Tudor and Stuart
The Museum of London's 16th- and 17th-century collections occupy a central place in any analysis of post-medieval material culture, and in particular to the study of London's social history in this period.
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The great diversity and depth of the Tudor and Stuart collections, representing most aspects of the changing structure of urban society during the 16th and 17th century, reflects the complexity of this historical period, and London's unique position within it.
Cutlery and base metal artefacts
One of the major strengths of the collection is the base metal artefacts. The cutlery collection is notable, containing over 1500 pieces. Although the majority have been recovered from the Thames foreshore, a significant number were purchased by the London Museum from the private collection of Mr Hilton Price.
The Cheapside Hoard is the greatest hoard of Elizabethan and Jacobean jewellery in the world.
Dress accessories and toys
Of similar national importance is the collection of base metal dress accessories and toys. The Museum's pewter collection is unparalleled for provenanced pieces with specific local associations, and its significance was underlined by an exhibition and publication in 1989-90.
Edged weaponry
The collection of edged weapons compares favourably with those of the Royal Armouries and the Wallace Collection. The group of swords from the Hounslow Sword Factory manufactured during the early 17th century are particularly significant, and a major joint publication on the daggers is in preparation jointly with the Royal Armouries.
Watches
The watch collection ranks highly on the list of early watch collections in the country and has recently been the subject of a research project. Of the jewellery, the Cheapside hoard stands out and has been subject to several studies.
Coins
The collections of coins and coin-like objects are extensive, but not as comprehensive as those of the national museums. The collection of trade tokens presented by Beaufoy in 1850 are a largely untapped resource despite a published catalogue.
Ceramics
It is in the area of ceramics that the post-medieval collection is internationally important. The range and completeness of the vessels, together with the complementary material in the Archaeological Archive, make this collection of interest to scholars in the UK and in parts of the world where these ceramics were exported, such as the rest of Europe, North America and the Caribbean .
Glass
The glass collections are also extensive. Some of the pieces in the Garton Collection of English table glass given in 1943 are of 17th-century date, including the Chesterfield flute.
Bone, antler, ivory , horn and leather
Amongst the collections of organic materials, the assemblages of bone, antler, ivory and horn, and of leather, stand out particularly. The former group consists of nearly 1000 objects.