iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Exhibition: 'The View from Here': Contemporary Art from the Middle East and North Africa. Exploring ideas of heritage, memory and identity through digital assemblage and collage, at Leighton House (until 1/3/2026) showcases voices from an array of cultures and landscapes.

An image of a gallery with colourful art works with 2 people viewing them with interest.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Did you guess? This is Nigel! He's not actually a reindeer but the nearly complete skeleton of an extinct Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus). One of the largest species of deer to ever exist! DURNS.2024.1 #DUCollections

Colour image of a very large Irish Elk skeleton, displayed in front of a red brick internal wall.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Clue number 4! Can you work out what this item is? We are prepared to admit the festive connection is a little tenuous but if Santa is looking for a backup for Rudolph... #DUCollections

Colour image of the skeleton of the hind quarters of an animal.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Clue number 3! Can you work out what this item is and his connection to the festive season? He is very old. If you left a carrot out for him on Christmas Eve, he might not recognise it... #DUCollections #OlderThanCarrots

Close up colour image of the skeletal hoof of an animal.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Clue number 2! Can you work out what this item is and his connection to the festive season? I think you’ve already guessed he is part of the Biosciences collection! Another hint – he is very tall! #DUCollections #biosciences

Close up colour image of the skeleton of the knee joint of an animal.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

We are getting into the festive spirit with a seasonal puzzle for you! 🌲🌲🌲A picture a day to work out what this item is. What connection does he have to the festive season? And bonus points for Durham students and staff...what is his name? #DUCollections

Close up colour image of an organic, brownish, ridged material with a leaf-like pattern.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

StopGap was a Durham Town-Gown student magazine, ‘focusing on local and student issues and Arts with the intention of highlighting the huge GAP which exists between the two communities.’ Although intended to be monthly, only one issue was published. @durham.ac.uk

Drawing of two men, one a student dressed in a blazer and tie commenting ‘The June Ball is only £50 this year’, the other a member of the local community dressed in a band t-shirt and jeans next to a newspaper board stating ‘All job centres closed until further notice’.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Summary lists of all 284 boxes of uncatalogued material in the Sudan Archive have now been made available online for the first time in the Summary Guide! This is a significant milestone to make all our collections as accessible as possible. libguides.durham.ac.uk/asc-sudan-ar...

Image of a 3-penny facsimile of 'Gordon's Last Despatch', sent by General Charles Gordon out of the besieged city of Khartoum, Sudan, in December 1884

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

To celebrate #LumiereDurham, a spectacular Light Art festival we have scoured the collections for images of light. This illustration is titled ‘The City with the Moon and the Tower’, and was created in Japan and printed c. 2011 DUROM.2012.64 #DUCollections

A digital illustration of a city street with stone frontage western style houses overlooking a stone flagged street. Gas lantern style street lights line the street on both sides. In the foreground are various large flowers in white, blue, red and yellow. There are several human figures in the street, mostly wearing long capes, big hats and carnival masks in various styles. The main figure in the centre of the image is a young child wearing a top hat and an oversize shirt pulled up over its mouth and nose. In the background at the end of the street is a large, angular structure rising up into the sky and tipped with a point like a corkscrew. Suspended in the sky above this is a large circular gold and red disc covered with regular geometric patterns and faintly resembling a clock face.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

There’s only a few days left to experience the wonder of storytelling through our MA students’ exhibition, Telling Tales, at the Oriental Museum. This family-friendly exhibition will be closing; 9th of November. Unable to make it? Check out our online exhibition and audio guide. #TellingTales

A poster with the text: Telling Tales: Making Stories Come to Life. It has illustrations of a Javanese puppet, the Soga Brothers, woodblock prints, a blue-white ceramic, a scary Noh mask, a blue Peking Opera face painting, a musician playing a horn, an orange robe with a golden dragon and a colourful shadow puppet.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

💀Happy Halloween!💀 This Danse Macabre woodcut by Michael Wolgemut reflects 15th-century Europe's obsession with death and the afterlife. Found in the 1493 Nuremberg Chronicle. 📖 Ref: SA 0166 #DanseMacabre #NurembergChronicle #RareBooks #MedievalArt

Woodcut illustration of the Danse Macabre, showing skeletal figures dancing.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Friday 7 November our Conservation team will be running an annual takeover of our social media for #AskAConservator day! Conservators around the world will be discussing their work and sharing how they care for collections. Ask us questions and follow the hashtag to see who else is participating.

