My favourite ship in a bottle

My favourite ship in a bottle from our collections. MMM.1998.72.16

There are so many beautiful ships in bottles (and indeed in lightbulbs, matchboxes, globes and other interesting alternatives) in our collections that picking a favourite isn’t easy. However there is one in particular that stands out to me which has just recently gone out on display. We have dozens of ships in bottles in our collections but the majority of them come from one source, a gentleman who collected and made these fabulous objects, Arthur George Maltravers (‘Jo’) Dashwood-Howard. It was one of his own creations that particularly caught my eye, a ship-in-a-bottle-maker in a bottle.

Close up of the miniature model maker.

In this beautiful object we can see a little man sat at a table in a workshop, a tiny ship in bottle being worked on in front of him and a larger ship model on the workshop floor. If you look very closely, there’s even a tiny ditty bag bearing the initials ADH (Arthur Dashwood Howard), suggesting that the model is in fact a wonderfully unusual form of self-portrait. Dashwood-Howard has used his skill to portray himself at work on one of his wonderful miniature creations. Read more…

Fun-tastic February half-term

For families looking for a fun-packed half-term, National Museums Liverpool has lots of free events for everyone to enjoy. Read more…

Get festive this Christmas at National Museums Liverpool

Tis the season to be jolly and here at National Museums Liverpool we have a whole host of festive activities that’ll appeal to everyone.

Santa is back at the Museum of Liverpool. The giant Blacklers Santa is on display in the Atrium for all visitors to see. Once you’ve seen Santa and told him your Christmas list for this year, head up and see the Education team who are showing how Christmas was celebrated over 1,000 years ago. Find out some of the ancient and interesting roots of many Christmas traditions.

Over on the Wirral at the Lady Lever Art Gallery we have a wonderful exhibition celebrating a unique, artistic partnership between illustrator Quentin Blake and children’s author John Yeoman, this exhibition will showcase more than 40 Quentin Blake works, including the beautiful illustrations featured in Yeoman’s magical storybooks.

If you’re in the city centre and would like some stories, the Walker Art Gallery have them. Once upon a time… In a magical place called Big Art, tales of wondrous lands, enchanted kingdoms and mythical characters can be found. Come along for fairy tales, traditional stories and family favourites.

Many Christmas traditions as we know them today were invented by the Victorians. Join the staff at Sudley House for an afternoon of Victorian themed Christmas crafts (15 December) and activities, including making your own Victorian Christmas card to take away or send to a loved one.

Get creative at the Merseyside Maritime Museum with some crafts. Make and decorate your own crafts using the collections for inspiration.

Heading into the New Year we are making badges at Seized! Get thinking of that New Year’s resolution, dream or goal and design your own badge to take away with you (28 & 29 December).

Our delicious range of festive savouries and cakes are back by popular demand for 2018! Fans of our freshly-made sandwiches, rolls and paninis will be keen to try our Christmas creations this year,

Find the perfect Christmas gift online or in venues, with a wide variety of coasters, prints, mugs and nostalgia gifts to suit everybody.

Every purchase supports National Museums Liverpool.

Find out more about Christmas at National Museums Liverpool here

Liverpool carters remembered

Waiting: The monument to the Liverpool working horse by Judy Boyt FRSA

This weekend visitors and staff will be coming together to once again make the paper flower garlands for Waiting, the monument to the Liverpool cart horse. Read more…

October half term

Enjoy October half term over at National Museums Liverpool, we have some spectacular events across all of our Museums and Galleries. Read more…

Kwanzaa Cards

Craft in the Anthony Walker Education Centre © Pete Carr

Just thought I’d let you know about our festive craft activities that we’ll be running later this month. You might think it would be Christmas but it’s actually the lesser known festival of Kwanzaa. It is an African-American celebration of family community and culture. This Pan-African celebration takes place between Christmas and New Year and we’ll be making kwanzaa cards to celebrate. If you ask very nicely we might even  get out the glitter glues! Read more…