The Greek and Etruscan collection in the Great North Museum belongs to Newcastle University. This collection was brought together by one man: the classical archaeologist Brian B. Shefton. His life story — from early experiences fleeing Nazi Germany to the discoveries he made as a scholar — puts the collection in context.
Shefton’s extensive archive has recently been made available to Newcastle University. The archive transforms the stories we can tell about the collection and its history. This exhibition is based on just a few documents and photographs from the archive, but there is still much more to explore.
The objects in the Shefton Collection have many stories to tell about the people who have made, used and collected them. The six case studies in this exhibition show the variety of possible ways of looking at ancient objects and the different lives they have touched on their journeys to Newcastle.