Contributors to the founding collection of the Pitt Rivers Museum and Pitt-Rivers' second collection

R

Rorstrand; Biography: Porcelain manufacturers, Sweden; Dates: From 1726; Source: http://www.rorstrand.com/index.php/about/history/; Collection: Second collection

Raghoji II Bhonsle; Biography: Maratha ruler of the Kingdom of Nagpur from 1788-1816; Dates: ?-1816; Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raghoji_II_Bhonsle; Collection: Second collection

Ralls, James; Biography: James Ralls was an ironmonger in Bridport, and an amateur archaologist. He lived at Chards Mead according to the 1880 and 1895 Kelly's Directories and worked at 18 and 20 West Street, Bridport. According to http://www.bridportmuseum.co.uk/archeology.htm he excavated in Bridport between 1876 and 1886.; Dates: Unknown active 1876-1895; Source: http://www.bridportmuseum.co.uk/archaeology.htm; Collection: Second collection

Ramsden, Robert Henry; Biography: From Carleton Hall, Worksop. Had an ethnographic collection.; Dates: ?-1865?; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Ramus, J.; Biography: Nothing is known of this dealer based at 74 Piccadilly, London. He may have specialised in Asian artefacts; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Rassam, Hormuzd; Biography: Archaeologist. Tell Abu Habba was first excavated by Hormuzd Rassam between 1880 and 1881 in a dig that lasted 18 months; Dates: No specific dates known; Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sippar; Collection: Second collection

Rathbone, Frederick; Biography: Fredrick Rathbone was a ceramics dealer listed in the CUL catalogue as working from 20 Alfred Place West in South Kensington. This is the person referred to in 'The ABC of Collecting' by J.H. Yoxall, as: 'I have spent some pleasant and instructive hours at Alfred Place West, South Kensington, with Mr. Frederick Rathbone, ... the principal dealer in 'Old Wedgwood," who has handled more specimens and made and catalogued more collections of the kind than any other man' Mr. Rathbone has spent many years (taken all together) in travelling on the Continent, finding bits of "Old Wedgwood," and bringing them back to England. Mr. Rathbone is far from being the mere dealer; he is a man of culture, a traveller, the author of a great book on the subject, a connoisseur, a student, and an enthusiast, as well as a professional expert. Professor Church'.; Dates: 1841-1919?; Collection: Second collection

Ratzel, Friedrich; Biography: German geographer, pioneer in anthropogeography.; Dates: 1844-1904; Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Ratzel; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Rayner, Dr. (possibly Frederick Matthew Rayner); Biography: Served as a Royal Navy doctor on HMS St Vincent.; Dates: No specific dates known; Source: http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Navy_List_1870/Surgeons.html; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Read, Charles Hercules; Biography: British Museum curator, Dept of British and medieval antiquities and ethnography, keeper in succession to AW Franks. His dealing in objects whilst employed by a museum is, by today's standards, unethical--but contemporary standards it was, presumably, more acceptable.; Dates: 1857-1929; Source: www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/35693; Collection: Founding collection, PRM and second collection

