Museums across Dorset and Wiltshire are sharing the story of Wessex as part of a new spotlight loan tour Wessex has a rich history connecting the area to countries around the world.

The region's links to Europe and Asia date back to prehistory. An eventful maritime history connects the ports to North America and beyond. Local collectors brought back to Wessex exotic treasures from their journeys of discovery around the world.

The story of Wessex is a truly global one. Throughout the year until August 3, with support from the Arts Council England, five leading museums: Wiltshire Museum, The Salisbury Museum, Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Poole Museum and Dorset County Museum, will share this story of Wessex in the wider world by showcasing selected objects from their own outstanding collections at the other partner museums in Dorset and Wiltshire.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to bring the amazing stories of these objects from our Wessex Museums partners to our own audiences," says David Dawson, director of the Wiltshire Museum.

"We hope that people will explore the rich collections in our partnership."

Jon Murden, director of the Dorset County Museum, added: “This tour not only highlights the importance of our collections to the region, but the stories that these objects tell about our cultural heritage over thousands of years.”

The objects on tour:

Wiltshire Museum: Woman of Power from the Time of Stonehenge

Objects discovered in 19th Century by William Cunnington from a barrow in Wilsford, Wiltshire, are from a burial of an important Bronze Age woman. Contained within her grave were objects that showed her power and authority. Gold, amber and jet beads and pendants were discovered with her remains.

• 16 Feb – 10 May 2017: Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum The Salisbury Museum: Wardour Hoard Objects consisting of an axe head, tanged razor, knife blade, socketed gouge, tanged chisel and socketed sickle are part of the Wardour Hoard. A significant group of 114 Bronze Age and early Iron Age objects discovered by metal detecting near Wardour Castle in 2013.

• 16 Feb – 10 May 2017: Poole Museum • 11 May 11th – 3 Aug 2017: Russell-Cotes Gallery and Museum

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum: Tibetan Teapot

Given to Sir Merton Russell-Cotes by the explorer Lieutenant Colonel Sir Francis Younghusband. In 1903 - 4 Younghusband led a controversial military expedition into Tibet.

He became interested in Spiritualism, wrote extensively and became involved in the attempts to climb Mount Everest.

World travellers themselves, Sir Merton and his wife Annie, collected items related to famous or infamous people, using them to attract visitors to their luxurious hotel, the Royal Bath and what is now the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum.

• 16 Feb – 10 May 2017: Dorset County Museum • 11 May 11th – 3 Aug 2017: Poole Museum

Poole Museum: Port of Poole Empire Airways Dish

Made by Poole Pottery, with a hand-painted design of the C-Class Sunderland flying boat Canopus and a service launch and inscription ‘Port of Poole Empire Airways 1940'; designed by Arthur Bradbury and painted by Ruth Pavely.

During the Second World War, flying boat services were transferred to Poole Harbour from Hythe, Southampton and operated by the British Overseas Airways Corporation, formed in 1940.

The service carried passengers to and from many parts of the world, including key figures of the time.

• 11 May 11th – 3 Aug 2017: Dorset County Museum