THERE was no pomp and circumstance at the Ashmolean Museum when the new Wellby Collection was quietly unveiled to the public.

But make no mistake, it was a very special occasion indeed.

The Wellby Collection is an assortment of almost 500 extravagant and rare objects, bequeathed to the Beaumont Street museum in January 2013 by Michael Wellby and his family, after he died aged 85 in 2012.

An internationally-respected expert on German silver of the 15th and 17th centuries and from a prominent family of dealers, Mr Wellby spent years putting away some of the most exceptional things he came across in a career that started at his father’s shop aged 18.

The museum has declined to reveal how much it is all worth, or the rough value of individual objects, but it is known to be tens of millions and has been hailed as one of the most significant acquisitions it has ever made.

Mr Wellby kept them in a “secret chamber” in his home at Haddenham, near Thame, but about 320 of the items are now housed permanently in a new display, opened last week.

It has been designed to echo the “Green Vault” in Dresden, Germany, famously decorated with mirrors and golden mounts.

Prof Timothy Wilson, the Ashmolean’s former keeper of western art, gave up his position to focus his attention solely on the Wellby Collection after it was bequeathed to the museum.

He said: “I promised Michael Wellby his own ‘little Green Vault’ in Oxford, so there are some very conscious echoes in our design here.

“There are actually more objects on show than there were at his house, because we are absolutely not believers in the idea that less is more – we believe more is more.”

Mr Wellby’s great collection is a throwback to the Kunstkammers – or cabinet of curiosities – assembled by European royals and dignitaries.

They often featured examples of exotic items drawn from around the world, with many often gilded and mounted as well.

Prof Wilson said many of the items were aptly described as “bling”, but that the collection is comparable to the one that started the Ashmolean in 1683 – a donation from Elias Ashmole.

“It has this sense of ‘the chamber of wonders’ and natural curiosities,” Prof Wilson said.

“Many of the objects are fabulous examples of craftsmanship and exotic materials, which demonstrated the wealth and power of their owners.”

Matthew Winterbottom, the Ashmolean’s curator of late 19th century British sculpture and decorative arts, said: “It is a wonderful collection of some extraordinary objects.

“The new display also has state-of-the-art controls to help keep them in better condition.

“It has taken us some months to get everything ready, we had to make a mount for each object.”

Outside the exhibition there is also a new “light sculpture” made using fragments of glass, designed by artist Deborah Thomas.

She said: “There is a contrast with the exhibit because the glass used to make it is not expensive, but like the items in the collection there is also an element of craftsmanship.

“I aimed to make a sculpture that was like water moving.

“It has been a privilege to be involved and what is really nice is the sculpture has become a gateway piece into several spaces.”