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Giving
Large group of students on campus

Constance Fraser

The Cloisonné vases, and the rare book 

After graduating, Constance Fraser (History, King’s College, 1953) had a rewarding career as an academic and teaching fellow at the University of Newcastle.  She lived locally in Tynemouth and had a passion for both helping the local community as well as preserving and documenting local history.  Constance had strong skills in reading and clarifying medieval manuscripts, and her legacy is the creation of printed versions of many of these documents, often relating to the North East of England. 

In her will Constance gifted the University three items of historic significance: an antique book and two cloisonné vases.  

‘Justices of the Peace’ by Anthony Fitzherbert 

The rare book ‘Justices of the Peace’ by Anthony Fitzherbert (1587) is a guide to the role and authority of Justices of the Peace and was reprinted several times following its first publication in 1506.  This edition of the book is of local historical significance, as it is inscribed to "Geo. Martyne" on the title page, thought to be George Martin, Justice of the Peace of Durham in the 1620s.  George Martin would have been a contemporary of Bishop Cosin, who founded Cosin’s Library, one of the earliest public libraries, now part of the University’s Palace Green Library. 

Constance wished for this book to be well cared for and to be available for reference by other history scholars.  ‘Justices of the Peace’ is housed in our collection at Cosin’s Library. 

The Cloisonné Vases 

Two cloisonne vases with a dark background and floral design

These two beautiful vases were created in Japan between 1840-1899.  The technique used on these vases is known as 'ginbari' - a type of cloisonné enamel decoration where clear enamel is applied over the top of a stippled silver layer applied to the copper sheet body.  

These vases are now part of our Japanese collection at the Oriental Museum.  This collection has grown in diversity in recent years to include pieces representing contemporary culture, such as manga and street fashion, as well as historic items, such as porcelain and woodblock prints.