Ben Ronalds Collection

The Ben Ronalds collection of fine ceramics and glassware is comprised of almost 800 objects, donated to the Queensland Museum by the Ronalds family in 1976. Mr Ronalds began his collection around 1935, and by 1946 was specialising in collecting Royal Worcester porcelain, supported by his success in his own Decorative Glass Company in Brisbane. He collected within Australia and from overseas, including British, European, and Oriental pieces. The collection remains of local, state, national, and international significance for its breadth of representation of late 19th and early 20th century ceramics, particularly from the Royal Worcester Company – especially its aesthetic value, and opportunities for interpretation of many facets of ceramic use and production. The Queensland Museum continues work to digitise this immense and important collection, to provide online access of the collection’s treasures to all.