A Conservator cleaning the books and historic interior in Cosin’s Library using a soft, dry brush and a museum backpack vacuum on a low suction to remove the surface dirt.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Only one week left to see ‘Beasts and Legends: Adventures through North East Folklore’ - a great way to get ready for the spooky season! #BeastsandLegends #DUCollections

The cauld lad, a boar and the Lambton worm as shadows hovering over the shadow of a soldier with a sword. The shadow is attached to a small boy standing in a doorway.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

#NationalCatDay - and we’re remembering one very special feline: Tinkerbelle who lived with the Poor Clares Darlington from 2007-2013. More than a pet — a quiet companion in the cloister, a curious presence, and a gentle soul who made her mark in quiet ways. #DUCollections

An artistic photo of a brown tabby named Tinkerbelle lounging on a concrete sidewalk, looking off into distance from 2007.

A brown tabby named Tinkerbelle rolled over onto her back on a concrete sidewalk with a pen written label of July 2013,

A nun, holding a brown tabby named Tinkerbelle up to a camera and waving the cats right paw from 2007.

Artistic photo of a brown tabby named Tinkerbelle laying sideways on a concrete sidewalk.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

👻 Ainsley’s Durham Almanac (1887) tells of Flass Well, haunted by Janet Ramshaw’s ghost. Since 1789, locals have spotted her eerie form and heard strange shrieks, keeping people away at night. Would you dare visit? 📖 Ref: XL 059.4281 AIN/15 #DurhamGhosts #DUCollections

Open book displaying the beginning of a story alongside an illustration of a man walking away from a well.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Artist Dinah Kelly has created a unique jewellery series inspired by the heritage of the indigenous Berber (Amazigh) people of North Africa. They are on display in Enchanted Objects – Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone at the Oriental Museum until 9th November.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Can you spot the skeleton? 💀 Skeletons appear in resurrection imagery, like in Elementa Philosophica de Cive (1647). This volume has pencil marks in the religious section, possibly by Bishop John Cosin! 📚 Ref: Cosin T.5.57 #HiddenSkeletons #RareBooks

Bookplate featuring religious imagery depicting a resurrection scene.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Happy #NationalFetchDay! Even in the peaceful world of the Poor Clares, Darlington, dogs brought joy and companionship. These archival photos show nuns sharing quiet moments with a furry friend—perhaps after a game of fetch? Poor Clares, Darlington Collection, MISC.2024/25:34 #DUCollections

Nun playing ball with brindle boxer wearing a white cape, dog standing on all fours waiting.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Step into the spooky past with The Haunted Library (1880)! 👻 John F. Layson shares ghostly tales from a Newcastle library. Have you ever seen a ghost in ours? 👀📚 Explore the mystery! 📖 Ref: SC 10874 #HauntedLibrary #GhostStories #NewcastleHistory #DUCollections

Book cover illustration featuring ghosts, ghouls, and spooky imagery.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

💀 Discover a skeleton working a printing press in the Peter Isaac Collection! Peter Isaac, an engineer turned printing enthusiast, focused on the English provincial book trade. The collection is being catalogued — more surprises to come! #RareBooks #PrintingHistory #Archives

Printed illustration of a skeleton operating a printing press.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

We’re kicking off the spooky season with an unexpected discovery - Bram Stoker’s signature in Personal Reminiscences of Henry Irving (Vol. 1), part of the Virginia Surtees Collection. Not Dracula — but a glimpse into the world that helped inspire it. 🖋️📖 #BramStoker #ArchivesUncovered #Dracula

Open book showing a page with Bram Stoker’s handwritten signature.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Back to school or uni (or very nearly!) The change in the weather has got us thinking about what we did on our summer holidays! In partnership with @rabycastleofficial we introduced local garden enthusiasts to gardening history resources and celebrated the famous ‘Raby Redcurrant’. #RabyCastle

Several books on a table supported by cushions.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

Look👀what is on at The Oriental Museum-a new exhibition ‘Journey of a Century:From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum’opening Friday 26 September. This photography exhibition takes you for a journey to the Forbidden City in the heart of Beijing-from imperial residence to global cultural icon.

View of the Palace Museum in the 1920s and 2025; Photos: © The Palace Museum; Image designed by Ziyu Zhou

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

We’re excited to announce the addition of a new collection! The Graham Noble collection includes materials from legendary figures and moments from the history of Martial Arts! It offers a unique look into martial arts and its cultural influence. #DUCollections #MartialArtsArchives

Image of the Graham Noble archival collection on the shelf, including Lever-arch files with the following titles, left to right: Jui-Jitsu in the West, Ju-Jutsu and Judo in Japan, Judo and Goshinjutsu (Self-Defence), Jiu-Jitsu and Self-Defence Books, Judo, Western Traditions

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Artist Dinah Kelly uses found paper to make collages like this atmospheric example created during a trip to Morocco. You can see this in Dinah’s installation Enchanted Objects – Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone at the Oriental Museum until 9th November

A paper collage of the landscape of Morocco

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

On 9th September Japan celebrates National Chrysanthemum Day. The flower is the official crest of the Japanese imperial family, seen on the passport and 50 yen coin. This chrysanthemum shaped tea caddy by artist Kosaka Susumu is made up of over 1,000 layers of lacquer and took 3 years to make.

