Creative progress

I visited Gloucester Museum this morning. Several objects seized my attention, and after a few circuits of the galleries I have shortlisted these three. Wondering which one people think I should choose.

Not sure if the first one is allowed. It might be regarded as a collection of objects rather than a single object.

1. The Gloucester Tables Game

I was first drawn to The Tables Game for aesthetic reasons. Pleasing shapes and colours. A pleasing overall look. It's age (about a thousand years) and uniqueness added to its attraction. And the clincher was the narrative stimulation of its reported history - that it was found smashed up in Gloucester Castle's rubbish tip.

2. Gaming Counters

Other than name and date, no information supplied by this. The tube is about the size of a thumb. I think that following my time with the Tables Game, I was already thinking about social recreational activities of years gone by and so was primed for the Gaming Counters. The idea of someone pulling this out of a bag or tunic pocket and sitting down to play a game really brings this one to life. Also the fact that the case is closed, so actually no gaming counters can be seen. There's some intrigue here.

3. Ship's Bell from HMS Gloucester.

I approached this from behind the label, so didn't know anything about the bell other than its 'Gloucester 1985' inscription. I assumed it had been made for some religious or civic building and didn't really engage with the object. However once I read the label and understood that the bell had been to sea the object was transformed in my mind to something all the more exciting. I'm not especially naval- or military-minded, so perhaps the bell's history tapped into my own fondness for travel and visiting new places.

So those are my final three. I'm wondering which one will be the most stimulating as a start point for this project. Any thoughts welcome.