For other years see Parts I and II.
Note that only items for which there is a recorded price are mentioned here, each year has more purchases of English objects but the list is too long to provide. There are a total of 6,362 entries on the Pitt Rivers Museums collections management database for English items that were purchased from 1884.
1943 appears to be the last year that prices for purchases were recorded.
|
Accession number |
Who purchased from? |
What was it? |
What price paid? |
Where was funding said to come from? |
Equivalent 2006 price £ * |
Anything relevant in annual reports for year and following? |
|
1911.59.1-8 |
Stevens Auction Rooms |
Combs |
3/- |
By cheque |
10.50 |
No |
|
1911.63.1 |
F. Williams |
Mouse trap |
7/6 |
Petty cash |
26.25 |
No |
|
1911.72.1 |
William H. Parker |
Finger and wrist stocks |
1.10.0 |
Petty cash |
105.00 |
No |
|
1911.75.1-17 |
Edward Lovett |
Amulets |
2.2.0 |
By cheque |
147.00 |
No |
|
1911.78.1 |
Frank Godfrey |
Strawsplitter |
5/- |
Petty cash |
17.50 |
No |
|
1911.79.2-8 |
Cecil Vincent Goddard |
Candlestick, meat clip, toaster, clip, 2 roasting jacks, spit |
1.7.6 |
By cheque |
96.25 |
No |
|
1911.80.1-74 |
David George Hogarth |
Stone tools |
4.0.0 |
By cheque |
280.00 |
No |
|
1912.62.2 |
George A. Herbert |
Vet knife |
2/6 |
Petty cash |
8.50 |
No |
|
1912.65.1 |
Unknown shop in Ipswich |
Marlingspike |
5/- |
Petty cash |
17.01 |
No |
|
1912.67.1 |
S.G. Hewlett |
Stone tool |
5/- |
Unknown |
17.01 |
In the 1912 annual report Balfour notes: ' I have been able to strengthen the collection of Stone Age implements by the acquirement of many rare types, many gaps in the series having been filled; some of the examples are particularly fine.' |
|
1912.67.2 |
S.G. Hewlett |
Stone tool |
10/- |
Unknown |
34.01 |
See above |
|
1912.67.3 |
S.G. Hewlett |
Stone tool |
4/- |
Unknown |
13.61 |
See above |
|
1912.67.4 |
S.G. Hewlett |
Stone tool |
2/- |
Unknown |
6.80 |
See above |
|
1912.67.5 |
S.G. Hewlett |
Stone tool |
3/- |
Unknown |
10.20 |
See above |
|
1912.67.6 |
S.G. Hewlett |
Stone tool |
1/- |
Unknown |
3.40 |
See above |
|
1912.67.7 |
S.G. Hewlett |
Stone tool |
1/- |
Unknown |
3.40 |
See above |
|
1912.69.1 |
S.G. Hewlett |
Stone tool |
3/6 |
Unknown |
11.90 |
See above |
|
1912.69.2 |
S.G. Hewlett |
Stone tool |
5/- |
Unknown |
17.01 |
See above |
|
1912.69.3 |
S.G. Hewlett |
Stone tool |
3/6 |
Unknown |
11.90 |
See above |
|
1912.71.1 |
J.P. Philbey |
Truncheon |
4/- |
Petty cash |
13.61 |
No |
|
1912.77.1 |
Alexander James Montgomerie Bell |
Stone lamp |
7/6 |
Unknown |
25.51 |
No |
|
1912.83.1 |
William Downing Webster |
Arrowhead |
3/- |
By cheque |
10.20 |
See 1912.67.1 |
|
1912.90.1-26 |
Francis Williams |
Straw splitters |
6/- |
Petty cash |
20.41 |
No |
|
1912.91.1-7 |
George A. Herbert |
Goffering irons, key, horse brass, spurs |
6/- |
Petty cash |
20.41 |
No |
|
1913.58.1-2 |
S.G. Fenton and Company |
Stone tool |
8/6 |
Petty cash |
28.74 |
