My friend researching the mantua asked me to help take it to the Victoria and Albert Museum a few Saturdays ago to have the old gal scanned. Although I had to hand in my MA thesis a week later, there are just some things you have to be involved in, and I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity for the world.

I can’t show you a picture of the old lady. She’s a bit publicity shy at present. And my friend would kill me if I showed images to the world, as the research is not yet published. The old gal’s reintroduction into society will have to wait a bit.

In the meantime, here’s a photo of the box we used to carry the grand old lady to the museum for the day to have her photo taken. It’s quite pretty too.

BDW