DCMVOX #022 September 2017

#022 – September 2017

Dorset County Museum Volunteer Newsletter Saturday 9th September Evening Concert Cantamus “Poetry in Music” 7.00pm for 7.30pm Tickets £8 (£10 on the door) 01305 756827 Wednesday 13th September David West on site at his Under the Surface Exhibition Thursday 14th September Lunch Time Concert 1.00pm to 2.00pm Tattermadalion—Folk Music Thursday 14th September Literary Lives Talk 7.00 for 7.30pm The Infants’ Grammar Alan Chedzoy Thursday 21st September Lunch Time Concert 1.00pm to 2.00pm Classical Folk Friday 22nd September David West on site at his Under the Surface Exhibition Main Exhibition: 8th April to 6th January 2018 David West: Under the Surface An exhibition of paintings and carvings

Tea Room 11th September to 6th January 2018 Christine Rogers Art Work

Welcome to Issue No.22 of DCMVOX… Items for the “My Favourite Object” or any other suggestions, welcome for the next and subsequent issues or DCMVOX. E-mail offerings to Anna on secretary@dorsetcountymuseum.org - thank you!

Bumper Book Sale Friday 17th, Saturday 18th & Monday 20th November—10.00 am to 4.00pm David Ashford, who took on the very important role of book sorter last year, is not able to commit to this year’s Book Sale. Can you help? We need someone who loves books! Other attributes include:  Time to sort and manage the donations of books. This will become more of a commitment, the closer we get to the Sale  Some basic knowledge to identify valuable books outside of the run-of-themill  Not mind getting a little dirty and working in St Peter’s Institute We can offer:  Members of the maintenance team to help lift and shift  Other volunteers who have already been part of this event to help  Additional expertise to help identify high price volumes  A team of volunteers who will sell books during the sale

As with any job, more hands make light work—I’m waiting to hear from you! secretary@dorsetcountymuseum.org My Favourite object—Slipware Owl Jug …. Valerie Dicker Slipware is earthenware pottery decorated with coloured liquid clay, then other colours are trailed over in intricate patterns. It was popular in the 17th century in Staffordshire.

Some years ago, when watching the "Antiques Roadshow" on television, one of their experts , Henry Sandon, was shown a slipware owl jug. He went into raptures about it and gave it a high value. On seeing the owl I realised that the museum had a similar owl. It is still on show in the Dorchester Gallery, very similar to the one on the television, but with repairs done by Roger Ross Turner in 1965.

For all the latest updates and news, please visit www.tomorrowsmuseumfordorset.org and sign up to the e-newsletter for the latest developments.

Dorset County Museum, High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XA Tel: 01305 262735 - www.dorsetcountymuseum.org

Visitor Quote of the Month: Wow! Wow! Wow! Fantastic

Dorchester Literary Festival ‘Literary Passions & Country Pleasures’ - 18th to 22nd October 2017 Would you like to help with this event? Volunteers are needed in a variety of roles over the five days of the Festival, some of which are based in the Museum. A Volunteer briefing session will take place in the Victorian Hall at 4.00pm on Tuesday 19th September. If you would like to register your interest, either contact Paul Atterbury or Janet Gleeson via contact@dorchesterliteraryfestival.com or just turn up on Tuesday 19th September. www.dorchesterliteraryfestival.com

Treasure Discovered—Bone Pin—Richard Breward

This is a bone pin of quite intricate design. It dates from the Roman period and probably to the 2nd or 3rd century. It is the finest object of worked bone that we have so far discovered. It was probably quite a status symbol back in the day. It was excavated by Wessex Archaeology on the site of the old hospital in Dorchester and is currently in All Saints Church.

I'm gloomed that we're doomed and our report has gone for nought.

Social History will forever be a mystery.

We are a ghost lost in the post....

Felicity Felicity’s report hasn’t been lost, but I love this ditty!

The background is one centimetre squares.

The Museum Tea Room is being re-vamped Do you have any vintage-style crockery which you would be happy to donate? We are looking for tea cups, tea plates and tea pots. Items must be in perfect condition but do not have to match. Thanks!

Welcome to our new volunteers….

Services due to a couple of retireexisting volunteers who wish to help ments, so please encourage folk to join look after Dippy. In the autumn the This month I have welcomed and actask-specific training will begin for this credited three volunteers: Andy Worth our Volunteer team. important project. and Chris Pullen who have long been WATCH THIS SPACE: we are now makstalwarts in our Museum Makers WE NEED YOU—PLEASE HELP US team, and are now fully documented, ing nominations for the annual and Hannah Watson who came origi- Volunteer of the Year awards New volunteers are always welnally intending to be a ‘Dippy on Tour’ (Volunteer, Young Volunteer, and come, but we are not able to offer Team) and next month's issue will give placements to anyone aged under 18 ; volunteer but decided to join our Visitor Services team immediately as a details of those nominations and also it would be a great help if you would Regular volunteer. We hope that more the people who have helped them make this clear to anyone who exof the ‘Dippy on Tour’ volunteers will achieve this recognition. presses an interest in joining us. wish to join our Regular teams—and Our ‘Dippy on Tour’ team continues to Jill Minchin become Members too! grow; currently Cathy B and I have Volunteer Co-ordinator and Trustee dealt with 64 applications from wouldWe have several vacancies in Visitor be volunteers in addition to those