Large, scale model of the thatched house at Sandaig that was once a museum. Made by Ron Stirrat and Edward Rose in 2004, and now on display at An Iodhlann. Perspex cover and rotating stand.
Category Archives: 100 Objects
2017.84.1
Cross-section of a hawthorn tree from Glac nan Smeur / Hollow of the Brambles, on the side of Beinn Hynish, Balephuil. There are about 80 rings, suggesting that the tree is still producing new stems. Planted in 1803, it remains the oldest tree on Tiree. Hawthorn can live for 500 years.
2017.80.1
Homemade iron anchor, weighted with a sandstone block, used for flounder fishing. Found at Milton. There would have been three anchors/weights to hold the net on the seabed: one at either end and one in the middle. There is no sandstone on Tiree, suggesting that the weight was made elsewhere.
2017.79.1
Bronze bravery medal from the Royal Humane Society of London awarded to Archibald MacLean Jr for his participation in the rescue of the remaining crew of the gale-stricken schooner ‘Maria and Fanny’, off Kenavara, Balephuil Bay, in 1868. The rescue was carried out at great risk, and all eight members of the crew, including the captain, were given awards by the Royal Humane Society. A blue ribbon was added later.
The latin inscription reads “LATEAT SCINTILLVLA FORSAN ; SOC.LOND.IN.RESVSCITAT ; INTERMORTVORVM (?)INSTIT ; MDCCLXXIV” one one side, and “HOC PRETIVM CIVE SERVATO TVLIT ; VIT.OB.SERV.D.D. SOC.REG HVM.” on the other.
2017.65.8
Red ‘Orfeo’ accordion belonging to Robert Nisbet, Heanish. Includes travel case.
2017.59.1
Chanter belonging to Captain Lachlan MacPhail, Tiree and Glasgow (1889-1961), who was a great piper and writer of Gaelic poems and bagpipe tunes, and who had a pipe tune named after him. The chanter was presented to An Iodhlann by his eldest grandson on behalf of Lachlan’s three daughters Isabel, Cath and Margaret, who spent the holidays in Tiree in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.
2017.58.1
Iron cruisgean from Sliabh Cottage, Cornaigbeg.
An iron ‘crusie’ lamp that was used to burn fish oil and once belonged to Mrs Mary Campbell, grandmother of the donor. Notes accompanying the cruisgean tell that it came into the possession of the donor in 1996 and was initially offered to the Thatched House Museum in Sandaig. There it was photographed and returned to the donor with some notes suggesting that it was “an early 18th century iron hanging cruise lamp presented by the late Viscountess Gort”, and that “a cruse is a clay container which could be transformed into a lamp by being filled with oil and equipped with a simple wick – a rag would suffice, but a rush was more efficient and minimised the smoke.”
2000.91.15
Medieval bronze brooch from a collection of around 200 bronze objects found by amateur archaeologist George Holleyman at Balevullin in 1941-43, when he served at RAF Tiree during WWII. Identified by Dr Colleen Batey, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at Glasgow University and David Caldwell, retired Keeper of Medieval Department at the National Museum of Scotland during a visit to An Iodhlann on 29th April 2016.
Tiree in 100 Objects – 10 – Viking Brooch
The History of Tiree in 100 Objects
2016.41.1
Telegraphic instrument for tapping out and receiving telegram messages at Scarinish Post Office between 1888 and 1930. Originally from Skye and probably operated by Margaret Robertson (Mona’s mother), who is listed as the telegraphist in the 1911 census of Tiree. There is a key for sending messages and a sounder for receiving. Known as a KOB set (key on base), it is marked “20 ohm” on the base. The lever of the mechanism is steel and unmarked. From the estate of Angus MacLean, The Coolins, Scarinish.
2016.39.1
Wood-handled brass Post Office seal imprinted “Balemartine P.O”, plus sticks of sealing wax in their metal container.