Flemish Oak cupboard - Cupboard - 16th c
A Large Oak Cupboard with two panelled doors each of eight panels, decorated with carved heads in medallions and conventional motifs. Romayne carving with a Flemish influence. Fitted with double strap hinges and two engraved steel locks. The central column contains the carved figure of Saint Peter holding the keys of the kingdom. The ends are of linenfold design panelling. It dates from the 16th century.

Arquebusse - Weapon - 17th c
A Large Wheel Lock swivel arquebusse with a carved walnut stock. German, 17th century. The gun is rifled and is a functional hunting gun. The gun is highly decorated with a wild boar’s head on the body of the gun. It is distinctive because of its weight, which is 56lbs or 25kg and the size of its calibre. Due to its mass and recoil, it was used in conjunction with a tripod or stand.

Walnut joined box chair - Chair - 16th c
A High-backed walnut joined box chair, dated 1537, with linen fold panels. The back panelling of heavy oak plank construction is ornately carved and decorated with carving of leaves, fruit, and cupid. It also displays a coat of arms with lion supporters. It was clearly a status symbol and people would have stood in the presence of the occupant in the chair.

Carved Oak Bed - Furniture - 16th c
A late 16th/early 17th century Carved Oak Bed with elaborately carved bulbous posts and carved headboard. The tester of later date, carved with hearts and arrows. Such beds reflect the newly arrived Flemish influence in England in the sixteenth-century.

Walnut tiered Buffet - Cupboard - 15th c
A French Renaissance Walnut tiered Buffet consisting of an open base supporting cupboards and high backboard decorated with intricate Gothic tracery etc., two doors in the cupboards. It contains a carved pelican which is the symbol for Christ’s blood. It is late 15th century in origin..

Statue of St. George - Statue - 15th c
A Carved statue of St. George and the Dragon, original gilt decoration and polychrome paint. South German. 15th Century.

St.Peter and the Apostles - Painting - 15th c
The appearance in art of St Peter, the Prince of the Apostles and the first Pope, has remained constant and he is therefore easily recognisable. As here, he is represented as an old but vigorous man, with short grey curly hair, a short curly beard, and with rustic features, in this case his eyes. The artist shows him here enthroned in majesty, wearing a papal tiara and holding the keys to heaven, as described in Matthew 16:19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven”. Peter travelled to Rome where he established the first Christian community, before being crucified in 64 A.D. by Emperor Nero.

Dower chest - Furniture - 16th c
A large mid-16th century Continental Dower oak cupboard. The front with high relief carved panels depicting The Annunciation, The Birth and The Crucifixion, in the upper section. The central panel portrays the Last Supper – with eleven disciples. Judas is displayed with the bag of money in his left hand – and the bottom panels show Jesus before the High Priest and The Trial. The sides decorated with various figures and ornamental basses. The sides of linenfold panelling. It is believed to be Westphalian in origin. It is personally initialled on the right and left hand sides by the owners, A.T. and S.A. with both sides showing the differing coats of arms of those involved in this commissioned piece.

Tapestry of The Triumph of Charlemagne - Tapestry - 16th c
A large panel of Tournai tapestry depicting The Triumph of Charlemagne, part of a series of the "Nine Heros". Charlemagne (c 742-814) was king of the Franks. After a number of wars he increased his territory considerably and became the founder of the Holy Roman Empire. This tapestrydepicts the crowning of Charlemagne by Pope Leo III on Christmas day in 800A.D. He can be recognised by his armour which is covered with a cloak decorated with ermine.The deliberate fault in this tapestry lies in the right hand lower corner and depicts a hand with five fingers and a thumb instead of four.

Statue of St. Martin of Tours - Statue - 15th c
A near life-sized Carved Wood Figure of St. Martin on a horse. Saint Martin of Tours was famous for giving half his manteau or coat to a beggar. Many cathedrals were built in his honour. The statue is 16th century but the horse is a 20th century reproduction.

Leed refectory table - Furniture - 16th c
A massive early 17th century Oak Refectory Table raised on ten plain turned legs united by stretchers. Ex. Leeds Castle. This was purchased in the 1960s.

