New Books Network Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth, "Lady Charlotte Schreiber, Extraordinary Art Collector" (Lund Humphries, 2025)
Sep 27, 2025
Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth, an art historian and senior lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, dives into the life of Lady Charlotte Schreiber, a pioneering art collector. Their conversation explores Charlotte's groundbreaking role in ceramics and her subversion of Victorian gender norms. McCaffrey-Howarth highlights Charlotte's remarkable journey from London society to Welsh archaeology, her passion for collecting, and the fascinating political dynamics of her work. They also discuss Charlotte's legacy at major museums, revealing the lasting impact of her contributions.
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Self‑Made Scholarly Upbringing
- Charlotte taught herself languages and artistic techniques after being denied formal education by her stepfather.
- Her lifelong diaries reveal a curious, self-directed scholar forming her own 'man's education' in early life.
Digging At Morlais Castle
- Within weeks of marriage Charlotte led an archaeological dig at Morlais Castle using workers from her husband's ironworks.
- The excavation recovered medieval coins and seals and showed her early antiquarian impulse toward material history.
Publishing Under Pressure
- Charlotte raced to publish her translation when she discovered a male collaborator planned to claim her work.
- She worked through childbirth and published first, asserting her authorship despite gendered resistance.