The 1913 Annual Report again records work on stone tool displays. Though it is not relevant for English objects the annual report also records: ' I have gratefully to acknowledge the following sums granted for the purpose of collecting specimens for the Museum: £I0 given by Exeter College, and £10 by the Committee for Anthropology, for specimens to be collected by Mr. M.W. Hilton Simpson in Algeria and the Aures Mountains during 1914; £24 granted by the Committee for Anthropology for expenses incurred in the transport of the collection made by Mr. D. Jenness in British New Guinea. This collection has been presented to the Museum by the Committee.' |
|
1913.61.1, 4 |
G. Storey |
Duck gun, 2 powder flasks, Shot flask |
5/- |
Petty cash |
16.90 |
No |
|
1913.70.1-46 |
Mrs S. Warrington |
Stone polishers and tools |
5.2.6 |
By cheque |
346.55 |
The 1913 Annual Report again records work on stone tool displays |
|
1913.72.1 |
Messrs Cox and Company |
Model loom |
6/5 |
Petty cash |
21.69 |
No |
|
1913.75.1 |
Thomas Plasted |
Stone tool |
4/- |
Petty cash |
13.52 |
The 1913 Annual Report again records work on stone tool displays |
|
1913.78.1-2 |
Mrs W. Burdett |
Handloom and cloth and photo |
1.6.6 |
Petty cash |
89.60 |
Nothing in 1913 Annual Report of relevance. In the Annual Report for 1918 it is recorded that there has been a re-display of looms which may have included this object |
|
1914.61.1 |
J.R. Corbey possibly James R. Corby |
Stone tool |
7/6 |
Petty cash |
24.74 |
Nothing in 1914 Annual Report of relevance except it again records a 'grant of £25 from the Committee for Anthropology allotted to Miss Czaplicka for collecting specimens in Siberia on behalf of the Museum' |
|
1914.63.1 |
Sydney Gerald Hewlett |
Stone tool |
3.0.0 |
By cheque |
197.91 |
No |
|
1914.75 |
J.B. Kirby |
Skull, skeleton and grave goods |
1.10.0 |
Petty cash |
98.96 |
No |
|
1915.44.1-23 |
Albert Marshall |
Stone tools |
2.0.0 |
Cash |
110.13 |
Nothing in 1915 Annual Report of relevance except it notes: '... although there were hardly any specimens acquired by purchase, owing to the necessity for economy' |
|
1916.42.3 |
H.F. Hope |
Pole axe head |
7/6 |
By cheque |
17.48 |
No |
|
1918.57.1-90 |
William Johnson Sollas |
Stone tools |
12.10.0 |
By cheque |
418.44 |
No. The only purchase which is mentioned is one to which we have no cost, stone tools from Northfleet, Kent from Mr Cross |
|
1920.87.1 |
S.G. Hewlett |
Sand sifter |
7/6 |
Petty cash |
10.35 |
No. The only purchase which is mentioned is 'The Montgomerie Bell archaeological collection was purchased, and enriches the Museum, especially with a very fine series of Oxfordshire specimens, which it was important to keep in the county; the remainder of this collection is of considerable interest.' [Again, no price given and collection therefore not included] |
|
1920.90.3 |
Archibald Graham |
Pipe case |
3/- |
Petty cash |
4.14 |
No |
|
1920.94.1 |
F.G. Sanson |
Powder tester |
12/6 |
Petty cash |
17.26 |
No |
|
1922.61.6-72 |
Stevens Auction Rooms |
Stone tools, flakes, arrowheads |
4.1.0 |
Unknown |
151.98 |
No |
|
1922.63.1 |
George Fabian Lawrence |
Stone blade |
10.0.0 |
By cheque |
375.25 |
No |
|
1922.64.6-86 |
Stevens Auction Rooms |
Stone tools |
25/- |
Unknown |
46.91 |
No |
|
1923.73.2-9 |
Tyrrell |
Stone tools |
1.0.0 |
Petty cash |
39.20 |
No |
|
1924.62.2-17 [not all numbers] |
Stevens Auction Rooms |
Fish hooks, line |
2.0.0 with packing |
Unknown |
78.40 |
No |
|
1924.67.6-11 |
S.G. Hewlett |
Stone tools, bone |
5.10.0 |
By cheque |
215.60 |
No |
|
1925.60.1 |
Unknown labourer |
