Russell-Cotes: The remarkable tale of the Mikado's Room

The Russell-Cotes were two lovers on a quest to explore every corner of the earth bringing it home to show all of those who could not travel to such distant lands, the beauty that lies across the vast waters of the world.

Merton and Annie married in 1860, after having three children they moved to sunny Bournemouth in 1876 due to Merton's ill-health.

Their life in Bournemouth helped shape the town as we know it now.

The couple bought the Bath Hotel on Christmas Day in 1876 and later extended and extensively refurbished it, re-opening it as the Royal Bath Hotel in 1880.

Many famous guests stayed at the hotel including the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), Oscar Wilde, actor Sir Henry Irving, artist, Sir Hubert Von Herkomer and Sir Benjamin Disraeli.

From 1884, the couple travelled extensively visiting Australasia, America, India, the Near East, Egypt, the Pacific Islands and Japan, collecting artwork and souvenirs.

Large Iron Dish by Komai of Kyoto, Meiji Period, 1880-1890 - Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

The resulting collections were displayed throughout the hotel’s public and private rooms, which gained a reputation for being an art gallery and museum - needless to say they used their amazing collections to promote the hotel.

The Russell-Cotes is constituted as a charity with BCP Council as sole Trustee - sealing Merton and Annie's home, art gallery and museum in time. 

The trip to Japan in 1855-86: 

The Russell-Cotes’ visited Japan as part of a six week trip in 1885 and were totally smitten with the country.

Annie even wrote a book on their tour Westwards from the Golden Gate which tells the tale of their incredible travels to Japan.

They were visiting at a key moment in history as the Emperor had been restored to power following centuries of military dictatorship and isolation.

The samurai’s hold on power was broken and, dispossessed, they had to sell off family heirlooms and treasures to make ends meet.

Traditional craftsmen were now making beautiful things for Westerners as the samurai’s patronage had gone.

The construction of railways and their associated telegraph lines meant that travel was easy.

There are more than 2,000 items in the collection (Russell-Cotes).

Merton took out hundreds of pounds worth of gold currency on credit (thanks to the Yokohama branch of HSBC) so he and Annie were able to collect the most amazing items – from humble chopsticks to silver embellished swords.

If the couple were fond of you, they would extend a special invite to the Japanese Drawing Room where you could have a personal encounter with the extra special collection.

Returning to Bournemouth with their collection:

In 1901 Merton built Annie what is known as East Cliff Hall, the Victorian villa was one of the last to be built in Bournemouth. 

It was an extraordinary, extravagant birthday present – lavish, splendid, and with a touch of fantasy. 

They filled the exotic seaside villa with beautiful objects from their travels across the world, and lined the walls with a remarkable collection of British art.

Later, following the death of Annie, Merton moved it all over to the Mikado’s Room in what is now the museum.

It is thought that the room was probably chosen by Merton because it overlooked the couple’s Japanese garden.

Based on the grand Japanese Drawing Room in the Royal Bath Hotel, The Mikado’s Room was originally the Blue Bedroom but was converted to a room devoted to displaying the Russell-Cotes’ Japanese collection.

Sir Russell-Cotes commissioned this mural on the ceiling of the Mikado's Room (Russell-Cotes).

The ceiling of this room (which can still be seen today) was painted with Japanese designs and scenes of Japan, as well as portraits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Haruko.

Russell-Cotes curator, Duncan Walker said: "I am hugely privileged to have such wonderful examples of Japanese art in the collection I work with.

"The collecting genius of our Founders, Sir Merton and Lady Russell-Cotes, still stands the test of time and I always think ‘wow!’ in the back of my mind when I work with these items."

Refurbishment of the Mikado's Room:

Generous funding from Arts Council England and the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, amongst other sources, has allowed the museum to carry out an expansive refurbishment project for three of its rooms: the Yellow Room, the Red Room, and the Mikado’s Room.

Located on the first floor of the historic house, these rooms hold the Russell-Cotes’ Japanese and ethnographic collections from their widespread travels throughout the world.

The collection houses over 2,000 items bought back from the six week trip by the couple (Russell-Cotes).

This allowed the collections to be cleaned for the first time ever whilst also giving the museum funds to carry out vital improvement works. 

The removal of the glass barrier in the Mikado's Room will allow visitors to get closer than ever to each object, alongside admiring the oriental painted frieze which adorns the room’s ceiling. 

READ MORE: Russell Cotes museum gets £115,500 grant to refurbish three historic rooms

Mr Walker said:"Thanks to the magnificent generosity of Arts Council England and DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund we have been able to restore the Mikado’s Room in which Sir Merton presented these pieces to visitors.

"Cleaned and returned their full glory after 100 years of dirt and pollution, the splendid murals juxtaposed with the amazing objects and transport you from Bournemouth to Japan.

"We are very much looking forward to welcoming visitors back to the Russell-Cotes to see what we have been up to just as soon as it is safe to re-open."