The Holburne Museum in Bath is set to reveal an extraordinary collection of Renaissance masterpieces in a specially designed basement gallery that recreates the concept of a traditional kunstkammer, or art chamber. The gleaming treasury contains scores of exquisite pieces originally created for European royalty, church leaders, and prominent scientists, including items that may have belonged to King Henry VIII himself.
The remarkable collection features an intricate silver ship model, a rare mechanical celestial globe, and a silver-gilt vessel believed to have been owned by Henry VIII. Chris Stephens, director of the Holburne Museum, expressed his excitement about the caliber of the pieces, noting that visitors will see treasures typically found only in world-renowned institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York or the British Museum in London.
The valuable artifacts were assembled over many decades by the wealthy Schroder family, who built their fortune through merchant and banking enterprises. These Renaissance treasures have been on loan to the Holburne Museum for at least 20 years, but this marks the first time they will be displayed together in a single, purpose-built space. The museum invested $2 million to transform two storage rooms into an elegant gallery specifically designed to showcase these historic objects.
The partnership between the Holburne Museum and the Schroder family began approximately five years ago when the family's art curator inquired whether the museum might be interested in borrowing a few Renaissance paintings from their private collection. Stephens made the bold decision to request the entire collection, expecting to be turned down. Instead, the family was delighted by the proposal, leading to the transformation of Stephens' own office into a temporary gallery to house the paintings.
Encouraged by this successful collaboration, the Schroder family offered additional Renaissance treasures to the museum, sparking the innovative idea of creating Bath's own authentic kunstkammer. Stephens emphasized the importance of displaying all the diverse art forms together rather than separating them by medium, explaining that this approach captures the true spirit of Renaissance collecting, where wealthy patrons would gather exotic and valuable items from around the world in a single chamber.
Among the collection's most spectacular pieces is a 16th-century celestial globe commissioned by Wilhelm IV of Hesse-Kassel, one of the earliest modern astronomers. When wound up, this mechanical marvel rotates to show the precise positions of constellations in the night sky. Stephens compared it to modern smartphone apps that identify stars, marveling at the level of precision and complexity achieved in the 1570s with so many intricate moving parts.
Another highlight is the stunning Schwarzenberg Nef, a ceremonial silver ship created around 1580 that functioned as an elaborate ewer or pitcher. The vessel could be filled with beverages through a hole in the deck, with the spout cleverly concealed within the bow. Stephens pointed out remarkable details such as the rigging that appears to billow under the weight of crew members and an ornate chicken on a plate visible in the captain's cabin, calling the craftsmanship "miraculous."
While it cannot be definitively proven that Henry VIII personally handled the silver-gilt cup displayed in the collection, strong evidence suggests it belonged to the famous English monarch. Historical inventories from Henry VIII's reign describe a vessel of identical weight and characteristics to the piece now housed at the Holburne Museum.
Most of the objects in the Schroder collection were acquired during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and have been stored in various homes and offices owned by different members of the Schroder family over the years. Stephens noted that the only comparable collection currently on display is the Waddesdon Bequest at the British Museum, which consists of Renaissance treasures collected by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild.
The new Schroder Gallery represents an extraordinary opportunity for the public to experience these remarkable artifacts brought together in one location for the first time. Stephens described the achievement as truly extraordinary, emphasizing the rare chance to see such a comprehensive collection of Renaissance masterpieces outside of major metropolitan museums. The Schroder Gallery will officially open to the public on September 10, 2025.