Bellamine Jug - Alcohol container - 18th c
An 18th century stoneware Bellamine jug with strap handle. These early slope shoulder cylindrical utensils denote the period 1750-1775. Pots like these were made in Germany from the mid 16th century onwards. They were used as jugs for ale.They are called Bellamine's as the face is of Cardinal Bellarmine (1542-1621), who was famous for putting Galileo in prison.The 'Salt Glaze' finish is sometimes called 'Orange Peel' glaze because of the pitted surface, and orange - brown colour, it gives to the pot.

Hot water bottle - Bottle - 19th c
An early 19th century Copper Hot Water Jug of half-round form.

Horloge - Clock - 17th c
A Gothic Iron Clock of square shape with black dial and Roman numerals and striking on one bell

Portrait of Mary Queen of Scots - Painting - 16th c
Forty-eight portraits exist of Mary Stuart, who was born at Linlithgow Palace, Scotland on 8th February 1542. Following the death of her father James V a week later, Mary became Queen of Scotland. Mary spent most of her childhood in France, betrothed to the Dauphin Francis. A year after marriage in 1558, and upon the death of her father-in-law, the couple inherited the throne of France. Within two years, Mary was widowed, and sensing the hostility of the new regime in France, returned to her homeland of Scotland to take up the reins of power.It is at this point, 1560, that a miniature of Mary Queen of Scots was painted by an anonymous artist, and from this miniature several copies of slightly larger portraits were made. One such is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London. The image shows the head and shoulders of a noble woman in contemporary hunting costume of the utmost luxury. The direct and unflinching gaze suggests strength of character, as befits a woman who was Queen of two countries and held a strong claim to the throne of a third. The image of both the painting at Bunratty, and the National Portrait Gallery, London is identical. Some differences occur, however, in the shape of the nose and earlobes, possibly due to an artist copying a miniature, which was often only a few centimetres wide.

Painting of Sir Christopher Wray, Lord Chief Justice - Painting - 16th c
Sir Christopher Wray, from Lincolnshire, was elected to the post of Speaker of the House of Commons in April 1571, and then as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales in November 1574, until his death in June 1592. Popular with Queen Elizabeth I, he was given the profits of her coinage and grew wealthy enough to erect a grand house at Glentworth, Lincolnshire. However, having been a senior judge who passed sentence on Mary Queen of Scots in 1587, he absented himself from court feigning illness in fear of Queen Elizabeth’s reaction to the news.The portrait shows Wray in his robes of state, complete with the chain of office denoting his rank, showing the Tudor rose, the portcullis, and stylised sheaths of corn, upon which Elizabethan England grew rich.An inscription in the top right reads ‘Duce virtu te, comite industria, sorte contenutus’, translating as ‘Command virtue yourself, diligence comes, fate reduces’. A bidding all hardworking servants of the state should perhaps follow. While in the top left, is seen ‘Æ Tatis Sua, 54 1580’, or ‘His age, 54, 1580’.

Armada Table - Furniture - 16th c
Armada Table. This table is decorated with ornate legs, two of which represent the figures of Hope and Charity. It is inlaid with marquetry but the top of the table is not original. It is on loan from the Inchiquin collection. Sixteenth century sources maintain that parts of this table were remnants from a Spanish Armada which sank off the west coast of Clare in 1588. Boethius Clancy almost lost his life retrieving this salvage. The figure of Charity is the most important of the three theological virtues. Faith and Hope are the other two virtues. Due to the carvings, the table can clearly be dated to the sixteenth-century.

Italian cassone - Furniture - 15th c
An Italian 15th Century Chest decorated with Biblical scenes

Candlesticks - Candlestick - 17th c
A pair of 17th Century bell metal Pricket Candlesticks. Purchased by the Trustees.

Ceiling - Furniture - 16th c
The ceiling of the upper Chapel, mainly copy of original 16th century ceiling destroyed by fire.

Comb crested morion Helmet - Armour - 17th c
Comb-Morion Helmet or light helmet is possibly named for the Spanish morion anglicised from the Spanish word for helmet. They were in use from the 1530s through to the early seventeenth-century. They were commonly used by “Pike men” who would also often wear a cuirass, which was a chest or back plate.

