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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · 17h

Today's collections find: a yellow embroidered hula cap, part of the everyday dress of men from the Hausa who are the largest ethnic group in West Africa, mostly based in Nigeria. It is part of Reading Museum's world objects collection.

2010.163.1
Reading Museum
#FridayFinds

photograph of a yellow embroidered rimless hat with white embroidered patterns, a hula cap from Nigeria. Part of Reading Museum's collection.

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · 1d

Today's @artukdotorg.bsky.social #OnlineArtExchange theme is all about ✨glamour✨

We're sharing this beautifully illustrated catalogue for shortbreads, biscuits and cakes produced by Huntley & Palmers in 1929. Who doesn't feel this glamourous reaching for a cookie and a cuppa? 🍪

1994.21.50 🖼️

illustrated cover of a Huntley & Palmers catalogue for 'Shortbreads, Biscuits & Cakes' with a glamourous lady wearing jewelry and evening dress sitting on the edge of a table reaching for a bowl of biscuits. From Reading Museum's collection.

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Reposted by Reading Museum

What's On Reading @rdgwhatson.bsky.social · 10d

Theatre at @southstreetarts.bsky.social
A new exhibition at @readingmuseum.bsky.social
Music classes and events from CultureMix Arts

And much more besides.
Reading's #BlackHistoryMonth programme kicks off today and runs throughout October!
whatsonreading.com/themes/black...

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · 7d

This suitcase took a long journey to the museum. It came from Jamaica in October 1957 aboard the Italian liner 'Sicula Oceanica'. The owner was a member of the Windrush generation, who significantly contributed to the UK's post-war economy.

2024.50.1
Reading Museum
#FridayFinds
#BlackHistoryMonth

Brown suitcase with a paper museum label tied to the handle, photographed against a white background with a scale bar in the foreground. From Reading Museum's collections.

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · 14d

this is the face of a bird who has committed crimes before and will do so again

Zoomed-in crop of a peacock side-eying the viewer, taken from Charles Burton Barber's painting 'Beauty and the Beast' in Reading Museum

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · 14d

This aircraft worker from WW2 was photographed for the Ministry of Information at Miles Factory in Woodley. The factory made 5000 new aircraft during the war and repaired damaged fighter planes. Thousands of women were employed in this industry in Reading.

1946.52.63 🖼️
Reading Museum 📷
#FridayFinds

Black and white photograph of a woman riveting metal in a factory. Image from Reading Museum's collection.

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · 15d

This week’s @artukdotorg.bsky.social #OnlineArtExchange is all about animals. We couldn't miss this opportunity to share one of our favourites, the rather unfairly titled "Beauty and the Beast" by Charles Burton Barber, painted in 1878.

1931.320.1 🦚🐖
Reading Museum 📷

Oil painting of a colourful peacock standing on straw inside a barn. Nearby, a large black sow is lying down, with several small piglets walking around. The barn has wooden walls and a calm, country fee. From Reading Museum's Collections.

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · 16d

New Blog alert! Our Youth Panel has had a lovely year working with us and @themerl.bsky.social

Find out more on our recent blog post here rdguk.info/HcMca

Reflections from Another Year of Youth Panel

As the start of term begins, it’s the start of a new year for the Museums Partnership Reading Youth Panel. With the Panellists embarking on a new series of projects, we’re looking forward to saying he...

rdguk.info

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · 19d

it's one of our favourites too! Reading has a long history of welcoming sanctuary seekers, and we are proud to officially be a Museum of Sanctuary, offering a warm welcome to all. www.readingmuseum.org.uk/get-involved/museum-sanctuary
@themerl.bsky.social @readingcouncil.bsky.social

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · 19d

Do you want to find out more about the history of Reading? Then you still have time to book this morning's curator gallery tour at 11.30am or visit the Museum today from 11am to 5pm.
www.readingmuseum.org.uk/gallery-tour-history-reading-10-objects

Gallery Tour: The History of Reading in 10 Objects

What: This engaging talk offers a whistle-stop tour through the history of Reading, told through ten remarkable objects from the Story of Reading Gallery. From the earliest evidence of human activity ...

www.readingmuseum.org.uk

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · 21d

This plan and photograph of Huntley and Palmers' new 1930s office building in King's Road show the steel and reinforced concrete buildings that replaced the cramped and dingy Victorian offices. They were then demolished in the early 1990s.

🖼️ 1997.82.604 & 1997.130.84
📷 Reading Museum
#FridayFinds

Colour drawing of large office building for Huntley and Palmers in 1930s style, from Reading Museum's collection

Black and white photograph taken from air of the large newly built office building of Huntley and Palmers. From Reading Museum's collection

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Reposted by Reading Museum

Thames21 @thames21.bsky.social · 21d

🌻The #BigRiverWatch starts today.
🖱️Download the free @theriverstrust.bsky.social app, spend 15 minutes by your local river, & complete the short survey to tell us what you see. Wildlife, plants, barriers, water colour, and every sighting matters. Get involved.
theriverstrust.org/take-action/...

