Croydon Museum Service owns two paintings by the Bengali Artist and poet – Rabindranath Tagore. One is of a bearded face and the other is of five profiles overlapping. The two paintings were given to Mr Ranald Newson of Croydon in 1900 as thanks for his work at the college of Santiniketan, a semi-religious institution founded by Tagore with instructions that they be passed onto the local authority.

The two paintings are ink paintings so are not on long term display but can be viewed by appointment

The Riesco collection is named after Raymond Riesco. He was a businessman who loved collecting Chinese ceramics. He lived in Croydon and when he died he left his collection to the people of Croydon.

There are more than 200 amazing pieces on display in the Riesco Gallery in Croydon Clocktower. They cover nearly 4000 years of Chinese history. There are grave goods, religious statues, wine and tea cups, snuff bottles and much more. It is a visually rich collection with wonderful colours and fabulous decoration. There is an earthenware water pot made to look like a toad which is 1800 years old and radiant yellow pieces which belonged to the Emperor.

Highlights include a ceramic tomb model of a camel, dish with three legs and tea bowls and saucers.

Highlights of the Collection

Ceramic Model of a Camel
Glazed pottery model of a camel, made between 700-750 AD during the Tang Dynasty. It was made to be buried in a tomb. Tomb models were intended for the deceased person to use and to give them status in their after-life. Camels were important in China. They were used as pack animals in north-west China especially along the silk route. Camels were also eaten. Camel hump was used in stews or spit-roasted. The camel is made of earthenware. It was moulded in sections then put together and glazed with a brown and green/yellow lead glaze. The hump had warped when it was fired.

Dish with Three Legs
This three legged dish was made c 350 BC. In ancient China it was thought lucky to make offerings to the spirits of the dead. Fruit or cakes would be offered to the spirits in specially-made ceramic pots. Family and friends would have filled this dish with food and buried it with the deceased. Anyone living couldn’t eat from a pot like this, as its lead glaze is highly poisonous. Chinese people still make offerings of food to the dead today. Dishes are left in front of the coffin during a wake. This dish has a special lead glaze to make it look as if it is made of bronze which was much more expensive than clay. The dish has a head, tail and wings and the legs were added later. There are other pieces within the same period these are the water dropper, a green ‘Yue’ bowl.

Tea Bowls and Saucers
These porcelain tea bowls and saucers were made between 1736-1795 AD during the Qing:Qianlong Dynasty. They are part of a tea set and were made to export to Europe. Drinking from a saucer was quite acceptable in early 18th century England. However, when Chinese potters added handles to tea bowls and turned them into tea cups, it soon became unfashionable to drink from saucers.

Stories of immigration from, and emigration to the Caribbean are included in the stories of the Museum of Croydon. Follow the links below for more.

Caribbean Related Objects At The Museum Of Croydon

World War Two stories and an experience of pre-war Nazi Germany by a Croydon resident are represented in the collections of the museum. You can find out more by clicking the link below.

German Related Objects At The Museum Of Croydon

The Museum of Croydon has a couple of objects purchased from Gypsies who sold things at fairs in the area. Travelling communities have often camped on the outskirts of London. Click the link below to find out more about the objects at Croydon.

Gypsy Objects At The Museum Of Croydon

Objects at the Museum of Croydon reflect the many religious practices of the Borough. Follow the links to find out more below.

Faith Objects At The Museum Of Croydon