Six vases that are older than the Roman Empire will be available to view in Powys what the National Trust is calling a “once in a decade opportunity”.
Six Etruscan vases at National Trust Cymru’s Powis Castle and Gardens, Welshpool, are getting a deep dust this week.
The precious ceramics will be at eye level after they were moved from their usual high position in the library for cleaning – with the team at Powis using a five metre high scaffolding tower to carefully take down the vases.
The vases are among the oldest items in Powis Castle’s collections, originating from the Etruscan civilisation of ancient Italy, which predated the Roman Empire, and are Greek in tradition.
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Alex Turrell, Senior Collections & House Officer at Powis Castle and Garden said: “We are delighted to be able to give visitors a once-in-ten-year chance to have a closer look at the delicate Etruscan vases and watch conservation in action at Powis.
“Dusting and cleaning are continual jobs in caring for the collections here but fragile objects such as the vases are cleaned less often.
“It’s amazing to think that these vases have been successfully preserved for two millennia, and we’re so pleased to be able to share this exciting occasion with visitors.”
The vases are highly decorative pieces and originate from the year 350 BC, pre-dating the Roman empire. They are brushed annually but rarely moved.
A team of conservators will be working to clean and conserve the vases in the castle’s Gateway Room until Tuesday October 10.
In between cleaning the vases will be lit to give better visibility of the beautiful red-figure vase painting, an important style of Greek vase painting.
Featuring scenes of Greek people, culture and mythology, some of the richly painted pieces can be attributed to the Athenian master craftsman known as Rodin966 and others to the ‘Eros and Hare’ painter.
Assisting on the conservation work at Powis Castle is Lynne Edge, a specialist ceramics conservator who added: “We use specialist brushes with bristles made of soft pony and sable hair along with natural rubber ‘smoke sponges’, to ensure an effective clean whilst being careful of the delicate decoration.
“It’s a privilege and honour to handle such beautiful ancient objects. Often impressions of the fingerprints of the original maker can be found, connecting me to the objects past as I work to conserve it for the future.”
The six ceramic pieces were probably acquired in Italy during the Grand Tour of Europe in the 1770s or 1780s by Clive of India, his son Edward, the 2nd Lord Clive or George 2nd Earl of Powis.
Each vase has a different shape and would have been designed for a different use by Etruscan people. For example, the Krater (of which there are two at Powis) would have been used to mix water with wine and others would have been for holding oil, wine and for drinking from.
To plan a visit to see the vases in the Gateway Room until Tuesday October 10 go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/powis-castle-and-garden. From the October 11 they will be back in situ in the library at Powis Castle and can be seen every day between 12noon to 4pm (with last entry 30 minutes before closing) when the castle is open.
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