Vegetable Case Contents

Plants have provided readily available materials for useful and decorative purposes from the earliest days of human and animal existence on earth. Items displayed here have been made by people but also birds, bees and other insects, from wood, bamboo, fibre, leaves, seeds and other plant resources.
  • “Enemy Country” First World War letter
Basket with lid

Basket with lid

Franks Collection

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

Baskets and animals from the dolls’ house furniture collection

Baskets and animals from the dolls’ house furniture collection

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

Carved figure of a standing Lord Murugan

Carved figure of a standing Lord Murugan

Wood

Reference: 4435
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Charm in shape of a scallop shell about 1873, Maori, New Zealand

Charm in shape of a scallop shell about 1873, Maori, New Zealand

White gum (tree resin)

Presented by Mr Alexander Wetherelt, by 1884
Reference: 2000.255.19
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Flute with carved decoration British Guyana

Flute with carved decoration British Guyana

Bamboo

Reference: 4628
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Jewellery made from English and French jet

Jewellery made from English and French jet

19th – 20th century

Jet is fossil wood, formed when wood lies in stagnant water. It was popular for costume accessories to wear as a sign of mourning.

Presented by Mrs Bruce Binney, 1991, and Miss Anne Clelland, 1993
Reference: 1991.25.11-12, 1993.57.5-6, 1993.57.10
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Knotted V&A bowl

Knotted V&A bowl

Mary Butcher, MBE

Paper band and sisal

Lent by Mary Butcher, 2012
Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Necklace of carved beads Nut shells

Necklace of carved beads Nut shells

Franks Collection

Reference: 4461
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Nest of a Long-tailed tit

Nest of a Long-tailed tit

Bequeathed by William Oxenden Hammond, 1903
Reference: 544H
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Nest of a Reed Warbler

Nest of a Reed Warbler

From East Africa

Presented by Dr Brennan, 1912
Reference: 2000.103.1
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Nest of a Sun Bird, also known as a Honey Eater

Nest of a Sun Bird, also known as a Honey Eater

West Africa

Sun birds construct their nests of fibre found in the bark of palm trees and line them with soft filaments of flowers, cotton and other fine vegetable material.

Presented by Dr C H Brennan, 1912(?)
Reference: 2000.104
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Piece of wood from Nelson’s HMS Victory

Piece of wood from Nelson’s HMS Victory

Bequeathed by Miss Frances Aitken, 1992
Reference: 1992.1.131
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Police truncheon with Canterbury coat of arms

Police truncheon with Canterbury coat of arms

19th century

Wood

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

Powder or snuff flask

Powder or snuff flask

Carved bean shell with cork stopper

Reference: 4546
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Wooden and bamboo dolls’ house furniture, wooden and sisal brush, linen and cotton dolls’ house bedding

Wooden and bamboo dolls’ house furniture, wooden and sisal brush, linen and cotton dolls’ house bedding

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

Wooden box and game counters (Seven Men’s Morris?)

Bequeathed by Miss Frances Aitken, 1992
Reference: 1992.1.105
Can be found: Materials and Masters

Wooden paper knife

Bequeathed by Miss Frances Aitken, 1992
Reference: 1992.1.343
Can be found: Materials and Masters

‘Old World, New World’ skeined  basket

‘Old World, New World’ skeined basket

White willow and yellow cedar

Mary Butcher, MBE

Lent by Mary Butcher, 2012
Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: Materials and Masters

“Enemy Country” First World War letter

1915

Paper

Easter card and envelope sent by Canterbury resident Frances Katherine Aitken to her cousin in Germany, but returned as undeliverable due to war. Part of a large collection of personal letters, poems, ration books, propaganda cartoons, special passes to travel on railway journeys to Dover Docks and much more that forms an important snapshot of Home Front Canterbury.

Bequeathed by Miss Frances Aitken, 1992
Reference: 1992.1.334
Can be found: Materials and Masters

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