LONDON.- The Society of Antiquaries has launched a series of fundraising events 'Past Matters: Shaping Our Future at Burlington House' which supports the Society's bold vision to transform its historic home into a world-leading centre for the study of heritage. The talks series will take place from 28 October to 19 November 2025 and tickets are already available to buy online.

These autumn events will enable the Society to commission architectural plans to shape the Society’s future at Burlington House and increase access to the vast collections, expand the Society's research and education programmes, and create dynamic new spaces for exhibitions, seminars, and events. This will ensure that Burlington House remains a place of inspiration, scholarship, and discovery for generations to come.

The series starts with a lecture by Tim Knox CVA FSA, Director of the Royal Collection on "Royal Patrons and Collectors in the Twentieth Century, from King Edward VII to Queen Elizabeth II" on Tuesday 28 October (6-7pm), which is kindly hosted in The Benjamin West Lecture Theatre at the Royal Academy of Arts. This will be a lively exploration of royal taste and patronage from Edward VII to Queen Elizabeth II. Beginning with Edward VII’s penchant for white and gold dècors, Knox charts a century of collecting habits, from George V’s passion for stamps to Queen Mary’s refined eye for Fabergé and Chinese jades. Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) embraced modern art, acquiring works by Sickert and Monet, while Queen Elizabeth II, though personally understated, left a powerful legacy through the founding of the Royal Collection Trust. With wit and insight, Knox traces how the monarchy’s varying appetites for art shaped—and safeguarded—one of the world’s greatest collections.



On Halloween night, the Society's supporters are in for a real treat as well-known Antiques Road Show specialist, Geoffrey Munn OBE FSA, unveils the extraordinary tale of a mysterious 16th-century rock crystal charmstone - "Myth and Magic – A 16th century charmstone and its links to the Society of Antiquaries", held at the Society from 6pm to 8pm (Friday 31 October) with the talk also be available to join online.

Once appearing on the market without provenance, this silver-mounted rock crystal ball is now linked to a lineage of Society members spanning three centuries. Similar stones held in precious metal mounts have been found in Merovingian and Anglo-Saxon graves and their function is clearly magical. This probably explains why a pencil note in the Society’s library suggests it was used for “spirit tapping”. Queen Elizabeth I’s necromancer, Dr Dee, used a similar enchanted stone for cures and scrying but a later owner believed it housed a terrifying demon. Geoffrey will reveal the full story of this charmstone in his talk and show a number of others from his collection.

"Drawn to Discovery at the Antiquaries" is an evening reception with Abbott & Holder at the Antiquaries on Thursday 6 November (5-8pm) to view some of the outstanding holdings from the Society’s remarkable collection of over 55,000 16th- to 20th century prints and drawings. These include works by Wenceslaus Hollar, George Vertue, Charles Stothard, William Blake, Thomas Girtin, and the Smirke brothers. Highlights include drawings of Westminster Abbey attributed to a young William Blake, Smirke’s renderings of St. Stephen’s Chapel, and Pietro Fabris’ vivid views of Pompeii. The collection is also of great art historical importance as the Society acquired portraits, satirical prints, and Old Master prints that are comparable to other national collections. This event includes drawings recently attributed to women artists, the earliest English architectural drawing, and one of the earliest hand-drawn English maps.



And finally there will be a unique evening that lifts the lid on one of the most curious – and least known - aspects of the ‘Old Lady’, as the Society of Antiquaries is affectionately known. "Hats off to Tradition: Tales from The Cocked Hat Club" on Wednesday 19 November (6-8pm) will present the club which was founded in 1852 and once regarded, but not now, as notorious for its behaviour at election ballots. The club embodies the longstanding tradition of conviviality and fun in the learned societies. On this special night, its eccentric rituals, personalities and delightfully peculiar customs will be re-enacted for your delight with theatrical displays, charmingly odd regalia and gloriously ridiculous headgear. Raise a glass of punch brewed from an ancient recipe, sniff a pinch of snuff and cap off the evening with an uproarious sing song of nineteenth-century catches. An evening to celebrate and enjoy!

Alongside the talks, Abbott & Holder (30 Museum Street, opposite the British Museum) will also sell some early engravings by George Vertue for the Society of Antiquaries from 21 October until December 2025. Seven prints of the 18th-century engravings made from plates by the Society’s first official engraver, George Vertue (1684–1756), all duplicates with copies still part of the Society's Collection, will be for sale with 65% of the sale price going to the Society. The enterprising Vertue combined his work for the Society with illustrious private commissions and the production of independent engravings, which he sold from his shop in Drury Lane. His ‘tablatures’ of historical royal portraits were ‘collected, drawn, and engraved from ancient original pictures’.



Natasha McEnroe FSA, General Secretary and CEO of the Society of Antiquaries of London, says: "Thanks to our kind sponsors so far we have raised £1.3 million (27%) of the £4.8m cost of the Society's 999-Year Lease. We invite supporters to sponsor our home in square feet - £500 cover a square foot of Burlington House, while 'Foundation 1707 Sponsors' will sponsor four square feet of Burlington House with £2,000 and costs can be spread with monthly Direct Debits. Our supporters will all get a special 'Bond of Support' designed by British artist Adam Dant."

All events cost £30 per person and tickets can be purchased on the Society's website: www.sal.org.uk/support-us/past-matters/. Geoffrey Munn's Halloween talk can also be followed online at a cost of £6.

The Society is collaborating with the St. James's Hotel & Club for the 'Past Matters' season and supporters are able to enjoy a special three-course lunch offer of £30 including a glass of bubbly and event attendees can exclusively enjoy a 20% discount on the exquisite art-inspired afternoon tea by showing their ticket confirmation. The hotel is just across the road in St James's, but pre-booking is essential and the offers are available until 30 November. They can be booked here: www.stjameshotelandclub.com/en/food-drinks.