An orange, black and red striped tea caddy container shaped like a chrysanthemum made of lacquer with inlayed petal shapes and a curved surface.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Hi! We’re Poppy & Izzy from Archaeology. Over 3 weeks on placement at the #DUMuseumofArchaeology, we explored collections care & curation. We repacked & updated records for the Greek collection and helped design a coin map showing ancient city-states through mythology & trade #DUCollections

An image of Greek collection before the repacking project surrounded by tissue paper

A display of one of our student placements preparing to create new storage for the Greek collection.

Our Greek collection after the repacking project in their now homes.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Artist Dinah Kelly's work is inspired by amulets, charms and talismans. She is interested in how in the 21st century we continue to place power in symbols and everyday objects, particularly the importance placed on mobile phones as tools of connection and security. #textileart #recycled

Image of a mannequin standing in a display case. The mannequin is dressed in a long dark blue dress with light pink stripes. Attached to the front of the dress are rectangular shaped amulets decorated with protective symbols.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

Unable to visit us? You can still visit our free online exhibition Show and Tell: Stories That Connect Us and be guided by John and Mei as they share stories together. You can also listen to our free audio guide on our website. stories.durham.ac.uk/show-and-tell #TellingTales #BeastsandLegends

On the left hand side is a character in black armour with short hair and waving and smiling. In the middle is the title Show and Tell: Stories that Connect Us. On the other side is another drawn character in a red theatre robe, holding flags and waving and smiling.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Is KPop Demon Hunters the soundtrack to your summer? Then come and see our new K-Pop display curated by our talented work experience students! The students were given items from #DUOrinentalMuseum K-Pop collection and worked hard to research their chosen objects, write labels, and plan the display.

Colour photograph of a group of people wearing purple nitrile gloves examining books and objects.

Colour photograph of a group of people sat at a bright red table completing forms.

Colour photograph of a group of people wearing purple nitrile gloves putting items into a museum display case.

Colour photograph of a museum display case filled with objects.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

At 8.15am 6th August 1945 an atomic bomb exploded in Hiroshima. In 2023 the exhibition 'Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki' in partnership with Hiroshima Peace Memorial & Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museums held @ Oriental Museum, including this watch. The force of the blast stopped the watch at 8.15am.

A brass pocket watch telling the time of 8:15am.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

While traveling contemporary artist Dinah Kelly always carries a sketch book and pencils. After creating preliminary sketches of the people and places she visits, she uses different found and collected paper to produce vivid collages like this example produced during a trip to Morocco in 2014.

Paper collage of a building in Morocco. The paper used to create the collage is covered in Arabic writing.

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Reposted by Durham University Collections

Oxford Medieval Studies @oxmedstud.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

OPPORTUNITY 📯 Applications are now open for the @ducollections.bsky.social Collections Fellowships and Visiting Fellowships, enabling research across the historic collections of Durham! Deadline: 3 September 2025 More details at durhamcollections.org.uk

The aim of the Durham Collections Fellowships is to enable and foster research across the three historic collections of Durham — those held by Durham University, Durham Cathedral and Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens, all of which have internationally significant collections of books and other materials that deserve to be brought to a wider scholarly and public audience.

In addition to libraries this includes archives, collections of visual and material culture, and architectural assets.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

We are looking forward to welcoming over 300 delegates in person and online, as we host the international ‘Discovering Collections Discovering Communities’ Conference from tomorrow/this week.

Photo of an old library with wooden shelving and a balcony.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

Drop in to the Palace Green Library for an adventure this week! ‘Beasts and Legends: Adventures through North East Folklore’ is open all summer! #BeastsandLegends #studentexhibition #DUCollections

Colour photograph of a person looking through a peephole into an exhibition case with the title 'Ghosts and Ghouls'.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Enchanted Objects – Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone has opened at #DUOrientalMuseum. Created by contemporary artist Dinah Kelly the installation highlights our ongoing interest in the power of charms, talismans and amulets. #contemporaryart #talismans

Image of Dinah in her studio

Woman dressed in brightly coloured clothing seated at a desk. She is looking down with a smile on her face, reading a piece of paper. Surrounding her are the sketches, art materials and tools she uses to create her art.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

Archives are never dull! Check out a puzzle from the archives of Kenneth David Druitt Henderson—scholar and colonial officer. Curious what else might reside in our archive? Start exploring yourself: n2t.durham.ac.uk/ark:/32150/s... #EYAFunandGames #DUCollections

A photograph of the puzzle box wrapped in Christmas wrapping of holly with a bible message taped onto it: “…the land……which is beyond the rivers of Ethippia: That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters……..Isaiah, Chap 18 vv. 1 and 2, 404 pieces”

A photograph of the puzzle pieces all spread out on a wooden table.

