Acquisitions

2023.18.1

Large framed painting of the Steam Yacht ‘Beryl’ cruising past Mount Vesuvius in the Mediterranean in 1907. John MacArthur of ‘The Neuk’, Vaul, is thought to have been the yacht’s piper when it cruised the Western Isles some time between 1905 and 1911, as John was known locally as Piopaire a’Bhurns / Burns’ piper, and the owner of the Beryl was James Burns, 3rd Lord Inverclyde. Also, the painting hung in the house of Willie and Hannah MacLean in Balemartine, and John was the cousin of Willie MacLean’s father.

The painting is accompanied by notes regarding the artist and the histories of several SY Beryls (stored in filing cabinet 10, drawer 4).

2023.17.1

Collection of items washed up on Tiree’s beaches for a mini exhibition titled ‘The Sea’s Harvest‘, held in An Iodhlann in 2022, including lids and labels from seafood companies in Norway and Ireland, fishbox packaging tape, plastic ice tea bottle from China, plastic fishing buoy from Spain, plastic Listerine bottle from Spain, plastic sea-sickness tablets container from Russia, wave-smoothed remnant of a Mortise-and-Tenon carpentry joint, plastic drinks cans holder.

2023.16.1

Large, ornately framed oil painting of Hugh MacDiarmid (1846-1928), known locally as Am Baillidh Dubh / the Black Factor, for his part in evoking Tiree’s ‘land war’ in 1886. The portrait was painted by the established artist Duncan MacGregor Whyte (1866-1953) in around 1922. MacGregor Whyte built The Studio at Balevullin. For more detailed information, see our exhibition material.