooded landscape.

Reference: 1491
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Commemorative plaque

Commemorative plaque

1906, Elkington of Birmingham

Gilded bronze

This plaque commemorates a French visit to city of Canterbury on 16 October 1906 and was probably commissioned by the Mayor, Francis Bennett Goldney, whose name is inscribed on the bottom right. It shows the personifications of Britannia and France facing one another and shaking hands, with a winged cherub between them holding a scroll saying ‘Canterbury’. Below them is inscribed ‘L’Entente Cordiale’. The arms of the city of Canterbury are included on the top right. One or more copies of the plaque would have been given to the French party as souvenirs.

Reference: 5756
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Crucible

Crucible

Metal was smelted (melted) in ceramic containers like this, known as crucibles. The ceramics could withstand higher heat than metal, so the metal they contained melted long before the crucible burned.

Reference: MIII 80 421
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Engraved gilt dirk

Engraved gilt dirk

Small dagger and sheath, given by Sir Sidney Smith to Lieutenant Thomas Doorne RN, according to the donor’s catalogue.

Presented by Alexander Wetherelt, by 1884
Reference: 2000.255.17
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Fish knife and fork with engraved  silver blades

Fish knife and fork with engraved silver blades

Once the property of Lady Elizabeth Muller, according to the donor.
Presented by Mr Alexander Wetherelt, by 1884

Reference: 2000.255.16
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Gold

Gold

Particles of gold in quartz.

Reference: D1.A.14
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Gold purse with cathedral image

Gold purse with cathedral image

Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Iron ore

Iron ore

Reticulated or Specular haematite (iron oxide) from Norway.

Presented by J C Taylor, 1946
Reference: D4.A187
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Iron ore (Haematite)

Iron ore (Haematite)

Reference: D4.A105
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Iron pyrite cube

Iron pyrite cube

Reference: 2001.388
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Iron sand

Iron sand

From Auckland, New Zealand

Reference: K1335
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Lantern clock

Lantern clock

Early 18th century

John Watts of Canterbury

Restored by Dr Georges Turle and presented in his memory by his children, William, John and Philip Turle and Mary Woods, 2012

Reference: 2012
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Laundry iron

Laundry iron

19th century

This iron has a solid ‘heart’ that was removable for heating

Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Lead ore

Lead ore

Galena (sulphide of lead) in crystalline Baryte, from Derbyshire.

Reference: D.2B.69
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Lead ore (Galena)

Lead ore (Galena)

Lead sulphide in cubo-octagonal crystals with Dolomite, from Cumberland.

Reference: D2.B.68
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Lead ore (Galena)

Lead ore (Galena)

A cube, in two pieces, of lead sulphide, an ore of lead.

Reference: 2000.184.1.2
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Lodestone or Magnetite

Lodestone or Magnetite

Iron oxide from Arkansas, USA.

Reference: D4.A.169
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Loop and hook

Loop and hook

Unknown date and origin

Reference: 6152
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Metal vase

Metal vase

One of a pair, of unknown origin.

Presented by F. Bennett-Goldney
Reference: 8152
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Native antimony

Native antimony

Smelted with surface bubbles

Reference: 2000.187.1
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Native bismuth

Native bismuth

Reference: K 990
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Native Copper

Native Copper

Copper in its natural state.

Reference: 2000.67
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Native copper partly coated with Malachite

Native copper partly coated with Malachite

From Cornwall

Reference: D1.A.1
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Native Silver

Native Silver

Small branches or dendritic crystals on calcite from Kongsberg, Norway.

Reference: D1.A6
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Ochre

Ochre

A sandstone whose reddish colour is due to oxidised iron content.

Reference: 2002.128
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Piece of undersea communications cable

Piece of undersea communications cable

Communication across the Atlantic is by metal wires in cable like this early example.

Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Pilgrim badges

Pilgrim badges

Pewter

Pewter – a lead tin mixture – is soft and can be pressed easily into moulds. It was used to manufacture large quantities of souvenirs like these for medieval pilgrims. The head of Becket and knight on a horse were made for pilgrims to Canterbury.

Reference: 1988.34, (nn)
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Pocket watches and keys

Pocket watches and keys

One of the watches has its casing removed to show the inner clock mechanism; another sits in a wooden pocket watch stand.

Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Pots, pans and candlesticks  from the dolls’ house furniture collection

Pots, pans and candlesticks from the dolls’ house furniture collection

Metals conduct heat so are very useful for utensils in which water can be heated, and food cooked, on a fire. They are also shiny and have been used for lanterns, candlesticks and mirrors to reflect candlelight.

Bequeathed by Miss G H Veraguth to the daughter of Dr Wynn and presented to the Museum in memory of Miss Veraguth, 1974
Reference: 9870
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Rings and studs

Rings and studs

The warm yellow colour and mellow shine of gold, its rarity and its relative softness for working have made it a very popular metal for jewellery since ancient times. Black enamelling on gold was popular for mourning jewellery like one of the rings here.

Presented by Mr Alexander Wetherelt, by 1884
Reference: 2000.255.1
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Round bronze and lead weight

Round bronze and lead weight

Presented by Lieutenant Colonel Copeland
Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Silver filigree needle case 18th century

Silver filigree needle case 18th century

Recorded by the donor as having come from India, belonged to Lady Burroughs in 1768, and presented by her niece to the donor.

Presented by Mr Alexander Wetherelt, by 1884
Reference: 2000.255.10
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Silver teaspoons and sugar tongs

Silver teaspoons and sugar tongs

Presented by Mr Alexander Wetherelt, by 1884
Reference: 2000.255.18
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Tin ore

Tin ore

From the Levant mine, Cornwall ‘276 fathom deep half mile out under sea’, collector ‘CGD’, probably 1829

Reference: 2002.133
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Toy soldiers and Native Americans

Toy soldiers and Native Americans

Lead is a soft and plentiful metal that was used for making toys, as well as pipes and roof covering – it does not corrode easily and is waterproof. Large quantities of items could be cast, making the toys cheap and readily available. It ceased being used for toys in the mid-20th century when it was discovered to be poisonous.

Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Toy train carriages

Toy train carriages

Lead is a soft and plentiful metal that was used for making toys, as well as pipes and roof covering – it does not corrode easily and is waterproof. Large quantities of items could be cast, making the toys cheap and readily available. It ceased being used for toys in the mid-20th century when it was discovered to be poisonous.

Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Zincite

Zincite

Dark brown and white zinc manganese oxide.

Reference: D4.A.161
Can be found: Materials and Masters

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