Musical Instruments

This collection consists mainly of the van Raalte Collection, which encompasses around 100 European musical instruments. These include lutes and guitars from the 16th to the 18th centuries, with examples of work by famous makers like Sellas and Tieffenbrucker. The keyboard instruments are from the same period with some even earlier examples from around 1500. Most are spinets, but there are also examples of the organ, clavichord and harpsichord. The wind section is less comprehensive, but covers the 16th century to the 19th century, with important early examples of the recorder, flute, oboe and cornetto. There are a number of important viols, especially 17th century pochettes and 18th century viols d'amore. In addition to these sections the collection includes individual examples of other instruments.

Arms and Armour

This collection is made up from the Howard de Walden Collection, which was included in the gift of Dean Castle. There are examples of full and half armour from the 16th century, as well as parade pieces such as helmets. The swords include a number of rare types, ranging from the Viking and Crusader periods to the 17th century, including several examples made by noted swordsmiths in Toledo, Bilbao and Milan.

European Tapestries

This small collection is made up from the Howard de Walden Collection, which was included in the gift of Dean Castle. It consists of Brussels tapestries from the 15th and 16th centuries, including an altarpiece by the Master of St Gudule (dating from around 1475).

Costume and Textiles

The costume section is relatively small and almost entirely drawn from the local area. The great bulk of it dates to the period 1850 - 1920, with a few isolated earlier and later examples. Except for military uniforms, male costume is poorly represented.There are lace and whitework embroidery examples from all over Europe and further afield. This complements the section of Ayrshire embroidery and machine lace. The most important aspect of the last being several thousand designs and samples from the 1880s onwards.

Photographs

Photographs include landscapes, townscapes, portraits and industrial studies, from around 1850 to the present day.