Metal frame with lifting handles at either end on the top edge; both frame and glass are early 19th century.

The early inventories of the Soane Museum (1837) record a 'Glass case' in the Model Room on the second floor in which objects MR42-MR68 were displayed. A marginal note in the AB coipy of that inventory (p.132) records that this showcase was moved to the South Drawing Room after Soane's death. As part of her research into the Model Room prior to its restoration as part of the Opening up the Soane project (2013-15) Helen Dorey identified the showcase in a unique early photograph of the South Drawing Room and was able to verify that its cover was this showcase top - whicih was in our store, unidenified. She further discovered that the 1906 inventory drawn up by Walter Spiers contained a diagram recording the layout of the works of art in the case. Sadly, the original base is missing so a new timber base was made by Jeff Valle and the objects then reinstalled in the original arrangement. In 2015 this showcase was reinstated in its original position in the recreated Model Room as part of Phase 2 of Opening up the Soane. The cleaning and repair of the showcase and the reinstallation of the objects was carried out by a volunteer conservator, Ffion Howells, under the direction of the Museum's head of conservation Jane Wilkinson.