Algernon Percy, Fourth Duke of Northumberland (1792-1865)

Following a visit to Egypt in 1826, Duke Algernon Percy was alike many of his counterparts in the mid-nineteenth century and developed a taste for collecting Egyptian antiquities. He proudly displayed these - and British objects - at the family seat of Alnwick Castle.

He primarily collected objects through English auctions rather than visits to Egypt, with his collection containing items acquired by James Burton and the British Consul, Henry Salt. The collection remained on display at Alnwick Castle until the mid-1900s, before being removed to the British Museum for conservation before the outbreak of the Second World War.

In the 1940s the decision was made to sell the collection. Despite the interest from the British Museum and Brooklyn Museum, the Duke's successors were keen to see the collection stay intact and, if possible, in the North East of England. Thanks to a generous offering from Dr and Mrs H N Spalding, Durham University were able to raise the £12,000 asking price.

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“Algernon Percy, Fourth Duke of Northumberland (1792-1865),” Ancient Egyptian Animal Bio Bank, accessed May 3, 2024, https://www.mummies.manchester.ac.uk/items/show/154.