Icons of Celticity at the National Museum of Scotland

It is about time I caught up with my blogs from innovative learning week,  this post  is about last Friday- truly my most innovative day yet! My morning started with some tightly squeezed in coldworking, you would be amazed how much sawing you can get done in an hour and a half! It did however improve greatly when I set off to the museum to attend a talk about what we consider ‘icons’ of celticity- archeologically speaking that is. A bit of a random subject for a glass enthusiast like myself as it isn’t particularly ‘glassy’ but I do really enjoy ancient history and I think generally it is just quite interesting to see what folk dig up from the ground. It is a little crazy to think how many people have handled and admired the artefacts before us.

Anyways, It was lead by Dr Martin Goldberg- the curator responsible for the early historic and Viking collections. There was also a tutor from the history and archaeology department at the university. Martin started by explaining how the Early People section was set out. The collection contains 200 years of finds, these items however have not been arranged into chronological groups but into themes and these themes tell a more complete and organised archaeological story. This section of the museum also features some beautiful permanent sculptures from both Andy Goldsworthy and Eduardo Paolozzi (it’s worth checking these out, even if you don’t fancy anything too historic!)

After our introduction we discussed our first artefact, The Hilton of Cadbol stone. It is a class II Pictish stone (includes both pre-Christian and Christian symbols), integrating an old tradition with their new religion. The main Celtic icon here is a ringed cross (well part of it, time has not been particularly kind). It also has a hunting scene, probably showing the patron of the stone. Then it was a brief stop by a cabinet full of torcs- they are absolutely incredible, I have to get me one of these. Just around the corner we stopped at a totally wild carnyx (to you and I, a war trumpet), and then a Roman inspired and made statue of the Brigante Goddess, Brigantia. All this time comparing and contrasting the finer points of Anglo Saxon, Christian, Celtic and Pictish decorative work. 

But our final stop was definitely the most impressive! The Monymusk Reliquary, which is said to contain the holy remains of St Columba. It was also once thought to be the Breac Bannoch (‘embossed peaked-thing’), a sacred battle ensign of the Scottish army, used for saintly assistance at the battle of Bannockburn. It is Pictish (8^th century-ish) and decorated with the most beautiful fine point patterned silver plate. The whereabouts of the object can be traced back to the 19^th century, although interestingly it has never actually been lost in the ground- it has been preserved by a family. Martin remarked that whilst it is beautiful and incredibly important historically speaking it is actually larger in books then it is in real life! A library visit is now probably in order for me now to take in some of it. There was so much to take in over the course of our tour, I honestly think it was the most educational hour and twenty minutes of my whole life!

The Monymusk Reliquary. Or a tape cassette. You decide