Historic treasures that have been kept under lock and key are to be showcased at the Shugborough mansion house.
An array of artefacts including 18th Century blue and gilt enamel urns and Jardineres dating from the 18th Century and exquisite Meissen porcelain have gone on display.
Oil paintings of affluent and influential Staffordshire families have been hung on the walls and an 1898 Bechstein piano, originally from Berlin, takes pride of place in the Bird Room.
The ornaments have been taken out of storage as part of the Shugborough Revisited project which is being led by Staffordshire County Council.
Cllr Pat Corfield said:
“This landmark project is a major coup for Staffordshire and the team at Shugborough has been working incredibly hard to recreate the look and feel of the apartment. The artefacts and paintings have been meticulously chosen to reflect the way that the apartment used to look and they have really transformed the rooms so that visitors will feel like they are stepping back in time.
“The mansion house is an amazing place to visit and I’m sure that this project will attract even more people to the stately home as well as into Staffordshire as a whole.”
Shugborough Revisited will see the stately home opened up in its entirety to visitors for the first time in. Previously, people have only been able to access the state rooms on the ground floor and a small part of the first floor.
Ten rooms are being refurnished and will be open for daily viewing in March, in addition to the large state rooms, working servants’ quarters and farm that are already open to visitors.
To find out more about the Shugborough Revisited project visit www.shugborough.org.uk.
