Haslemere Museum is now home to a rare plaster talisman which was designed by Godfrey Blount.

The talisman was made under Godfrey Blount’s guidance by the John Ruskin School in 1925. 

Plaster Talisman
The rare talisman soon to be on display at the museum (Haslemere Museum)

The museum has a collection of more than 100 talismans on paper, but plaster talismans are rarer, making this a real treasure to the existing collection.

Blount’s wife Ethel ran the Peasant Tapestry studio, a workshop for local Haslemere women focussed on applique work on linen, with fabulous examples in the V&A collection in London. Ethel's sister, Maude King, initially managed the Weaving House, before focussing on the group's magazine, The Vineyard. 

The meaning and purpose of such talismans is currently buried in the mists of time, but the museum is seeking funding to facilitate dedicated research into this body of Godfrey Blount's work.

Godfrey Blount also helped establish a group of artisans in Haslemere called the Peasant Artists. 

Museum chairman Melanie Odell said: “I am delighted the museum has been able to purchase this fabulous example of a complete talisman on the open market, particularly as a talisman of this design appears in a photograph of items created by the peasant art group! 

“It is great to have it back home in Haslemere.”

The talisman will be on display with other peasant art objects in the museum galleries from February 6.