The Hunt Museum

Monday Musings…🤔

We want you to get involved with today’s musings on this mysterious object!🔎

This bronze artefact is referred to as a dodecahedron. Dating to between the 1st and 4th centuries AD, it is associated with the time of the Roman Empire.

It has 12 sides with 12 circular holes of varying diameters. These holes are set within 12 equal pentagons. There are small, circular projections at each point of all the pentagons.

Approximately 130 of these objects have been found throughout the northern provinces of the Roman Empire (e.g. Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and France). Another intact dodecahedron can be found in the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden in the Netherlands (see second image).

However, archaeologists have been unable to determine precisely what these objects were used for.
Some suggestions that have been made include a gaming piece, a candleholder, or a measuring device.

What do you think it was used for? Let us know in the comments- we’d love to know your thoughts!💭

To find out more about the theories surrounding this mystery object, head to our blog: https://ow.ly/88sr50TsXKi

P.S: Did you know that a sculpture of this object exists in our museum garden? Why not come and see it for yourself!

𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭
𝟐𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟒-𝟕𝐩𝐦
𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭

Nicholas Street, the oldest in Limerick, is full of stories waiting to be told this Culture Night.

King’s Island Storytelling Sessions began as a social and cultural community engagement activity with the Hunt Museum.

Join as locals share captivating tales of the street’s history and antics, with a Bean an Tí guiding you on a trail from King John’s Castle to the historic Fireplace site near Saint Mary’s Cathedral.

Don’t miss this enchanting journey through Limerick’s past!

Click here to learn more - https://kingjohnscastle.ie/discoverlimerick/

Monday Musings…🤔

Wedded to your art? We’re certainly in love with the artwork on this Greek wedding vessel!💒

Known as a lebes gamikos, it is a very distinctive vessel which is believed to have been a gift for the bride.👰

Dating to the 4th century BC, the vase is decorated in the red-figure style. On either side, we can see different scenes. On one side, we can see a woman sitting on a rock; on one hand she is balancing a shallow dish. Her wrists are adorned with bracelets and she wears a necklace.

On the opposite side is the winged figure of Eros, the Greek god of love. He is in a similar pose to the woman and holds a mirror in his right hand.

The rest of the vessel is also highly decorated. There are rays on the vessel’s shoulder, palmettes below the handles and a wave motif running around the lid of the vessel and also the bottom of the vessels’ body. Additionally, we can see several flowers surrounding the figures.

It is thought that this vessel may have been used to pour water for the bride’s bath on her wedding day. Can you think of another way it might have been used?

To find out more about this beautiful vessel, head to our weekly blog: https://ow.ly/bSgL50TocuL

Join us for Culture Night at The Hunt Museum!

Experience a night of art, history, and creativity on Friday, September 20th. Highlights include:

🔹 Conversations with Jewellery Designers
🔹 Georgian Limerick Walking Tour
🔹 Street Photography by Darren Ryan
🔹 Creepy Crawly Jewellery Workshops
🔹 Live Music by the Irish Chamber Orchestra
🔹 Living Statues & Performances

All events are free and open to all! Don’t miss this celebration of culture and creativity!

📅 When: 4 PM - 10 PM
📍 Where: The Hunt Museum

Please visit our website for more information - https://www.huntmuseum.com/whats-on/culture-night/

We were delighted to showcase our work in disability access and inclusion on the national stage yesterday at the third Heritage 2030 Summit, organised by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

The theme for Summit 2024 was “access to heritage”, a commitment we have been actively working on at The Hunt Museum.

Our Curator of Education & Outreach, Maria Cagney, presented a paper highlighting the vital role that co-creation has been playing in our work with people who are visually impaired and the autism community to increase disability access and inclusion.

“Our co-creators are experts in their own needs. Through the award winning Seeing Without Sight exhibition and our current Inclusive Museums Rethink Ireland funded project, they are harnessing their lived experience of disability and co-designing solutions which make the Collection, our events and the Museum building more accessible and welcoming for everyone.”

Sincere thanks to the The Heritage Council for inviting us to present our work yesterday.

Monday Musings…🤔

We’re looking to make an Impression this week with this intricate watercolour by French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

A leading figure in the development of Impressionist painting, would it surprise you to learn that, in the 1880s, Renoir became disillusioned with painting and decided to experiment with sketching? The work you see here is a result of this experimentation.✍️

This sketch is typical of this period of experimentation using pen and ink. The centre of the composition boasts a series of colourful brush strokes, capturing the form of the landscape. This is overlaid with more refined strokes, blending greens, orange -brown, yellow and grey-blue to model delicate details in the trees.

