GROUND FLOOR.
We descend by the staircase (or by the lift) to the LOWER GALLERY and pass, to the left, to the farther end, where we begin with the west bay, known as the Franks Room. This contains part of the collections (mainly Mediï¾µval and Renaissance) given and bequeathed by Sir A. W. Franks (died 1897). Noteworthy are the rings, cups, and other plate, and the gold Hanap or standing cup decorated with enamelled scenes from the life of St. Agnes, probably made for Charles V. of France and from 1435 to 1604 in the possession of the English Crown. On the west wall are remains of the wall paintings from St. Stephen's Chapel.
The bays immediately to the east of the Franks Room are called the Mediï¾µval Room. Bays numbered from 17 down are on the south side, those from 18 up on the north side. Against the piers (south and north). Inlaid and worked armour. Bay 18. Seals, early church metal-work; central case 2, enamelled Battersea medallions, textiles; 19 and central case, the Barwell Enamels; 16. Historical relics, weights, moulds, and talismans; central case 1, Keys, Early Limoges champleve enamels; 20, 21. Enamels, ivories, and alabaster; 15. Knives, forks and spoons; 15-14. Watches, dials, and clocks. Between 14 and 21, Clock by Isaac Harbrecht of Strassburg (1589; still going). On the pier, mallets and ball for playing 'pail-mail'.
The central and main section of the gallery is called the Ceramic Gallery. To the west of the centre it is devoted to Western and Near Eastern, to the east of the centre to Oriental (Far Eastern) wares.
Bays 14-12. Various English potteries. 21, 22. Continental porcelain and pottery. Standard Case between 13 and 22, English porcelain (Chelsea, etc.). Bays 23-24, Italian maiolica, highly decorated, from Urbino and other places. Standard Case between 12 and 23, Dresden (Meissen) china. Bays 25, 26. Lustred Spanish (Hispano-Mauresque) wares. Bays 11-9 and Standard Case between 10 and 25 contain the admirable collection of Wedgwood ware. On Screens between 9 and 26, Jasper ware and medallions in biscuit and ball clay proof. Bays 8-7. Japanese pottery and porcelain; opposite and in 27, Persian pottery; 28. Persian pottery, Chinese snuff-bottles; 29 and centre case, Chinese porcelain; 6. Annamese and Siamese; 30 and centre case, Chinese blue-and-white; 5. Bowls for opium pipes; 4. Earliest Chinese glazed pottery, of the Han dynasty; in a small case, Bulb bowl of the Sung dynasty (960-1279).
The next bays form the Glass Room. 32-33. English (especially Bristol), French, and German glass; 2. Venetian, Spanish, and Egyptian Arabic mosque-lamps; 2-1. Roman; 1 and 34. Roman glass from France, Syria, etc. Central Cases: between 2 and 33, Dutch and German; between 3 and 32, Venetian; between 1 and 34, Miscellaneous antique glass.
