The Layton Collection

THE THOMAS LAYTON TRUST & LAYTON'S COLLECTION

Stone cushion macehead

Elongated cushion macehead made in the Early Bronze Age (2,500BC-2,000BC). The macehead is made from black silicified volcanic ash, banded in black and white. Its whole surface is polished, with oval section, round ends and a tubular perforation. It is a superb piece of craftsmanship and may have been used as a ceremonial item. It was found in the Thames, possibly at Old England, Brentford

Dimensions: L 132 mm; W 42 mm; T 29 mm

The Collection

Thomas Layton collected books, coins, and archaeological items (usually described as ‘antiquities’) for 70 years. In that time he had accumulated what has been described as “probably the largest collection of London antiquities ever amassed by a single individual”.

The vast majority of items are believed to have been bought at auctions. Some came to him from his men working on the river. His businesses provided opportunities for finds from dredging, building of bridges and embankments along the banks of the Thames, for which Layton paid good money. Even by the standards of the day Layton kept poor records of where items were found. Despite this, the collection is considered highly important particularly to archaeologists and pre-historians.