Renoir meticulously drew the clusters of trees and bushes on the hillside. In the foreground, he has apparently sketched the reeds at the edge of a pool and indicated their reflection. Can you spot them?🔎

To learn more about Renoir and his work, head to our weekly blog: https://ow.ly/qy3i50TiWH1

Monday Musings…🤔

Going at a snail’s pace this Monday? We are too with our musings about this gold snail from our collection.

This object is a pomander. Pomanders were a functional piece of jewellery which were very popular in the Medieval period and in early modern Europe. They were filled with strongly scented aromatics used to ward off disease and sanitise the air.

Wealthy people wore pomanders as a status symbol- they appointed goldsmiths to make them. Pomanders were worn like jewels attached to a necklace or belt, or carried in the hand. This is illustrated in portrait paintings such as the one shown here. Mary Dudley is wearing a gold pomander around her neck in a portrait painting by Hans Eworth.

Did you know that pomanders borrow their shape and name from an apple (pomme in French)?

This object is currently on display in our exhibition “Creepy Crawlies: Love/Hate”, so why not come and see it for yourself?🐌

To read more about this fascinating object, head to our website: https://ow.ly/sonC50TcmUL

Monday Musings…

Shopping for last minute stationery for going back to school? While we wouldn’t recommend using this particular object, would you have guessed that this was in fact used as a letter opener?! 💌

This dagger has been modified. The blade dates to the Early Bronze Age, between the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC, whilst the handle (haft) was added in the 19th or 20th century AD. The blade is narrow with gently curving sides. We can also observe that the handle has been decorated with a herring-bone, zigzag and dog-tooth ornament.

The idea of reusing ancient objects is not a new one. For example, ancient Roman pottery was reused as a building material in walls. In a previous “Monday Musings” post, we illustrated how an ancient Greek dekadrachm (silver coin) was reused as a pendant.

This object was used by John Hunt, who along with his wife Gertrude, collected all the wonderful objects that you see in the museum today. John Hunt was a collector, art dealer and archaeologist. He owned an antique shop in London in the 1930s. The couple travelled around Europe collecting objects before moving to Lough Gur in 1940, where John began working as an archaeologist.

To find out more about this weapon and sharpen your Bronze Age, knowledge, head to our weekly blog: https://www.huntmuseum.com/stories/objects-in-focus/bronze-age-dagger/

Déardaoin Rúnda: Nights at The Hunt Museum

Enjoy the unique cultural event of the night and indulge in a special evening menu.

🍴The Hunt Café is offerings an array of gourmet bites, paired with a glass of red or white wine:

- Cheese Board
- Charcuterie Board
- A Selection of Gourmet Bites (submit to availability, booking essential)

After enjoying the culinary delights, explore the museum’s collection and exhibitions.

🗓️ Every Thursday from August 15th to September 26th
⏰ Time: 5pm - 9pm
📍 Location: The Hunt Museum

Learn More: https://www.huntmuseum.com/whats-on/deardaoin-runda-thursday-nights-at-the-museum-2/

For further information or to make a booking or, please contact [email protected] or 0868869810

We look forward to welcoming you!

📢 Call Out: Heritage Week: Live Audio Description Tour

If, you are visually impaired or know someone who is?
We invite you to join us for a special Audio Descriptive Tour during Heritage Week!

This live audio description tour of Hunt Museum Permanent Collection will be led by volunteers with visual impairment and by museum docent volunteers.

It will celebrate some of our most iconic objects, including a Statue of Apollo. A selection of tactile resources will be used to enhance object interpretation during the tour.

🗓️ Date: Saturday, 24th August
📍 Location: The Hunt Museum
⏰ Time: 2-3pm

Spaces are limited, so please book now to secure your spot or for more information.

Please click here, to make a booking: https://www.huntmuseum.com/whats-on/heritage-week-audio-descriptive-guided-tour/

We look forward to welcoming you!

Monday Musings…🤔

Suffering from a case of the Monday blues? Well, we've got just the cure for you with these pharmacy jars!🫙

Did you think that they looked like ornamental vases? In fact, pharmacists (apothecaries) used these vessels to store ointments, oils, syrup or medicated waters.

We know exactly what was stored in some of them as they have been labelled. On the predominantly white vessels, you can see the words “Thamarin” meaning tamarind, and “Ung De Thutia”, meaning an ointment containing zinc oxide.