Ready family; Biography: There are a series of reproductions in the founding collection obtained from 'Mr Ready' of the British Museum. These were possibly also made by them. There were several restorers from the same family working at the British Museum in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. See Augustus Ready [qv] and William Talbot Ready [qv]. There was also Charles J. Ready (brother of the two previous men) who also worked in the repair and moulding workshop. Also there was R.C.W. Ready (1811-1903) who is described in the British Museum database as: 'Employed primarily as a cleaner and restorer of tablets and small antiquities from Mesopotamia and worked at the British Museum from 1858-1903 (Report to Trustees 26/1/59). He was formerly custodian of the Public Baths at Leeds, then became a tobacconist in Norwich; sold his business and moved to Cambridge where he was employed to make casts of seals attached to documents in the University Library and the College Libraries. He did the same on behalf of the Oxford Colleges. Following the death of John Doubleday (q.v.) and the vacancy of the post of repairer at the British Museum, he applied on the recommendation of his fellow collectors Albert Way (q.v.) and Augustus Wollaston Franks (q.v.). After a brief competition he was appointed in 1858/59. However he was paid by the hour rather than being on the regular payroll, and thus augmented his meagre salary by doing much private work. ... Ready appears to have developed new processes of cleaning and treatment, but kept these processes a family secret shared only with his four sons. ... In 1873 his son Augustus P. Ready (q.v.) joined the Museum to assist his father, and in 1879 they were also joined by another of Robert Ready's sons, William Talbot Ready (q.v.); a third son, Charles Ready, also appears to have been associated with this workshop as his death is recorded in the Trustees' Minutes in 1922.' See http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/conservation/history.html; Dates: See above; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Ready, Augustus P.; Biography: Brother of William Talbot Ready (q.v.) and Charles Ready and son of Robert Cooper Walpole Ready. Worked in the British Museum as a restorer's assistant to his father from 1873 onwards; made a permanent member of staff in 1897; resigned in 1931 on grounds of ill health. [Marjorie Caygill, "An enduring legacy", 'British Museum Magazine' 51 (spring 2005), p.55.]; Dates: 1879-1931; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Ready, William Talbot; Biography: Information from the British Museum: 'Employed by the British Museum as repairer and cleaner of antiquities, particularly in the Egyptian and Assyrian Department, until about 1884 after which he appears to have specialised as a dealer as his sales to the Museum begin in 1886. He specialised in classical coins and took over the company Rollin and Feuardent [qv] after the death of Francis Whelan [qv].His brother Augustus P. Ready succeeded him as a restorer in the Museum, where he became part of the permanent staff in 1897; another brother, Charles Ready, also worked in the Museum in this capacity. All were sons of Robert Cooper Walpole Ready, the restorer, who joined the Museum in 1858/59. W.T. Ready had a single daughter, Marie Frances Talbot Ready.' D.M. Wilson, 'The British Museum: A History', London 2002, p.357, n.128; Marjorie Caygill, "An enduring legacy", 'British Museum Magazine' 51 (spring 2005), p.55. Ready also contributed objects to the John Evans' collection [Macgregor, 'Sir John Evans...' 2008: 29]; Dates: 1857-1914; Source: here; Collection: Second collection

Reid, William; Biography: Army officer and meteorologist.; Dates: 1791-1858; Source: www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/23345; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Reinach, Salomon; Biography: Salomon Reinach was a French archaeologist and worked at the National Museum of Antiquities at St Germain-en-Laye from 1887.; Dates: 1858-1932; Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salomon_Reinach; Collection: Second collection

Reliance; Biography: Nothing is known about this manufacturer of graining combs.; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Reynolds, Henry; Biography: Nothing is known of this source who sold one item from Kabyle, Algeria; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Reynolds, Walter; Biography: Dealer of Broad Street, Bloomsbury, London.; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Richards, S. possibly Samuel; Biography: Nothing is known of this vendor except he worked at 77 Hounds Gate, Nottingham. Later he seems to have ?dealt from Friars Lane, Nottingham. In the 1901 census a Samuel Richards is listed as being aged 42, born in Nottingham and living in Loughborough, dealing in antiquities. It seems likely that this is the same person.; Dates: ?1859-?; Collection: Second collection

Ridley, H.; Biography: Nothing is known about this collector who seems to have given two items which might be from Queensland or Malaysia. One of the items (possibly both) seems to have been obtained by Pitt-Rivers on 8 May 1876 possibly at an auction. It is just possible that this is Henry Nicholas Ridley (1855-1956) Director of Singapore Botanic Gardens, but he had only just graduated from Oxford at the time and had not yet started at the British Museum. So far as his DNB entry goes it does not suggest he had travelled outside the UK by this date.; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Rivers, Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt; Biography: See the biography section for further details.; Dates: 1827-1900; Source: here; Collection: Founding collection, PRM and second collection