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Reposted by Reading Museum

What's On Reading @rdgwhatson.bsky.social · 23d

Dr Euan Roger, Principal Medieval Specialist at The National Archives, is the guest speaker at this year's Friends of Reading Abbey AGM and Lecture on 25 October.

He'll be talking about life in St George’s Chapel during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries
whatsonreading.com/venues/frien...

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · 25d

If you are looking for something to do in the next few weekends, why not visit Reading Museum, we will be open every Sunday in September from 11am-5pm, and Saturdays as usual 10am-5pm.

Pop in, see the collections and browse in our shop! Find out more at www.readingmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/sep...

Reading's Bayeux Tapestry, showing King Edward the Confessor

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · 26d

The Museum is open today until 5pm if anyone wants to go and see Reading's Bayeux Tapestry 🙂

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · 26d

Who we love your jumper!! So glad you found the same section on our Tapestry 🤩

Kat @kaffarin.bsky.social · 27d

Went to the replica bayeux tapestry today @readingmuseum.bsky.social and found the sections from my jumper 😌 🧶

In the background is the replica of the bayeux tapestry, I’m standing in front of it wearing a jumper with the same design on it looking really excited

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Reposted by Reading Museum

What's On Reading @rdgwhatson.bsky.social · 28d

Heritage Open Days officially begin today!
whatsonreading.com/heritage-ope...

However, all of today's in-person events are already booked up, but there's some cracking online ones today, and plenty more places to visit between now and 21 Sept...
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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · 28d

Today's collections find - this beautiful Italian maiolica polychrome pharmaceutical flask was made in 1610-1620 in Sicily. It contained the medicine 'Water of Endive' and is painted in a typical palette of blue, green, ochre and yellow.

1931.433.14 🍯
Reading Museum 📷
#FridayFinds

Pottery flask with blue, orange and yellow decoration, for water of endive. From Reading Museum's collection

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · Sep 5

Going #BackToSchool isn't all about lessons! Edmund Havell's coloured aquatint shows Reading School and Playground, 1816. The children are playing sports and games in what is now the Forbury Gardens. Reading School once stood on the site of today's Museum.
🖼️ 1931.96.1
📷 Reading Museum

Coloured illustration of a busy school playground in Reading, with children playing under a large tree and near school buildings. Text at the bottom reads: “View of Reading School’s Playground.”

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · Sep 4

We now have over 1,000 loan boxes filled with artefacts that regularly go out to local schools 🚌 The collection is constantly reviewed and objects are changed around as necessary, so these ceramic birds are currently resting their wings back at our store 🐔
www.readingmuseum.org.uk/schools/scho...

School Loan Boxes

We have an inspirational collection of over 1000 loan boxes which your school can borrow to use in your classroom to support your delivery of the national curriculum in an exciting and hands-on-way. O...

www.readingmuseum.org.uk

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · Sep 4

Believe it or not, the museum acquired these birds from Aldermaston Pottery in 1964 specifically to go out to schools as part of the School Loan Service! Reading was one of the earliest museums to see the value of using real objects for learning, first loaning to schools in 1911 😮

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · Sep 4

Today's @artukdotorg.bsky.social #OnlineArtExchange theme is ceramics, so we're sharing this beautiful bird (one of a pair!) by Alan Caiger-Smith - internationally renowned potter with an expertise in lustreware and close ties to Reading.
Learn more here: www.readingmuseum.org.uk/alan-caiger-... 🎨

Stylized ceramic rooster sculpture with brown, white, and blue feather patterns, fan-shaped tail, and painted facial details. Object 2007.2020.1 from Reading Museum's collection

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · Aug 29

This English delft royal portrait plate has a somewhat unflattering depiction of Queen Anne. Rumours of female favourites at court surrounded Anne’s reign. Read more about this object and other LGBTQ+ 'Untold Histories' online soon.

🍽️ 1961.240.14
📷 Reading Museum
#ReadingPride

White circular plate with blue portrait of Queen Anne, Reading Museum collection

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · Aug 28

Did you know the final scene of the Bayeux Tapestry is missing?

📆 Find out more every Saturday at our Bayeux Tapestry tour (book online via our website).

🛍️ Our exclusive range of Bayeux Tapestry merchandise includes the 'Finale' design by Jan Messent.
Shop online rdguk.info/zE0CW

gifts using Bayeux Tapestry images in the Reading Museum shop

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Reading Museum @readingmuseum.bsky.social · Aug 27

Are you friendly, adaptable and passionate about providing great customer service?

We are looking for Casual General Assistants to join our busy, vibrant team, from welcoming visitors to delivering tours

Applications close 7 September 2025. Good luck!

Apply: reabcli.webitrent.com/reabcli_webr...

Reading Museum staff giving visitors a guided tour of the Bayeux Tapestry gallery

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