The collection at Arlington Court

The Sea of Time and Space (Vision of the Circle of the Life of Man) by William Blake (London 1757 - London 1827) — The Sea of Time and Space (Vision of the Circle of the Life of Man) by William Blake | © National Trust Images/John Hammond

Over 11 generations of the Chichester family helped to shape the Arlington Court you see today. As well as their desire for building, the collections assembled throughout the years give a glimpse into their lives and passions. From pewter to shells and an unusual discovery, find out more about some highlights from the collection.

Drawing by William Blake

One of the most significant items in the collection is an original pen and ink drawing by William Blake. It is not known how the picture by the famous poet, artist and social critic came to be at Arlington, but its discovery was almost as mysterious as the image itself.

Legend has it that the framed picture was found on top of a wardrobe in the housemaid’s pantry when the National Trust acquired the house in 1949. It’s not known how long it rested there, but it is suspected to have been purchased direct from William Blake by Colonel John Chichester in the 1820s.

Inspiration for the piece

The picture is known as The Sea or Time and Space (Vision of the Circle of the Life of Man), which is a quotation from Blake’s work Prophetic Book Vala. The image was inspired by Greek mythology and could be taken from Homer’s Odyssey.

The image weaves classical imagery into an obscure narrative that seems to revolve around the theme of choice. Whilst various readings have been put forward, the broad consensus is that the kneeling male figure represents divine inspiration and imagination, while the standing female makes the case for the natural, or scientific, order of classical thought.

Whatever the precise meaning, the sea here appears to represent a positive direction for Blake as his male protagonist gestures towards the waves with an attitude of yearning and mysticism.

Discover more about this William Blake drawing on the National Trust Collections website

Pewter collection highlights

Sometimes described as ‘poor man’s silver’, pewter has been made into tableware and household items since the ancient Chinese and Roman periods some 2,000 years ago. Discover Arlington Court's pewter collection.

The Wimbledon dish

Made around 1610 by Caspar Enderlein of Nuremburg, this dish is one of a handful of identical pieces by Enderlein of which only a few now survive, including one in the Louvre, Paris. In 1864, Elkington & Co of Birmingham made an electrotype copy of the dish. Named the Venus rosewater dish, it has been presented to the ladies’ champion at Wimbledon every year since 1886. The central boss depicts the figure of Sophrosyne, the personification of temperance and moderation.

The Wimbledon dish

Whale-oil time-lamp in pewter with a glass reservoir, from the collection of pewter objects at Arlington Court — Whale-oil time-lamp in pewter with a glass reservoir | © National Trust Images/John Hammond

The time lamp

This unusual piece is German in origin. It has a glass reservoir that holds the oil, the level of which drops as it is burned away. The oil used was almost certainly whale oil. The level is read off against the hour marker. Unlike clocks, which until fairly recently were very inaccurate, the oil in the time lamp burned at a regular and predictable rate and may well have been a more reliable way of keeping time. Sadly, despite the help of the Pewter Society, this piece has not been dated any more accurately than pre-20th century.

The time lamp

Swiss twin-handled small tureen (large lidded porringer) on three feet, lid also with three feet with wriggled, punched and formed decoration — The Swiss tureen at Arlington Court | © National Trust / Elsie Rolfe

The Swiss tureen

This 'Wocherinnenschussel' (as it was known in Switzerland) is a very high-quality item made by Nikolaus Ubelin II of Basle, Switzerland, that dates from between 1730 and 1750. The decoration is a mixture of punch work and wriggle work, and is of very good quality. Known as an 'ohrenschussel' in Germany and an 'equelle de bouillon' in France, these vessels were traditionally filled with nourishing food by neighbours and presented to women in childbirth.

The Swiss tureen

1 of 3

Shells

Miss Chichester, the last owner of Arlington Court, started to collect shells at an early age, sailing around with her mother and father on the family yacht, Erminia. When they anchored at port, a young Miss Chichester would be accompanied ashore, where she would look for interesting and colourful shells.

This was just the start of what would become a lifelong interest in collecting shells and anything to do with the sea. By the time she was an adult, Miss Chichester had collected a large number of shells and catalogued them with individual names. She displayed them in her own private museum, which was formerly the old dining room.

Rare survivors

Arlington’s collection comprises around 3000 shells and includes some very rare examples that can no longer be found in our oceans. The cabinets around the house display a mixture of shells.

Look out for the 'Chambered' or 'Pearly' nautilus from the West Indies, and the Morning Room display laid out by Sir Edward Salisbury of the Natural History Museum in 1949, which includes some rare specimens from the Mediterranean, Indo-Pacific and Asian oceans.

Seaside memories

Some of the other unique shells, like the 'Green' or 'Pearly' snail found in the China Seas and the Pacific, have been partly peeled and made into souvenirs; the work is most likely Chinese but could be Chinoiserie, a European style imitating the Chinese.

These are examples of the souvenir shell work mass-produced at seaside places in the 1860s when shell work began to be exploited for commercial purposes. These particular shells are displayed in the museum corridor.

More collections to discover

Arlington is also home to many other treasures, with nearly 5,000 items in the collection. There is an extensive textile collection containing around 500 pieces, from elegant evening dresses and tablecloths to parasols and baby clothes. There's also a collection of model ships famous for its size and variety, with one boat no bigger than a 10p piece.

Accessing the collection

With such a large and varied collection, it is not possible to have everything on display. Access to the collection outside of normal opening hours can be arranged by appointment only.

To make an appointment to see a particular item, call 01271 850296 or email arlingtoncourt@nationaltrust.org.uk.