Rivington, W.; Biography: W.S. or W.J. Rivington lived in Blandford, nothing further is known of this individual; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Robbins & Lawrence; Biography: Firearms manufacturers of Windsor, Vermont, USA. ... 'Robbins and Lawrence Armory and Machine Shop in 1846. The company helped accelerate the industrial revolution by improving the production of interchangeable parts, thereby making mass production possible.'; Dates: From 1846; Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbins_and_Lawrence_Armory_and_Machine_Shop; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Roberts, Ben; Biography: Nothing is known of this collector, Pitt Rivers worked at Mount Caburn near Lewes in September and October 1877 [Bowden, 1991: 85].; Dates: Unknown, active 1877; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Roberts, Mr.; Biography: Little is known of this collector who is associated with items from Bonne Bay, Newfoundland. It seems possible that it was one of the Roberts family who built John William Roberts House on the bay. The Roberts were among the first settlers in Woody Point. John William's father John arrived in the community in 1849 with his wife Emma (Decker) and four children. Nine more children followed and many residents today in Woody Point can trace their ancestry back to these pioneers.; Dates: No specific dates known; Source: http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/rhs/tz_listing/229.html; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Robinson, George Augustus; Biography: Worked with Tasmanian Aboriginal people, interested in ethnography.; Dates: 1791-1866; Source: www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/52427; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Robinson, probably I.W.W. or S.W.W.; Biography: The first initial is not clear but thought to be an 'I'. Unknown archaeologist or antiquarian collector. Collection sold by Sotheby's on 3-4 November 1890.; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Robinson, V. and Company; Biography: Dealers, nothing further is known of them.; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Second collection

Robson; Biography: of Newcastle, possibly ROBSON & SONS, 42, Northumberland Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne; Dates: No specific dates known; Source: http://www.fullbooks.com/Illustrated-History-of-Furniture5.html; Collection: Second collection

Rockingham Pottery; Biography: Porcelain manufacturers of high renown. Best known for a rococo style of porcelain ware. The factory was located in Swinton near Rotherham, South Yorkshire; Dates: From circa 1806; Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockingham_Pottery; Collection: Second collection

Roegistorff, Admiral de; Biography: Presumably served in a Navy possibly Royal Navy but possible mistranscription in name.; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Rogers, Edward Thomas; Biography: There seem to be two alternatives, either Edward Thomas Rogers (?-1884) who was the British Consul-General or Sir John Rogers who served in the Egyptian Public Health Department in the 1890s, the first seems more likely. He served in the Consular service in the Middle East from 1848. According to this website: 'He had various positions in Jerusalem Haiffa, Beruit, Consul at Damascus, Consul-General in Syria, Consul in Cairo and was attached to Lord Dufferin's special mission to Syria for which ... and was given the title of "Bey". ... His Arabic coin collection was displayed at the 1878 Paris Exhibition where he was the Egyptian Commissioner. He wrote many articles which were published in the "Numismatic Chronicle," the "Asiatic Journal," the "Bulletin of the Egyptian Institute" and "The Art Journal." He [served on] the Commission for the Preservation of Monuments in Cairo and he discovered the tombs of the Khalifs of the dynasty of Abbassides. When the British Consulate in Cairo was closed in 1875, he and his family returned to London where he acted as Egyptian agent for two years, then returned to Egypt and was appointed Minister of Education .... He died of dysentery in June of 1884 at the age of 53.'; Dates: 1831-1884; Collection: Second collection

Rolleston, George; Biography: Physician and physiologist. Lee's Reader in Anatomy, University of Oxford, from 1857, first Linacre Professor of Anatomy and Physiology from 1860, he was a strong force in the building of the University Museum in 1860.; Dates: 1829-1881; Source: www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24026; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Rollin and Feuardent; Biography: Dealers. According to the British Museum database,'Company, variously known, founded by Claude Camille Rollin (1813-1883), a French dealer in coins, gems and antiquities, and originally active only in Paris. At one point their address was 12 rue Vivienne. Rollin took Felix Feuardent (1819-1907) into partnership and opened a branch at 27 Haymarket, London, in 1867, and later moved into premises at 10 Bloomsbury Street, WC1 (at other times at no. 6). After the death of Rollin (Paris, 1883), the firm continued under the leadership of Feuardent and operated under the name of Feuardent Frères at 4 rue de Louvois, Paris, IV, until about 1953.' Also Known As Rollin & Feuardent; C C Rollin & Co; Rollin, Claude Camille; Feuardent, Felix; Feuardent Frères; Dates: Not relevant; Source: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/term_details.aspx?bioId=93014; Collection: Founding collection, PRM and second collection