Stone axe |
3/- |
Petty cash |
5.88 |
No |
|
1925.61.3-4 |
F.H. Bennett |
2 pistols |
1.0.0 |
Petty cash |
39.20 |
No |
|
1925.61.1-2 |
F.H. Bennett |
2 pistols |
1.0.0 |
Petty cash |
39.20 |
No |
|
1926.83.1-12 |
F. Heath |
Pins |
5/- |
Petty cash |
9.97 |
No |
|
1926.91.1-42 |
Sydney Gerald Hewlett |
Stone tools |
8.7.0 |
By cheque |
333.11 |
The 1926 Annual Report records ' Also I had the opportunity of purchasing a number of important types of stone implements from the collection of Mr. S. G. Hewlett.' |
|
1927.72.1-4 |
Stevens Auction Rooms |
Weight, handle, vessels |
1.8.0 [with 4/- for packing] |
By cheque |
57.44 [plus 8.21 post] |
No |
|
1927.73.15-75 |
S.G. Hewlett |
Stone tools |
15.6.6 |
By cheque |
628.81 |
The 1927 Annual Report records 'Among the purchases, special attention may be drawn to extensive acquisitions of stone implements (mostly British) from the collection of Mr. S. G. Hewlett' |
|
1927.76.1 |
James Thomas Hooper |
Rapier |
1.10.0 |
Petty cash |
61.55 |
No |
|
1927.78.38-39, 42-184 |
Stevens Auction Rooms |
Stone tools, pottery rings |
5.5.0 |
By cheque |
215.41 |
No |
|
1927.79.1 |
?Stevens Auction Rooms |
Stone tool |
6/6 |
By cheque with other things |
13.34 |
No |
|
1927.83.24-41 |
Stevens Auction Rooms |
Stone tools |
2.10.0 |
By cheque |
102.58 |
No |
|
1928.51.1 |
Mr Warmington probably George Warmington |
Stone tool |
1.10.0 |
Petty cash |
62.11 |
No |
|
1928.61.1 |
E. Lacey |
Stone tool |
5/- |
Petty cash |
10.35 |
No |
|
1929.92.2 |
Stevens Auction Rooms |
Stone tools |
17/- |
Unknown |
35.52 |
No |
|
1930.95.5 purchased December 1929 |
Stevens Auction Rooms |
Double-barrelled gun |
5.0.0 |
By cheque |
217.29 |
No |
|
1930.70.1 |
Stevens Auction Rooms |
Gun |
5.10.0 |
By cheque |
239.02 |
No |
|
1930.75.7, 17, 18, 19-21 |
James Frank Robieson |
Flute, fish hook,shell forgeries, bone ornaments |
19.10.0 |
By cheque |
847.42 |
No |
|
1930.76.1 |
C.J. Stanley |
Corn dolly |
3/6 |
Petty cash |
7.61 |
No |
|
1930.82.65, 72 |
Stevens Auction Rooms |
Bone forgeries |
1.0.0 |
By cheque |
43.46 |
No |
|
1930.84.1-2 |
Mrs L. Faulkner |
Doll, corset |
1.0.0 |
Petty cash |
43.46 |
No |
|
1931.79.1 |
Unknown labourer |
Trowel |
1/- |
Petty cash |
2.33 |
No |
|
1931.80.1-2 |
Joseph Meads |
Fox trap, fiddle |
16/- |
Petty cash |
37.36 |
No |
|
1933.74.1 |
George Warmington |
Stone tool |
10/- |
Petty cash |
24.39 |
No |
|
1933.90.1-66 [not all numbers] |
Stevens Auction Rooms |
Items from Lovett's collection |
2.5.0 |
By cheque |
109.77 |
No |
|
1933.94.1 |
Allan Gray |
Plough |
2.12.0 |
By cheque |
126.85 |
No |
|
1934.63.5-52 [not all numbers] |
S.G. Hewlett |
Misc coll |
9.9.0 |
By cheque |
461.04 |
No |
|
1934.66.9 |
Stevens Auction Rooms |
Marlingspike |
2.16.0 [with other items] |
By cheque |
136.61 |
No |
|
1934.67.1-26 [not all numbers] |
Sydney Gerald Hewlett |
Misc coll |
5.16.0 |
By cheque |
282.97 |
No |
|
1934.75.6-9 |
Allan Gray |
cooking tools |
1.0.0 |
By cheque |
48.79 |
No |
|
1935.54.1-3 |
Nash |
Crucibles |
2/6 |
Petty cash |
5.97 |
No |
|
1935.65.1-3 |
Mr Wyatt |
Bell, Handcuffs and keys |
5/- |
Petty cash |
11.93 |
No |
|
1935.66.1 |
W.J. Curtis |
Bone tool |
7/6 |
Petty cash |
17.90 |
No |
|
1935.69.2, 24 |
Stevens Auction Rooms |
Bucket, hourglass |
