The Matthews Collection also contains decorative art items which range from silver to horology, furniture, fine art and ceramics.

Silver

The silver collection spans the period 1728-1903 and includes small objects and trinkets such as snuff boxes, thimbles and vinaigrettes, but also larger tableware and flatware. A highlight of this collection is 28 immaculate miniature domestic silver toys which date from the late 17th and early 18th centuries. They were probably intended to furnish dolls houses and were then passed down as family heirlooms. In this case, they have been assembled as very unusual wares for a pedlar doll to carry. The jointed wooden doll dates from the 19th century and is dressed in a red woollen cloak, black silk bonnet over a net cap and a printed cotton day dress, apron and fichu. Dressing dolls as pedlars was popular in Britain at this time. It gave children an ideal opportunity to collect and make items for the doll to sell.

Horology

Fine British and Continental examples of a variety of clocks and watches feature in this collection. They include long case or grandfather clocks, mantle clocks, gentleman's pocket watches and smaller decorative fob watches. They date from the mid 18th century period to the late nineteenth century. These silver and gold fob watches date from the period 1783 to the late 19th century and contain keys for a key wind mechanism. They include plain, engraved and enamelled faces.

Ceramics

Ceramics range from painted china and porcelain figurines to 18th century teapots and several notable dinner services. The Spode blue and white dinner service is printed with the Italian pattern which has been in continuous production since 1816. Another star of the collection is a white bone china tea/coffee service dating from c.1874. It was made by William Copeland and is beautifully hand painted with orchid designs, reflecting the great interest in tropical plants which began in the 19th century.