Inside Olveston the contents of the house are a visual, historic and aesthetic delight. Each object serves as a reminder of family memories and bygone times. Collectively they have the most precious attributes of all – a feeling of intimacy and a unique  identity.

The collection is comprised of many treasures from around the world. Objects and artefacts on display include bronze statues, fine pieces of Japanese cloisonné and ivory, Chinese jade and ceramics, 18th and 19th century Japanese weaponry, domestic items and an impressive collection of fine artworks, by the family between the late 1800s and the early 1960s. Artists represented in the collection include Frances Hodgkins, Grace Joel, C. F. Goldie, Sir Russell Flint and works after Fra Filippo Lippi and Veronese.

Netsuke, Ojime and inro set

Description:
The four case container (inro) with butterflies playing above tall grasses. Late Edo-early 19C.

The netsuke, (decorative ornament of a carved figure of an old hag seated on a rock is believed to represent Ono-no-Komachi in old age..

The ojime, (carved bead, internal himotoshi has flat ground lacquer. Takamaki-e decoration (lacquer on lacquer).

Urn, Rectangular ‘Ting’

Description:
Rectangular ‘Ting’ on 4 legs. Canton enamel with polychrome pastel decoration featuring floral brocades surrounding landscape reserves with European flavour. Mounted on carved blackwood stand.

Photograph, Theomin Family Group

Description:
Theomin family group - David, Marie, Edward & Dorothy.

Taken in the garden. Inscribed “Mr & Mrs Theomin, Edward & Dorothy”

Ice plane

Description:
One of two metal ice planes with turned wood handles.

Casket, Jewel

Description:
Elliptical casket; hinged cover; Relief figures, exterior; velvet lined interior. Capo-di Monte style. Marks, Naples Ferdinard IV.

Painting, ‘The Family of Darius at the Feet of Alexander’

Description:
“The Family of Darius at the Feet of Alexander” after VERONESE (Paolo Caliari called Veronese), 1520-1588. Probably a copy.

Painting, ‘Head of an Old Woman’

Description:
“Head of an Old Woman” or “Thinking of the Olden Times - Of Days long vanished, of years gone by” by Frances Mary Hodgkins, 1869-1947

Staffordshire flatback figures

Description:
A Staffordshire earthenware flat back figure; Prince of Wales on horse. What is a flat back? The figures, also commonly called "chimney pieces", are cheap earthenware ornaments made initially for modest country cottages by relatively unskilled labor. Detailed only on the front and slim enough to fit on a narrow shelf (primarily fire-place mantels), they were made from the 1840s to the early 20th century up to World War 1 and can be classified as naive folk art.

Islamic Jar

Description:
...

Pistol, Flint Lock

Description:
Old flint lock pistol (possibly Spanish Miquelet)

Yusen-jippo, black grey and green with dragon vase

Description:
Globular form. Silver-toned metal base. Yusen-jippo, black grey and green with dragon motif. Delicate cloison work. No marks. Early 20C for export.

Mincer

Description:
Small metal meat mincer, inscribed "No. 1 Universal Food Chopper L.F. & C. New Britain Conn. U.S.A. PAT. OCT. 12. 1897. APR.18, 1899. RE. SEPT.5. 1880." Handle inscribed "PAT. MAY 15. 1900. CANADA PAT. OCT. 12. 1897. GREAT BRITAIN 2432697. BREVETE SG. DG. 1897. D.R.P. NO. 104762. BELGIUM 139446."

Painting, ‘The Orange Seller, Tangier’

Description:
“The Orange Seller, Tangier” by Frances Mary Hodgkins, 1869-1947

Georgian Tea Caddy

Description:
The history behind this small item displayed in the drawing room of the Theomin family home traverses the high seas and exotic teas, trade and taxation, revolution and relaxation.The decoratively detailed yet practical item is a tea caddy, a container for loose leaf tea, dating from the late 18th to early 19th century, when King George III reigned. The mahogany box is an elongated hexagonal shape, tin-lined and lockable. Glass panels on the lid and sides contain skilful examples of paper quilling.

Eagle Coal Range

Description:
The kitchen at Olveston Historic Home is dominated by a magnificent coal-fired range – the Patent Eagle, a handsome piece of equipment which c.1904 would have been state-of-the-art. It was manufactured by Eagle Range & Gas Stove Co Ltd, of Regent Street, London. The words 'BY ROYAL LETTER PATENT EAGLE RANGE' are proudly embossed on the black cast iron.

Japanese ramma transom panels

Description:
A pair of Japanese ramma panels are a feature of the Theomin family’s oriental collection in Olveston. They are placed above two doorways in the Great Hall, a location simulating their original architectural use as pierced ventilation transoms (although Olveston’s examples have been modified with the addition of silk backings). The traditional wood carving art on ramma panels – sometimes brightly coloured, sometimes plain – ranges from simple slatted or geometric trellis designs to more figurative ones featuring plants and animals or landscapes.

North American Indian beaded bag

Description:
A North American Indian beaded bag hanging in a corner of the Card room. The bag itself is made of soft hide (buckskin), with a wrist-strap, flap fasteners and a long fringe at the bottom edge. An overall decoration of stitched rows of seed beads creates a ribbed appearance. Ornamental beadwork is one of the best known art forms practised by American Indians and design elements were distinctive to different tribes. Judging from the geometric design and beading technique, this bag is most likely an example of a 19th-century Plains Indian artefact.

D. E. Theomin’s book plate, designed by Mabel Hill

Description:
A book plate is a label, affixed to the inside cover, indicating ownership. This one was designed for David Theomin by artist Mabel Hill and was produced as an etching, printed in black ink, to use on the books in his personal library. The original etched zinc plate and several prints are also still at Olveston.

The Latin words Ex Libris translate as “from the books” or “from the library of”.