"A bejewelled silver huqqa opium pipe, a steel elephant goad (used when riding elephants), and a seriously scary dagger... not the kind of treasures you'd expect to find at an ancient Welsh castle!

Ten additional items have been loaned to Powis Castle's fascinating Clive of India Museum by the Castle's family, adding to its present collection of around 300 incredible Indian artefacts.

All of these spectacular mementoes, on display for the first time during Museums and Galleries Month, were collected by the Clives.'' Robert Clive (or "Clive of India"), the son of a Shropshire squire who became the heroic founder of Britain's Indian Empire, when he defeated the Nawab of Bengal at the Battle of Plassey in June 1757.

In 1784, Lord Clive, son and heir of Clive of India, married into the Powis Herbert family, bringing the Clives' vast fortune and art collections to the Castle.

Among the new items are:

* a Durbar set - this silver and partly gilt set would have been used for grand banquets and occasions, reflecting the importance of Clive's position and wealth. The set includes rose water sprinklers (used to sprinkle over guests), perfume stands and caskets which were used to hold fresh betel leaves, areca nut cutters and spice boxes.

* a Huqqa or "hubble bubble" opium smoking set - silver, partly gilt, enamelled, and set with rubies, diamonds and emeralds, very few known public or private collections can boast a huqqa of comparable magnificence. Smoking was introduced to the Indian sub-continent during the early 17th century. In paintings, it became a standard cliché to represent the ruler with his huqqa, and when the British in India adopted the habit, they too were portrayed on canvas, reclining against brocade-covered bolsters on a terrace, smoking peacefully.

* a gold filigree chatelaine- gold finery clipped to a belt and worn by the lady of the house. Used as a kind of 18th century "lady's mobile toolkit", containing essential items she may need, such as smelling salts, needle and thread, scissors and perhaps tooth-picks and tweezers.

* a portrait miniature of Robert Clive.

* two portrait miniatures of Maharajahs, making up a set of 3 generations of the family.

* a steel elephant goad (a kind of prod, used to guide an elephant).

* a silver case of old coins (110 Elizabeth's Shillings), which are listed on the 1775 Inventory of Indian Curiosities (shipping lists of items transported from India to Britain, for Robert Clive).

* two ceremonial staffs with ivory shafts, each with a top section of a tiger's head - the staffs were part of a ceremonial army dress; these clubs would symbolise the need to fend off intruders.

We are delighted to be able to display these exquisite items to the public in the context of the Museum, which recalls the architecture of India.

September 2007 marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Clive Museum, so the additions are an excellent way of celebrating.

They are incredible pieces, "necessities" to any Indian nobleman during the 18th century, adding to the exotica of this collection.

The museum designer, Alec Cobbe and the cabinet maker, John Hart, recently returned to re-decorate, adjust and display the new items, embellishments with superb results!

The items are being shown for the first time during Museums and Galleries Month in Wales, a month long celebration to promote the rich variety of museums and galleries across Wales.

The museum was opened in 1987 by Countess Mountbatten of Burma. An Indian Weekend will be held from 15th - 16th September to mark the 20th anniversary. Activities will include Indian music and dancing, a re-enactment by the 33rd Regiment, special lectures and tours, sari demonstrations, henna painting and food and craft stalls.

<,p>Robert Clive's huge personal wealth resulted in an accusation of financial irregularities in the sub-continent, provoking a debate in Parliament. He never recovered from the scandal and the depression that had plagued him throughout his life resulted in his suicide in November 1774.

The items acquired by Robert Clive were originally intended for his villa at Claremont in Esher, Surrey. His son, Edward Clive, sold Claremont in 1786. By 1801 the collection had been transferred to Powis Castle, when the Castle and Estate was inherited by Edward, son of Edward Clive and Lady Henrietta Herbert, after the death of his uncle, the 2nd Earl of Powis, (2nd creation)."

Article written by Margaret Gray