Historical Collections Online
Search our Historical Collections Online, a sample of 10,000 artefacts from the National Museum of Ireland’s Historical, Military and Easter Week Collections, published as part of the Decade of Commemorations.
shield / Zulu
Small Zulu Umbhumbhulosa shield, with black and white fur. c. 1879.
campaign furniture /
Collapsible Furniture, Ross, Dublin, Irish, about 1870. One of a set of six oak travelling chairs. All the legs unscrew and seat frame comes apart as well as the back. Three of the six bear a white ivory plaque showing maker's name 'Ross & Co. camp furniture makers, 8, 9 and 10 Ellis Quay, Dublin'....campaign furniture /
Chair, oak, with crest rail and back rail, turned front legs, saber back legs; campaign furniture.
tablecloth / British Army, 1840s
Table cover, Irish, 1833 to 1853. Appliqué work. Felt on felt applied with buttonhole and chain stitch in linen thread. British Army soldier Stephen Stokes, born 1802, made this tapestry while he was stationed in Ireland. More than 30 panels tell the story of his career, first in the cavalry (the...
flag / Connolly Column, Spanish Civil War
Flag or banner, painted, of the Connolly Column, Spanish Civil War. 'Eire / Spain Democracy Remembers Her Sons. With names of participants.
secret helmet / Secret helmet, 17th century
"Secret" helmet, late 17th century. Two piece type, with a raised seam. The 17th Century "Secret" was used under a soft cap for protection. The holes allow it to be sewn into a cap. It was a popular method of head protection, particularly in the late 17th Century.
fusil / Patrick Broderick, East India Company, 1844-45
Fusil, percussion lock rifle, 1844-45. Sergeant Patrick Broderick's East India Company's musket, with him through the campaign n India 1844-45. On one occasion it intercepted a bullet, which may be seen imbedded in the stock. Inscribed plaque on butt details its use in Indian campaigns. Additional...
coatee / 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot, jacket, Officer's
Officer's Light Company jacket of the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot, c.1800-1809. Officer's Light Company scarlet jacket of the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot, with buff facings, c.1800-1809. There are fifty-one silver plated slightly domed buttons, each bearing a Georgian crown above the...shoulder sash / 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot, sash, Officer's
Officer's Light Company shoulder sash of jacket of the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot, c.1800-1809. Shoulder sash, red, of an Officer's Light Company scarlet jacket of the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot, with buff facings, c.1800-1809. There are fifty-one silver plated slightly domed buttons,...
tarot card / Lowry, Royal Artillery, 1840
Pack of playing cards, with suits of cups, coins, clubs and swords. Spanish. First half of 19th century. Taken by gunner Lawrence Lowry of the Royal Artillery, about 1840, from a pirate ship captured by British war vessel; and brought into Port Royal, Jamaica, where he was stationed from 1839.
drum / Lough Swilly Supplementaries, 1804
Drum of and Irish Volunteer Infantry, 1804. Loughswilly Supplementaries, c. 1796 - 1820. Drum of the Loughswilly Supplementaries, a Donegal Militia unit. Crest with 'GR' intertwined, circular band around with 'Loughswilly' above and 'Supplementaries' below, all crowned. Painted around with roses,...cap band / Irish Ambulance Corps
Irish Ambulance Corps, linen hat or cap band for the Volunteers from the Irish Ambulance Service of France. (Franco-Prussian War 1870 - 1871). 'Ambulance Irlandaise'.
pikehead / 1798 Rebellion
Pike, 1798 Rebellion. Split tang, with straight, axe and hook components to the blade.
uniform pattern book / J.B. Johnstone, Dublin
Book of records of uniforms kept by Messrs. J.B. Johnstone Ltd, 32 Moleworth Street, Dublin, Military Tailors. The book, 20 inches by 14 inches thick, containing written and typescript details of uniforms worn by officers of regiments of the British Army, officers of the Irish Army, and the...
levee coatee / Yeomanry Cavalry Corps, Officer's, c. 1796
Officer's levée coatee of a Yeomanry Cavalry Corps, c. 1796. Officer's levée coatee of a Yeomanry Cavalry corps. Dark blue with scarlet facings. Silver braid loops in abundance on chest, silver braid on the...
portrait / General John Millet Hamerton
Oil painting of General John Millet Hamerton CB. Oil painting of Hamerton, depicting 34 length and wearing the CB badge, the Egyptian medal and his Waterloo medal.
Waterloo medal / General John Millet Hamerton, Waterloo, 1815
General John Millet Hamerton's Waterloo medal. Obverse: Head of Regent to left, crowned with laurel. Around, on left, GEORGE, P. on right, REGENT. Signed under shoulder, T. WYON JUN. Reverse: Victory seated to left with wings outspread over a plinth inscribed WATERLOO which in turn is over the date...
certificate / War Service
A munitions factory certificate issued to Florence Lea for the satisfactory performance of her duties from 14 March 1917 to 20 December 1918 in the Dublin Dockyard (War Munitions) Co. Ltd., in the execution of urgent war work involving the manufacture of high explosive shells.
badge / Florence Lea / On War Service
'On War Service' badge, brass, no. 316156 (on rear), triangular, as worn by Florence Lea, worker from 14th March 1917 to 20th December 1918 in the Dublin Dockyard (War Munitions) Co., Ltd.