The Hunt Collection is an internationally important Collection of over 2,000 original works of art and antiquity. It is a personal Collection formed by John and Gertrude Hunt who selected each piece according to the quality of it's design craftsmanship and artistic merit. These criteria were applied to objects from all periods of the past- from the Stone Age to the 20th century. In the Hunt Collection there is a wealth of material from the ancient civilisations of Greece, Rome, and Egypt. There is also an important collection of Irish archaeological material ranging from Neolithic flints and Bronze Age material, including a Bronze Age shield and cauldron, to later Christian objects such as the unique 9th century Antrim Cross.

One of the strengths of the Hunt Collection is the medieval material, which include statues in stone and wood, painted panels, jewellery, enamels, ivories, ceramics, crystal and crucifixes. C18th and C19th century decorative arts are also represented with fine examples of silver, glass and ceramics. Artists' works in the collection include Pablo Picasso, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Roderic O’Conor, Jack B. Yeats, Robert Fagan and Henry Moore. Among the many important pieces in the Collection are the personal seal of Charles 1 of England, the Mary Queen of Scots Cross, and a coin revered since the Middle Ages as being one of 'the thirty pieces of silver'

The Custom House, home to the Hunt Collection, faces the River Shannon and is regarded as the finest example of C18th architecture in Limerick. It is an elegant Palladian-style building designed by Italian architect Davis Ducart and dates back to 1765. The only biographical information we have on him is culled from his will, and this suggests that he was originally a canal engineer. The interior of the Custom House contained the Long Room and the apartments for the Collector. Some of the interior detailing still survives, particularly the spacious staircase.

Education at The Hunt Museum means using the collection, expertise and enthusiasm of the museum and its partners to provide learning opportunities for the widest possible range of audiences and at all educational levels. Every education programme should be underpinned by intellectual integrity, give participants a sense of ownership, allow all involved to express their creativity – and, above all, should be fun.

Local

Eat and Drink

• Tuscany at the Granary - Micheal Street, Limerick City (0.1 miles) - At the heart of Limerick city at the historical location of the Granary, is Tuscany Bistro, where th...
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See and Do

• The Hunt Museum Rutland Street (0.0 miles) - The Hunt Collection is an internationally important Collection of over 2,000 original works of art a...
• The Hunt Museum Rutland Street (0.0 miles) - The Hunt collection is a nationally important holding of some 2,000 original works of art and antiqu...
• The Hunt Museum Limerick City (0.0 miles) - The Hunt Museum exhibits one of Ireland's greatest private collections of Art and Antiquities, d...
• Nevsail watersports Limerick City (0.0 miles) - At Limerick Adventures, we are extreme sports enthusiastics and would love for you to join us for an...
• Limerick Cycling Tours Limerick (0.2 miles) - Limerick Cycling Tours are a fun and easy paced way to explore Limerick City. As you pedal through t...

Shopping

• Hook & Ladder - Limerick (0.2 miles) - Hook & Ladder “Living Café” is an Irish owned business, with locations in Limerick and Waterfor...
• The Woollen Market Ennis - Ennis (19.4 miles) - This large award winning Irish shopping destination is recommended by travel guides as being the Iri...