Ciborium - Cupboard - 16th c
Hungarian Hexagonal gilt metal ciborium, enamelled and decorated with precious stones. This was used for the host or wafer bread for the Eucharist.

Bible box - Casket - 17th c
An early 17th century small Bible box with sloping lid, finely carved around the body, figures etc. The base missing.

Tapistry David and Bathsheba - Tapestry - 16th c
An Altar Front of tapestry depicting David and Bethsheba. South German, 1527.

Monstrance - Religious artefact - 16th c
An early 16th century Copper gilt monstrance, the hexagonal body standing on a flat sexfoil base surmounted by a steeple shaped finial.This is a container for the Consecrated Host which has an opening through which it can be viewed. Flemish.

Boxwood carving of Adam and Eve - Carving - 17th c
A Box wood Carving depicting the Temptation of Adam and Eve. The serpent with human head, coiled around a tree. 17th Century.

Silver Galleon - Ship - 18th c
A Dutch silver mounted model of a galleon in full sail. 18th Century

Embroidered Chasuble - Religious artefact - 15th c
A pre-Reformation English embroidered Chasuble, the front having an orphrey worked with gold thread and coloured silks representing St. Matthew, St. Andrew and a nobleman. The reverse side having a similar orphrey, or embroidered Cross, representing The Almighty, St. Clare of Assisi, St. Lucy, St. Eustace and a nobleman. The whole embroidered on contemporary Italian silk velvet in shades of green.

Mother of Pearl Writing Desk - Furniture accessory - 17th c
A 17th century ebony and inlaid bone and mother of pearl Writing slope/table desk, with a drawer at each end.

Needlework piece - Furniture accessory - 18th c
Pieces of needlework of similar design. To item 368.

Act of Parliament Clock - Clock - 18th c
A black and gold decorated Act of Parliament Clock with octagonal face. (Said to be by Samuel Horton, London). Poor condition. These clocks appeared 1797 when a British Act of 1797 placed a tax on clocks. They are also known as Tavern clocks.

Copper gilt mantel clock - Clock - 17th c
A small copper gilt mantel clock with square base, bell top, and the mechanism in steel. German, early 17th

Virginal enclosed in an oak case with lifting lid and fall front. - Musical instrument - 17th c
Virginal enclosed in an oak case with lifting lid and fall front. Inside the lid and front painted with scenes of wild animals, human figures etc. Inscribed ‘Jacobus White’ Londini me fecit, 1661’. The plain wooden stand of later date. The early English instruments were mostly virginals, and a great many survive. The virginal is similar to the harpsichord, but smaller, and with the keyboard arrangement on the side instead of the end. The are generally disposed 1x8', and have a range of C/E-c''. Important also in the Italian and Flemish schools, the virginal in England was the instrument of royalty as well as burgher, and it has a considerable literature designated for it. The keyboard can be place to the left, the centre, or the right, the last of which is called a muselar and has a distinctive flutey sound.

A portrait, oil on canvas, of the Viscountess Gort by Philip de Laszlo, 1933 - Painting - 20th c
Portrait of Lady Gort

A Richly Decorated Silver Gilt Cup and cover of hexagonal base - Alcohol container - 17th c
A Richly Decorated Silver Gilt Cup and cover of hexagonal base, by Christopher Luthzenberger (1633 – 1653). German

A Tibetan wooden drinking horn in the form of a dragon - Alcohol container - 18th c
A Tibetan wooden drinking horn in the form of a dragon with Hen’s head cover and with decorative bronze plates.

A mid 17th century oak Child’s high chair.. - Chair - 17th c
A mid 17th century oak Child’s high chair. Plain square panelled back.

An octagonal lidded casket of bone, stained in various colours. - Casket - 15th c
An octagonal lidded casket of bone, stained in various colours. Eight carved ivory panels inset around the body and four in the lid depicting groups of figures under Gothic arches. Probably German, 15th century.

An Ivory and Silver Mounted Circular Cup in three sections - Alcohol container - 17th c
An Ivory and Silver Mounted Circular Cup in three sections, in the form of a tower, surmounted by the winged figure of an armed man standing on an eagle. By Christopher Leipsiger. Augsburg (worked 1639 – 1678).