Images: Sights and Scenes in Fair Japan part of
the iconic central light and library chairs were among the finds
the iconic central light and library chairs were among the finds
from the forensic
archaeology in the Mackintosh Library
archaeology in the Mackintosh Library
Rare books, parts
of a studio clock, the iconic central lights and a beautiful silver salver were
among the finds from the archaeological survey of the Mackintosh Library it was
revealed today, 12 March 2015. Kirkdale Archaeology in partnership with AOC
took 12 weeks to painstakingly document, sift and remove the remains. All the
finds have now been packed and put into safe storage to be assessed for future conservation
work.
of a studio clock, the iconic central lights and a beautiful silver salver were
among the finds from the archaeological survey of the Mackintosh Library it was
revealed today, 12 March 2015. Kirkdale Archaeology in partnership with AOC
took 12 weeks to painstakingly document, sift and remove the remains. All the
finds have now been packed and put into safe storage to be assessed for future conservation
work.
“There have been some remarkable finds from the
forensic archaeology,” says Professor Tom
Inns, Director of The Glasgow School of Art. “We are still awaiting the final reports from the survey, but we are delighted
that the majority of the pieces making up the intricate metal lanterns from the
iconic light fitting have been found along with books from the rare book
collection which can be conserved to some degree, parts of the studio clock and
of the original library chairs and periodicals desk.”
forensic archaeology,” says Professor Tom
Inns, Director of The Glasgow School of Art. “We are still awaiting the final reports from the survey, but we are delighted
that the majority of the pieces making up the intricate metal lanterns from the
iconic light fitting have been found along with books from the rare book
collection which can be conserved to some degree, parts of the studio clock and
of the original library chairs and periodicals desk.”
“We have also learned a tremendous amount about the
construction of the library which will be invaluable when we come to begin the
restoration.”
construction of the library which will be invaluable when we come to begin the
restoration.”
Following the
completion of the survey the GSA is in a position to give full details of the
impact of the fire on the vast Archives and Collection that the School holds.
completion of the survey the GSA is in a position to give full details of the
impact of the fire on the vast Archives and Collection that the School holds.
“The GSA Archives and Collections comprises thousands
of items including artworks and architectural drawings, correspondence and
documentation relating to the historical development of the estate and the
running of the school, textiles, plaster casts, photographs and furniture,” says Professor Inns, “and the vast majority of the Archives and Collections survived the
fire intact although there have inevitably been losses.
of items including artworks and architectural drawings, correspondence and
documentation relating to the historical development of the estate and the
running of the school, textiles, plaster casts, photographs and furniture,” says Professor Inns, “and the vast majority of the Archives and Collections survived the
fire intact although there have inevitably been losses.
“All of the surviving material is now stable and
secure. It will be reviewed by expert conservators as part of a recovery
programme which will take place over the next three years,” he adds.
secure. It will be reviewed by expert conservators as part of a recovery
programme which will take place over the next three years,” he adds.
Some of the most popular items in the Recognised Collection
are now accessible by guided tour in a new Furniture Gallery
are now accessible by guided tour in a new Furniture Gallery
All items that were
in the east wing of the Mackintosh Building, including in the Furniture
Gallery, Director’s office, Mackintosh Room, Mackintosh Museum and Boardroom survived
intact and were removed to safe, offsite storage immediately after the fire.
Some of these items have now been put back on public display in a newly created
Furniture Gallery in the Reid Building.
in the east wing of the Mackintosh Building, including in the Furniture
Gallery, Director’s office, Mackintosh Room, Mackintosh Museum and Boardroom survived
intact and were removed to safe, offsite storage immediately after the fire.
Some of these items have now been put back on public display in a newly created
Furniture Gallery in the Reid Building.
An original
watercolour by Mackintosh from the GSA Archives & Collections is hung in
the Reid Gallery (June 2014)
watercolour by Mackintosh from the GSA Archives & Collections is hung in
the Reid Gallery (June 2014)
The majority of the
paper archives and artworks on paper, including over 100 works by Charles
Rennie Mackintosh himself that the GSA holds and are part of the institution’s
Recognised Collection were unharmed by the fire. This includes watercolours from The Magazine which were put on display
as part of Graham Fagan’s Cabbages in an
Orchard exhibition in the Reid Gallery only a matter of weeks after the
fire. A small percentage of the paper
archives suffered water damage, but these items have either been air dried or
frozen and are now stable.
paper archives and artworks on paper, including over 100 works by Charles
Rennie Mackintosh himself that the GSA holds and are part of the institution’s
Recognised Collection were unharmed by the fire. This includes watercolours from The Magazine which were put on display
as part of Graham Fagan’s Cabbages in an
Orchard exhibition in the Reid Gallery only a matter of weeks after the
fire. A small percentage of the paper
archives suffered water damage, but these items have either been air dried or
frozen and are now stable.
Two of pieces from the
collection of plaster casts: one untouched the other blackened in the fire
collection of plaster casts: one untouched the other blackened in the fire
The large plaster
cast collection has also substantively survived, although many pieces have
suffered some smoke and water damage. One piece was damaged beyond restoration.
All the casts that could be removed have now been transferred to an offsite
location where they have been stabilised and will be assessed for further
conservation. Others still remain inside either because they were in too
fragile a condition or too large to move and it was safer for them to stay in
situ where the environment is stable. Plans are now in train to conserve and
restore these pieces.
cast collection has also substantively survived, although many pieces have
suffered some smoke and water damage. One piece was damaged beyond restoration.