A photograph the puzzle pieces being sorted and assembled with several pairs of hands.

A photograph of the puzzle partially completed the image of a Shilluk paddling a canoe beginning to be visible.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

Want to experience more stories? Check out our accompanying online exhibition, Show and Tell: Stories that Connect Us, a collaboration between Telling Tales at the Oriental Museum and Beasts and Legends at Palace Green Library. stories.durham.ac.uk/show-and-tell #TellingTales #BeastsandLegends

stories.durham.ac.uk

Show and Tell: Stories That Connect Us

Join John - hero of the North East - and Mei - a Peking opera actor - as they share different stories from around the world. Exploring objects from Durham University's collections, they show how stori...

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Now graduation is over peak behind the scenes! Given to Durham University by an anonymous donor in 1911, the University Mace is carried by the Bedel at every congregation ceremony. For most of the year, it is stored in its own bespoke wooden case in an archive strongroom in Palace Green Library!

Silver Mace displayed in an open wooden box.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

A picture of beasts and legends from the North East, a green dragon like worm, a hairy beast covered in a blue cloak, a headless woman in a pink dress and a long tusked boar.

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Reposted by Durham University Collections

History of Catholicism @ccshistorycatholic.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

The CCS’ @eilishgregory.bsky.social has worked with colleagues in @ducollections.bsky.social to launch a pop-up exhibition showcasing the collections of the Little Company of Mary, and welcomed their international leadership team to see its opening #nuntastic #skystorians @durhamtheology.bsky.social

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

Twilight Talks - ‘Beasts and Legends: Adventures through North East Folklore’, Curating the Exhibition. Book on Eventbrite. Join the team at Palace Green Library share experiences of curating the exhibition. Discover artefacts from collections, and collaborative artworks by Ruth Flowers.

a picture of a boy fighting with shadow monsters

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Don’t miss any of the amazing objects on display! Come check out a real Roman Altar made to honour fallen soldiers. If you look closely, you can see the wild boar. Come see this object and many others at Palace Green Library. #beastsandlegends #DUcollections #adventure #exhibition

Front face of a sandstone altar. There is an inscription in latin

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

We’re now open! Thank you to everyone who came last night to celebrate the launch night of Telling Tales. Catch the exhibition from now until the 9th of November. We hope to see you soon! #TellingTales #DUOrientalMuseum #StudentExhibition

Two people looking into a glass display case with a brightly coloured poster behind them.

Two people engaging with an interactive screen.

Person sit behind a lit screen making a whale shadow puppet move.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

This week we have been installing 'Enchanted Objects: Adornment and Personal Protection from Amulets to the Mobile Phone' with the artist Dinah Kelly who shines a light on the protective powers and symbolism of charms, talismans and amulets. dinahkelly.com

Dinah Kelly installing her hand made jewellery in a display case in the Silk Roads Gallery at the Oriental Museum

A colourful tunic decorated with mobile phone talisman, displayed on a mannequin

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

The MA Museum and Artefact Studies students are hard at work installing their summer exhibition, Telling Tales, ready for opening on 13th June. #TellingTales

A student with dark hair holds a tape measure against a wall.

A student drills a screw into the wall whilst a man holds the frame steady.

2 people support the body of a wooden puppet as it is placed inside a tall, glass case.

Students watch on as someone leans into the glass case to adjust a pamphlet.

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Yesterday at the Oriental Museum we spent the day deep cleaning our beautiful Chinese bed. Rebecca, a conservation student, Ishita a placement student and FOH staff, James & Tracy, worked with Kel and Carolyn to clean the bed, dusting and hoovering. Here they are hard at work.

3 people smiling in front of a Chinese bed

2 people dusting and hoovering the wood work of the Chinese bed

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Experience the wonder of storytelling across cultures in our upcoming summer exhibition, Telling Tales: Making Stories Come to Life. This family-friendly exhibition will be opening on 13th June 2025 at the Oriental Museum. #TellingTales #studentexhibition

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Meet the team! The MA Musuem and Artefact Studies students are hard at work behind the scenes, preparing to install their upcoming exhibition ‘Beasts and Legends: Adventures through North East folklore’. The adventure begins 14 June at Palace Green Library. #beastsandlegends #studentexhibition

12 cartoon faces with accompanying names under the title ‘meet the team’ .

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Durham University Collections @ducollections.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Dictionaries, spring-back bindings and Shakespeare's First Folio! Check out this blogpost on by our outgoing Lendrum Book Conservation Intern! @du_lib dulib.blog/2025/05/21/t...

A woman weaving thread through the spine of a book on a wooden frame.

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