Tamarind is a tropical fruit which grows on a tree native to Africa. The pods from the fruit are used to create a paste or puree which provides a rich source of antioxidants. 🌴

These jars are made from maiolica, a tin-glazed earthenware material. This material became popular during the Renaissance. Spain was a major production centre of maiolica and the technique was later widely used in Italy.

We can see that the vessels are intricately crafted by both potters and painters. The first vessel has beautiful handles in the shape of sea-horses. It also bears the arms of Order of St. Francis.

To find out more about these striking objects, head to our weekly blog: 👉https://ow.ly/tzEA50T1jCB

Monday musings... 🤔

Discover the history of this late sixteenth-century Pegasus brooch. With a body adorned in enamel, cut diamonds, and a cabochon ruby, this jewel reflects the era's sculptural influences and classical rediscoveries. Animal motifs, like Pegasus, were popular in enamelled gold and often featured baroque pearls.

Late sixteenth-century jewellery was essentially sculptural, influenced by the rediscovery of classical work. It was most typically enamelled gold with stones used as an accent in the design rather than its focus. Stone Cutting was in its infancy, and the inability to cut diamonds effectively meant that other stones, such as the ruby seen here on the body of the Pegasus, were more greatly prized.

The Pegasus Brooch would originally have been the focal part of the pendant jewel, which, by the late sixteenth century, had taken over from the cap badge as the dominant form of jewellery. It would have hung, probably with other decorative elements, by chains from a ring attachment, which would have been worn on a ribbon or chain around the neck, or attached to the bodice or sleeve as a brooch.

This piece exemplifies the era's artistry and mythology, celebrating Pegasus, the winged horse
born from Poseidon and Medusa, who served Zeus by carrying lightning and thunder. 🐎✨

Gertrude Hunt can also be seen proudly adorned with the Pegasus brooch, showcasing her refined taste and appreciation for classical elegance.

To learn more about this exquisite piece, visit the "Objects in Focus" link in our bio. To see it in person, book your visit now - https://www.huntmuseum.com/visit/book-tickets/

Mark Heng: Portrait Drawing Workshop

Join us for a Portrait Drawing Workshop with our August Artist of the Month, Mark Heng. This special session will offer unique insights into Mark’s techniques and creative process, as he guides participants through the fundamentals of drawing.

Suitable for all skill levels, this workshop provides a wonderful opportunity to refine your artistic abilities and gain inspiration from a renowned artist.

Please bring your own supplies (sketchbook and pencil) ✏️

Location: Captain’s Room, Hunt Museum
Time: 1 – 2 pm
Admission: No charge, booking essential.
Book Now: https://www.huntmuseum.com/whats-on/mark-heng-portrait-drawing-workshop/?preview=true

Monday musings… 🤔

As the world tunes in to the excitement of the 2024 Paris Olympics, it’s the perfect time to dive into the athletic passions of Irish artist Jack B.
Yeats.

Let's explore Yeats’ love for sports through his dynamic painting "Master of Ceremonies" and his fascinating connection to the 1924 Paris Olympics.

"Master of Ceremonies” reflects Irish artist Jack Butler Yeats’ (1871-1957) keen interest in sports and his flair for the theatrical. Early in his career Yeats worked as a sports journalist and illustrator, and it is likely that he attended boxing matches like the one portrayed in this painting.

The figure of the referee is central, his pose and full evening attire suggesting that boxing was a gentleman’s sport. Painted in a style typical of Yeats’ later works, he uses a thick application of oil paint and vibrant strokes of colour to convey the electric atmosphere at the sporting occasion.

A century ago, Yeats was awarded a silver medal at the 1924 Paris Olympics. From 1912 to 1948, art competitions were an integral part of the Olympic Games, with medals awarded in five categories: architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture. These accolades celebrated works of art inspired by sport.

Yeats won the silver medal for his painting, "The Liffey Swim," created in 1923. This artwork vividly captures the excitement and energy of one of Dublin’s most anticipated annual sporting events on the River Liffey. Once again, Yeats’ keen interest in sports and the sense of community it evokes is evident in this piece. He would undoubtedly be revelling in the outstanding performances of our Irish Olympians.

“Master of Ceremonies” is on display in the Hunt Museum, Limerick.
“The Liffey Swim” is currently on loan to The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK from

The Apollo God of Nature AR experience is now a key feature of our "Creepy Crawlies: Love/Hate" exhibition at The Hunt Museum. This innovative addition allows visitors to engage with the world of insects through augmented reality, enhancing their educational journey.

