Dudley art treasures to be sold off
Historic artefacts that were on show at Dudley Museum are to go under the hammer for thousands of pounds.
The Chinese and Japanese pieces, bought by the Trust of the late Dudley MP Brooke Robinson, are being sold after the closure of the town’s musem.
The centrepiece of the collection is a Chinese Qing Dynasty Qianlong Buddhist Emblem Altar Vessel with expected to fetch up to £20,000.
There is no room for the 92-pieces at the Archives building in Tipton Road where the museum’s collections have been moved to.
Now the Brooke Robinson Museum Trust is to use cash from the sale to buy pieces more suited to the Brooke Robinson story. And it is working with the council on plans to celebrate the former town MP’s life at a display in the town centre in the future.
Colin Knipe, a trustee of the Brooke Robinson Museum, said: “We are disposing of some items that were not part of Brooke Robinson’s personal collection, in order to acquire items that are more relevant to the district and his career, and to improve the display. With the co-operation of the council, we aim to create a more imaginative and interesting gallery which should tell the story of a remarkable Dudley citizen.”.”
Brooke Robinson was a Tory MP for Dudley and also County Coroner. He was an art collector and benefactor whose legacy was the Town Hall and museum. Councillor Ian Kettle, cabinet member for planning and economic development, said: “The council will not benefit financially in any way.
“We are working with the trustees to put Brooke Robinson’s core collection back on display in the town centre.” Fieldings Auctioneers hosts the sale next Saturday.
