Photos would help us help you. Picture lights. Table lamps. Hidden up lights behind plants. Electrified candle sconces. Lots of ways to light a period home.

Sconces

Traditional museum lighting comes from huge skylights or huge windows. Consider adding skylights on the roof side that faces away from the street.

Modern museum lighting adds tiny LED lights that directly illuminate the objects.

Any museum I have gone to has pot lights that illuminate the space often with some also aimed at pieces . It is not invisible but a must in a home too It is in a home one layer of lighting the rest is floor lamps tble lamps all of those in your style Skylights are only good on sunny days .I assume you do not mean real old lighting that is pretty useless .I just finished a lighting design for a new gallery it is all track . I understand you have a Georgian cottage but please it needs lighting that is needed for how we live now and for sure not candle light