We went to the Sunderland Museum which is co-located with the Library and the Winter Garden. This collection has to be the most varied and eclectic collection of a single museum ever. For instance there were ship models, carved ivory pieces, neolithic spear points, art glass pieces, a stuffed tiger, early pottery pieces, a half ton cube of coal, plastic "baby" dinosaurs, crystal and mineral deposits, 18th century paintings and the projects of students from Sunderland College. Needless to say we were lost inside for hours peeking at everything and poking around to see what was on each of the four floors of the museum. But first we had our picnic lunch in the adjacent park. The flowers were blooming and we saw a lifebird in the pond, a crested duck. The life sized walrus statue was very interesting if somewhat out of place. I took the opportunity to be a walrus in solidarity with him. Then we headed into the museum and the winter garden. The winter garden was built to give folks a chance to see some green in the long dark winters and the current facility is fairly new.
This grand brick building seemed to be empty
This gate was on rollers so II think it can roll over and shut the entrance tot eh park
A war memorial
Individualized blocks
Memorializing different soldiers
Coo coo chi choo
Blooming
A fine iron bridge
Nice matching patinas
A piercing gaze
This duck butt had Leslie laughing
The beak is actually blue
Nap time
A memorial to 184 children who died in 1883. They are caught in a crushing surge of people trying to get to a free toy giveaway
So big and hairy, and a walrus too
I am the walrus!
Coo coo chi choo
Before Sunderland became a glass powerhouse, it was the maker of stoneware ceramics
The caption is "the tythe pig" so I wonder if the church only takes 10% of the pig
Sailors would be in Sunderland for egress from the port and would buy mugs and plates to use on the voyage
Victorian humor included toads. This is a toad in the champerpot
This toad is in the beer mug
It was great fun to slip a live toad into your mates beer
We really liked this pattern
A Sunderland specific souvenir
From between 674 and 800 AD this window was cobbled together from old Roman glass
Lots of interconnected spaces
Palm trees, Norfolk pines and other heat loving plants
It is tall and wide
The cacti were right next to the sunny window
Some of the first safety lamps used by coal miners. They needed lights that would not ignite any gasses that can be found in the mines. In fact the color and intensity of the flame could inform the miner of the presence of a dangerous gas build up
Random ivory carvings
This plaster ball was made by placing cuttings all along the interior of a spherical mold and then pouring the plaster into the mold
More friggers, these are pieces of glass that the workers could make in their free time or after their shift was over and there was left over glass
Pipes, canes, rolling pins, hats, bottles, bells and more friggers
The students designed some beer labels for a local brewery
Some crazy fictional cigarettes
One designer had seven different pieces of clothing commemorating different LGBTQ milestones
There was one for Stonewall, one for coming out and so on...
The smallpox, HIV and a future virus are represented here in glass
The COVID virus
And the vaccine!
A glass sculpture that is a do it yourself construction
Various levels of deconstruction
All assembled
Woof, woof, woof says Rose, Shamrock and Thistle
A painting of the riverside shipbuilding docks
The artist placed different items in these pills
The items within are written below
This one has Uric Acid, is that why it is yellow?
Yikes predators!
Nearly extinct birds
A fantastic paint job of dazzle camouflage from WW1
The hull of the "victory" ships that were built for WW2
A WW1 ship with copper and metal highlights