All the casts that could be removed have now been transferred to an offsite
location where they have been stabilised and will be assessed for further
conservation. Others still remain inside either because they were in too
fragile a condition or too large to move and it was safer for them to stay in
situ where the environment is stable. Plans are now in train to conserve and
restore these pieces.
Specialists check
over part of the GSA’s textile collection in the aftermath of the fire and a
ceramic brooch that survived the fire
over part of the GSA’s textile collection in the aftermath of the fire and a
ceramic brooch that survived the fire
The object
collections, which include ceramics, small sculptures, examples of
silversmithing and jewellery and more, all survived. The textile collections
suffered some water damage. However, the
items have now all been air-dried, stabilised and conservation work, where
appropriate, will commence in due course.
collections, which include ceramics, small sculptures, examples of
silversmithing and jewellery and more, all survived. The textile collections
suffered some water damage. However, the
items have now all been air-dried, stabilised and conservation work, where
appropriate, will commence in due course.
Around 90 of the
oil paintings on canvas in the School’s collections were destroyed. These
included two paintings by Mackintosh, a handful of works by Newbery and one
work by Joan Eardley. However, all the paintings had been digitised as part of
the GSA’s commitment to open up its Archives and Collection to a wider audience
and can be accessed via the online archive.
oil paintings on canvas in the School’s collections were destroyed. These
included two paintings by Mackintosh, a handful of works by Newbery and one
work by Joan Eardley. However, all the paintings had been digitised as part of
the GSA’s commitment to open up its Archives and Collection to a wider audience
and can be accessed via the online archive.
Around 8,000 books
and journals in the Mackintosh Library, including part of the GSA’s rare book
collection, were also destroyed in the fire. However, almost 80% of the rare
book collection – which is kept in the main library in the Bourdon Building –
survives. The GSA is not seeking to replace the vast majority of the books and
magazines lost from the library. A priority replacement list was circulated in
the aftermath the fire, 25% of which has already been generously donated.
and journals in the Mackintosh Library, including part of the GSA’s rare book
collection, were also destroyed in the fire. However, almost 80% of the rare
book collection – which is kept in the main library in the Bourdon Building –
survives. The GSA is not seeking to replace the vast majority of the books and
magazines lost from the library. A priority replacement list was circulated in
the aftermath the fire, 25% of which has already been generously donated.
The majority of the
contents of the library were destroyed, although the forensic archaeology has retrieved
a number of artefacts including parts of the studio clock and all its
mechanism, most of the metal from the lamps in the iconic central light
fitting, some of the rare book collection – including The Sights and Sounds of Fair Japan – and parts of some of the
library chairs / the periodical desk. All of these items have been documented
and put into specialist storage as the GSA looks into what conservation work
can/should be done.
contents of the library were destroyed, although the forensic archaeology has retrieved
a number of artefacts including parts of the studio clock and all its
mechanism, most of the metal from the lamps in the iconic central light
fitting, some of the rare book collection – including The Sights and Sounds of Fair Japan – and parts of some of the
library chairs / the periodical desk. All of these items have been documented
and put into specialist storage as the GSA looks into what conservation work
can/should be done.
Virtually all the
items that were in the studio above the Mackintosh Library, which was historically
a bookstore and then the GSA’s Furniture Gallery for over 20 years from the
1980s until 2008, were lost in the fire. This includes much of the collection
of oil paintings and some 97 items furniture which were part of the GSA’s
Recognised Collection. Around 60 pieces of furniture, including many of the
major items in the collection, have survived. A number of these have now gone
back on public display in the newly created Furniture Gallery in the Reid Building.
The majority of the lost furniture had been documented digitally and can still
be accessed through the GSA’s recently launched online archive.
items that were in the studio above the Mackintosh Library, which was historically
a bookstore and then the GSA’s Furniture Gallery for over 20 years from the
1980s until 2008, were lost in the fire. This includes much of the collection
of oil paintings and some 97 items furniture which were part of the GSA’s
Recognised Collection. Around 60 pieces of furniture, including many of the
major items in the collection, have survived. A number of these have now gone
back on public display in the newly created Furniture Gallery in the Reid Building.
The majority of the lost furniture had been documented digitally and can still
be accessed through the GSA’s recently launched online archive.
“We are obviously devastated to have lost anything from
our Archives and Collections in the fire. Fortunately the vast majority of the
artefacts survive including all the works on paper by Mackintosh and many of
the most important pieces of furniture, some of which are now on display in our
new Furniture Gallery. As part of the GSA’s commitment to greater access through
digitisation virtually all of the lost artefacts had already been documented
and images of them will continue to be accessible through the GSA’s online
archive.”
our Archives and Collections in the fire. Fortunately the vast majority of the
artefacts survive including all the works on paper by Mackintosh and many of
the most important pieces of furniture, some of which are now on display in our
new Furniture Gallery. As part of the GSA’s commitment to greater access through
digitisation virtually all of the lost artefacts had already been documented
and images of them will continue to be accessible through the GSA’s online
archive.”
For further details
on the GSA’s substantial Archives & Collections visit: http://www.gsa.ac.uk/archives
on the GSA’s substantial Archives & Collections visit: http://www.gsa.ac.uk/archives
Ends
Further information
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474