Insights and behind the scenes from our palaces
Embracing two worlds: Conserving Bi-cultural heritage with a rare Japanese court suit
14 March 2025
Textile Conservator Kaori Motaung shares her experience conserving a rare Japanese court suit from the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection.
Objects Unwrapped: A 13th-Century Condiment dish
15 December 2015
This small green-glazed ceramic dish was found during excavations near the Middle Tower at the Tower of London in the 1930s. It dates from the late 13th century and was possibly made at a pottery workshop in Kingston, just down the river from Hampton Court Palace.
Objects Unwrapped: A Tin-glazed Floor Tile Found at the Tower
10 December 2015
This tin-glazed ceramic floor tile is decorated with a deer in a landscape, surrounded by concentric circles and trefoil motifs in the corners. It would originally have formed part of a decorative floor, consisting of similar style tiles but with different animals and patterns in the centre.
Objects Unwrapped: Grace and Favour Residents
09 December 2015
When George III became king in 1760, he chose not to use Hampton Court Palace as a royal residence. So the palace was turned into a giant lodging house for Grace and Favour residents.
Objects Unwrapped: Tudor Leather Mache Putto from Hampton Court
07 December 2015
Putti are representations of small male children often with wings, found in religious and secular artwork. They were a popular form of decoration during the Renaissance.