This project has been funded by The Heritage Council, and we are grateful for their support in bringing this unique and immersive experience to our exhibition.

We invite all our visitors to explore the history of Apollo, now brought to life through the Apollo God of Nature AR experience.

Happy Friendship Day from The Hunt Museum! 🌟

Celebrate the spirit of friendship by becoming a Friend of The Hunt Museum.
Join a community whose passion for art, history and culture helps support our unique institution enjoy exclusive benefits while supporting the preservation of art and culture.

As a Friend, you’ll receive:
🔹 Unlimited free access to the museum
for you and a guest.
🔹 Invitations to exclusive exhibition
previews and events.
🔹 Special discounts in our Gift Shop.
🔹 Cultural tours and guided visits to
other museums, galleries, and stately
homes.

Your support helps us continue our mission to inspire, educate, and engage the community through art and heritage.

Join us today!

Visit our website or enquire at our Gift Shop to become a Friend of The Hunt Museum.

Monday musings…🤔

Penny (dekadrachm) for your thoughts?

This beautiful silver coin, known as a dekadrachm, dates to 5th century Classical Greece.

The obverse depicts a female’s face surrounded by four dolphins, probably Arethusa, a spring nymph. The reverse shows a chariot pulled by four horses and a charioteer. The goddess of victory, Nike, flies overhead to crown the charioteer's head with a wreath.

The decoration is highly intricate- it is possible to discern the individual horses pulling the chariot, Arethusa’s curly tresses and even her earring.

Greek coins were made by hand. The design for one side was carved into a block of bronze or possibly iron, known as a die. A blank disc would have been placed between the two dies and struck with a hammer to stamp the design on both sides of the coin.🪙

Here, the coin has been used to create a gold-mounted pendant with a suspension loop. The gold band surrounding the coin is inscribed with: “Quia precium sanguinis est” [This is the price of blood]. This inscription relates to a belief from the Middle Ages, that this coin was one of the thirty pieces of silver paid to Judas.

Silver dekadrachms like this one can also be found in the collection of the British Museum. Remarkably, even the decoration is the same.

To find out more about this special coin, visit our blog: https://ow.ly/lQoh50SJTKJ

Monday musings…🤔

Slow your scroll and take a moment to admire this ancient Greek artefact!

The Hunt Museum boasts a small but fine collection of Greek pottery dating from the 5th and 4th centuries BC. Today, we will focus on one of our lekythoi.

Dating to the 5th century BC, this object is called a lekythos. A lekythos (plural lekythoi) is a small Greek vessel that was most often used for grave offerings. More specifically, they were used to pour oil.

On this lekythos, we can see the figure of a woman. She has one hand outstretched while the other is placed at the back of her neck. She appears to be wearing a chiton, a traditional type of clothing worn by women in ancient Greece. 🏛️

Depictions on white-ground lekythoi have shown us that women regularly made visits to graves with offerings including cakes and libations. It is likely that this is the scene illustrated on this lekythos.

To find out more about this amazing ancient artefact, head to our blog: https://ow.ly/mGNr50SF57Y

Looking for inspiration for family activities this weekend?

Why not come and visit our new exhibition "Creepy Crawlies: Love/Hate"

Learn about the world of insects through interactive displays, highlight objects from our collection and incredible insect trays.🦋

We have insects on display from all corners of the globe including Asia, South America, Australia, North America and Europe.

From Atlas moths to scarab beetles, spiders to butterflies, we have a multitude of creepy crawlies for you to marvel at!

Can you spot any creepy crawlies that you recognise? Let us know in the comments!✏️

For more information, and to book tickets, visit our website: https://ow.ly/ly6W50SErZx

“What’s On” at the Hunt Museum this weekend...

📅Saturday, 20th July:

🔹Get ready for a Brazilian experience! Join us in a jubilant atmosphere of togetherness, laughter, and the unmistakable spirit of Brazil.

📅Sunday, July 21st:

🔹11:30 am to 4 pm: Chess tournament in the garden. Booking essential.

Ongoing:

🔹New exhibition: “Creepy Crawlies Love/Hate”. Come and see selected pieces from the Hunt Collection that showcase the historical and artistic significance of insects and engage with interactive displays to learn how integral these creatures are to us.

Make sure to visit us with friends and family for a weekend of cultural entertainment!

Visit our website for more information: https://ow.ly/ZkxP50SCcL4