Corinium Museum in Cirencester

Corinium Museum, Cirencester

New Objects On Display as Corinium Museum, Cirencester Is Shortlisted for Top Award

The Corinium Museum, Cirencester, has been selected as a candidate for European Museum of the Year Award for 2006.

The Cotswold District Council-owned museum, which re-opened almost a year ago after a £5m transformation, is one of just 65 selected this year from the 38,000 museums in Europe.

The aim of the award, run by the European Museums Forum, is to recognise, encourage and publicise new developments in museums that are adapting exceptionally well to the changing social and economic conditions in Europe. Past winners have included the V&A in London and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

As the first stage of the short-listing process, each museum is visited by two of the judging committee. The Corinium Museum was visited by Taja Vovk Cepic, Director of Ljubljana Museum, Slovenia, and Ulla Keding Olofsson of Stockholm.

Dr John Paddock, Cotswold District Council’s Museum Service Manager, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to hear we are in the running for such a prestigious award. The nomination is an honour in itself and puts the Corinium Museum and Cirencester firmly on the map as one of the major attractions of its kind in Europe.

“We will hear in January whether we have got through this round of judging. If successful, we will be invited to give a presentation in Lisbon where the final selection takes place.”

News of the nomination comes as three new acquisitions found by metal detecting enthusiasts have gone on display at the Museum.

Two of the items, both rings, have been bought by the museum through the Treasure Act.
The first is a Roman silver betrothal ring, inset with a gemstone intaglio and carved with a stylized pair of clasped hands to symbolise engagement. Dating to the 2nd or 3rd Century AD, it was found in 2004 at Quenington, near Fairford.

The second, a medieval silver-gilt finger ring bearing the inscription ‘God help amen’ dates to the late 14th or 15th century and probably acted as a charm against misfortune or ill-health. It was found in 2004 at Hampnett, near Northleach.

The third item, found on land just outside Cirencester and kindly donated by the landowner, is a Romano-British, copper alloy steelyard weight decorated in the form of a human head. It would have been part of the Romans’ sophisticated system of weights and measures that was consistent throughout the Empire.

Dr Paddock said: "Both rings are exquisite and very important. The medieval ring must have been someone's highly treasured possession. We have nothing else like this in our collections. The Roman ring is also very unusual. Roman betrothal rings often use the symbol of clasped hands but are usually made from gold rather than silver.”