6.19.6 [including packing and other things] |
By cheque |
332.85 |
No |
|
1937.54.1-10 |
Francis Howe Seymour Knowles |
Examples of flint working |
1.8.0 |
By cheque |
62.08 |
No |
|
1938.26.1 |
Gordon Stacey |
Sword |
10/- |
Unknown |
21.94 |
No |
|
1938.27.1 |
Stevens Auction Rooms |
Bugle |
15/- |
By cheque |
32.91 |
No |
|
1939.5.1-3 |
The Kensington Weavers |
Loom, wheel, accessories |
5.12.7 |
Unknown |
239.85 |
No |
|
1939.5.11 |
Lafayette Ltd |
Portrait |
12.14.0 |
Unknown |
541.13 |
The Annual Report for 1938-1939 records ' A portrait with the inscription ‘Henry Balfour, F.R.S., Curator of the Pitt-Rivers Museum 1891-1939’ has been placed in the Exhibition Court, near the entrance.' Stopped listing acquisitions in this year. |
|
1939.6.1 |
Antique and Modern Furnishing Company |
Bobbin |
1.15.0 |
Unknown |
74.56 |
No |
|
1939.11.1-6 |
Victor Robert Edwards |
Stone tools |
15/- |
Unknown |
31.96 |
No |
|
1940.2.1 |
Reginald Andrade |
Model ship |
3.0.0 |
1940.2.1 |
112.57 |
No. See end of table |
|
1940.4.4-5, 7 |
J. Snow |
Pair of carriage lamps, snuffers, toaster |
2.2.6 |
Unknown |
79.74 |
No |
|
1940.7.1 |
George Higgs |
Organette |
1.5.0 |
Unknown |
46.91 |
No |
|
1940.9.1-37 |
Roadnight Carter |
Whip, horse brasses, bobbins |
7/6 |
Unknown |
14.07 |
No |
|
1940.9.44 |
Sydney Hughes |
Crystallophone |
3.17.6 |
Unknown |
145.41 |
No |
|
1940.9.45 |
A.A. Kennedy |
balance |
1/6 |
Unknown |
2.81 |
No |
|
1940.11.2 |
H.W. Jones and Son |
Clock |
15.0.0 |
Unknown |
562.87 |
No |
|
1941.4.14 |
Sydney Acott and Company Ltd |
Records |
6.8.4 |
Unknown |
218.37 |
The Annual Report of 1940-41 records ' A few gramophone records of exotic music have been added to our present collection for regular demonstration of the music of the peoples of the world whose instruments we possess, and whose musical systems are not generally familiar to students of European music.' |
|
1941.7.3-4 |
D. and B. Gladding |
Looms |
10.0.0 |
Unknown |
340.31 |
No |
|
1941.9.1 |
Gillman and Soame |
Photograph |
1.2.0 |
Unknown |
37.43 |
No |
|
1941.10.1 |
H.W. Jones and Son |
Thimble |
10/- |
Unknown |
17.02 |
No |
|
1941.11.1 |
Edward Gerrard and Sons |
Tusk section |
6/- |
Unknown |
10.21 |
No |
|
1942.1.1-3 |
D. and B. Gladding |
Carpet machines and photos |
10.0.0 |
Unknown |
320.32 |
No |
|
1942.2.1 |
Oliver H. Wild |
Pair of clogs |
7/6 |
Unknown |
12.01 |
No |
|
1942.4.1-8 |
Unknown soldier from Northampton |
Artificial flowers |
8/- |
Unknown |
12.81 |
No |
|
1943.8.1-3 |
C.O. Waterhouse |
Drawings of stone tool |
2.7.0 |
Unknown |
72.63 |
No |
|
1943.9.1-6 |
C.O. Waterhouse |
Drawings of stone tool |
4.5.0 |
Unknown |
131.35 |
No |
|
1943.10.79-82 |
B. George |
Flask lens |
1.10.0 |
Unknown |
46.36 |
No |
|
1943.10.83-85 |
C.O. Waterhouse |
Drawings of stone tool |
3.15.0 |
Unknown |
115.89 |
No |
|
From this point they seem to stop recording prices |
|
|
|
|
|
|
* Purchasing power relatively from year object was purchased until 2006 using the retail price index. Information provided by http://www.measuringworth.com/ppoweruk/. On that site is a discussion of the relative values etc used in the calculations. I have used the standard calculator. Like is being compared to like