Rollin, Claude Camille; Biography: French dealer active first in Paris. See Rollin & Feuardent; Dates: 1813-1883; Source: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/term_details.aspx?bioId=93014; Collection: Founding collection, PRM and second collection

Roots, George; Biography: Pitt-Rivers bought this collection from Christie's [qv] on 20 April 1889, we know nothing about Roots apart from the fact he was a fellow of the Society of Antiquarians and amassed an archaeological collection. He was a member of the Sussex Archaeological Society. His dates are given by the Metropolitan Museum in their entry for his spearhead which is now in their care [1998.540.1]; Dates: 1807-1891; Collection: Second collection

Rose, Major (either James Rose or Hugh Rose); Biography: Chieftain of Clan Rose of Kilravock.; Dates: 1820-1867 or 1863-1946; Source: http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/ntor/rose2.html; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Royal Academy; Biography: The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London, with a mission to promote the arts of design through education and exhibition; Dates: From 1768; Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Academy; Collection: Second collection

(Royal) Anthropological Institute; Biography: UK learned society for anthropology, 'the world's longest-established scholarly association dedicated to the furtherance of anthropology (the study of humankind) in its broadest and most inclusive sense', formed as the Anthropological Institute before getting its Royal Charter. Pitt-Rivers was a member; Dates: From 1843; Source: http://www.therai.org.uk/

(Royal) Archaeological Institute; Biography: UK learned society for archaeology, Pitt-Rivers was a member; Dates: From 1844; Source: http://www.royalarchaeolinst.org/

Royal Doulton; Biography: One of the most renowned of English pottery manufacturers, active from 1815 in the Potteries though it started in Lambeth; Dates: From 1815; Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Doulton; Collection: Second collection

Royal United Service Institution; Biography: Initially RUSI was set up to study naval and military science, recently it has widened its remit to cover all aspects of defence and security.In 1895 Pitt-Rivers bought part of the antiquities collection of RUSI. Before 1884 he had bought other de-accessioned RUSI collections; Dates: 1831- present; Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_United_Services_Institute; Collection: Founding collection, PRM and second collection

Royal Worcester; Biography: See Worcester pottery [q.v.]; Dates: From 1751; Collection: Second collection

Royale de Tulle; Biography: Arms manufacturing base for French state at Tulle, Correze.; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Rudler, Frederick William; Biography: Museum worker and geologist. From 1869 he was Assistant Secretary of the Ethnological Society.; Dates: 1840-1915; Source: http://www.archiveshub.ac.uk/news/0803rudler.html; Collection: Second collection

Russell, Arthur John Edward; Biography: British politician, served as secretary to his cousin the Prime Minster, Lord John Russell, M.P. for Tavistock; Dates: 1825-1892; Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Arthur_Russell; Collection: Second collection

Russell, Laura; Biography: The entries might be describing two different people: '... purchased...by Miss Russell...Presented by M. Laura Russell 2 Audley Square'. The 'Laura Russell' must be Laura de Peyronnet, wife of Lord Arthur Russell (Arthur John Edward Russell [qv]) who lived at 2 Audley Square London, possibly the Miss Russell (which cannot be her) is one of her daughters listed at http://thepeerage.com/p8377.htm. The other alternative is that the Miss Russell was a unknown relative.; Dates: ?-1910 (Laura); Collection: Second collection

Russell, Logan D. H.; Biography: Medic and author. Nothing else known except he was the Local Secretary for the West Coast of Africa.; Dates: No specific dates known; Collection: Founding collection, PRM

Compiled by AP during RPR project 2009-2012