** Museum Maintenance of Collections Fund
The first mention of the fund appears in the 1889 annual report, the first objects are recorded as having been purchased using the Fund in 1895 (I do not know why nothing was purchased in the first few years, or at least, why nothing is recorded as having been purchased using the Fund). The last objects appear to have been purchased in 1900. It is not known why the fund ceased. A total of 651 objects were purchased via the fund from all over the world, of which 78 were English [12 per cent]. Nothing further is known about it. The items are purchased from dealers and individuals. Towards the end of the period some entries say that the items were paid for by M.M.F. cheque.
1940-41 Annual Report
In the 1940-41 Annual Report it states: 'During the past year the Curator observed that conditions were bringing on to the market valuable specimens which filled important gaps here, and thought it better for them to be housed for all time in a public museum than to suffer the vicissitudes of private ownership and perhaps be finally lost to the world. Council placed a sum of money at our disposal with the wise provision that the Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum and the Curator of the Museum of the History of Science be consulted before drawing on the fund, both to avoid duplication of effort, and to establish our different provinces. This provision has been of value in directing material where it has most significance. The Pitt-Rivers Collection aims to show the origin, development, geographical distribution and variation of the principal arts and industries of mankind from the earliest times to the age of mass production, and the collections are used both for teaching these arts and industries and their ethnological significance, and for teaching the General Ethnology of the areas of the world. Our archaeological collections do not conflict with those of the Ashmolean. Archaeology is past Ethnology, and its earlier part up to the invention of agriculture is fittingly taught here, in close connexion with the Department of Geology. Thanks to the great industry and generosity of Sir Francis Knowles and Professor A. S. Barnes, and to the help of Mr. A. D. Lacaille and Mr. S. Hazzledine Warren during the past year, we have added greatly to our collections and ability to teach this subject. A main source of strength is in our comparative material from peoples who were in the Stone Age at the time of their discovery by Europeans, and in our series illustrating techniques of working. Against this richness must be set some poverty in European material, mainly Mesolithic and Upper Palaeolithic, a gap which the Musée de l’Homme of Paris has promised in part to fill. Our friends can judge as well as we when the happy day will come. From the time of the invention of agriculture, textiles, metallurgy, pottery, transport and navigation, music, writing, and other basic arts and industries, our collections, both archaeological and later, are arranged under those subjects, and while we need certain authenticated type collections from archaeological sites to complete our series, we leave to the Ashmolean large archaeological collections by periods and areas of culture, as well as the securing of painting and sculpture such as art galleries ought to show.'