Collection: Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum – formerly The Smith Institute – has played a very special part in the history of Stirling since its foundation in 1874. Established by the bequest of artist Thomas Stuart Smith (1815-1869) on land supplied by the Burgh of Stirling, it is a historic public-private partnership which has continued to the present day. It was founded as a gallery of mainly contemporary art, with museum and library reading room ‘for the benefit of the inhabitants of Stirling, Dunblane and Kinbuck’.

  The foundation of the art collection was established through the bequest of the museums founder Thomas Stuart Smith (1815-1869), an artist who reserved about 400 of his works to be housed in this purpose built art gallery and museum, and who judiciously purchased works from his fellow artists for the same purpose.

  The foundation of the natural and social history collections was laid through the appointment of Alexander Croall, the eminent natural historian, author of Nature Printed British Seaweeds as first Smith curator in 1874. Croall served until his death in 1885.

  Collections in the Burgh of Stirling which had lacked a home, were brought to the Smith Institute before it opened in 1874. We received other regional and district gifts in 1996 via Common Good when the local government area of Stirling was formed.

  The second Smith curator, James Sword, who served 1885 – 1921 was also a natural historian, but through regular purchasing built up the extensive collection of Scottish antiquities. These purchases are recorded in the Registers. The collections on domestic lighting, laundry, snuff boxes, drinking vessels, furniture and agricultural implements were built up by him.

  Joseph McNaughton, third Curator served 1921 – 1947 and continued the work of the collection by donation and purchase. He also published a Catalogue of the collections in 1934 which ran through three editions.

  The Smith was requisitioned as barracks during two World Wars, and the loss of investments during the depression years of the 1930s, together with the reluctance of the Trustees to appoint a professional curator, 1947 -1959, created problems for the collections. Ill- advised sales by the Trustees of coins, gold watches and two important works by Fantin Latour for small sums of money in 1957 brought a new low, matched only by the disposal of 31 Stirling Heads to the Department of Ancient Monuments in 1970. Bad advice obtained from art dealers almost saw the dispersal of the art collection.

  From 1984, art historian, museum curator and valuator William Hardie was engaged to evaluate the art collection for insurance purposes. In 2012, he was succeeded by art dealer Neil McRae. Both have helped secure significant additions to the collection.

  In 1994 the social historian Dr Elspeth King was appointed Director. King engaged in both researching the historic collections and actively collecting and purchasing items to fill gaps in the collection. She focused on building collections based on contemporary social issues, along with women’s history and black history. She is also responsible for building the collection related to the cult of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.

  The current Director, Caroline Mathers was appointed in 2018. Mathers was appointed to redevelop the Smith and secure its future for future generations.

  Over the years, the Smith has been given, or has actively sought, collections from other museums and organisations in the area which have closed or had a change of use. The remnants of the Macfarlane Museum and Dr Paterson’s collection, both Bridge of Allan, are now in the Smith. Objects from the pre-1945 museum in Stirling Castle are in the Smith’s collection. The painting of William Wallace, the original architect’s drawing of the National Wallace Monument, and the Letters of the European Liberators (1868), all discarded by the Wallace Monument in the 1970s, were acquired or purchased by the Smith in the 1990s. In 2011 Alex Neish donated his world-renowned collection of British Pewter. This collection was previously the British Museum of Pewter, housed at Harvard House in Stratford upon Avon.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2024

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The Stirling Smith has responsibility for the stewardship and development of the Museum collections for the people of Stirling. The collections comprise around 60,000 artefacts, objects, photographs, documents, specimens and works of art. These form a major part of the social and cultural heritage of Stirling and include material that is important locally, nationally, and internationally.

  ARCHAEOLOGY

  Approximate number of items: 3,000

  The Smith manages a significant collection artefacts which spans 9,000 years of Stirling’s history. This collection has been developed over 150 years through antiquarian chance finds and archaeological excavation.

  This collection is particularly strong in medieval history. Highlights from this collection include ancient whale bones found on the raised beaches of the Forth Valley, and the Greenloaning Stone.

  In recent years many archaeological acquisitions have been made through the Treasure Trove process, with finds being allocated through the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel (SAFAP) at National Museums Scotland (NMS). Many small metal finds discovered by metal detectorists have been purchased through Treasure Trove in this way.

  SOCIAL & INDUSTRIAL HISTORY

  Approximate number of items: 14,000

  This collection reveals the lived experience of Stirling’s past. From the Scottish Wars of Independence and the Jacobite Uprising to present day. The majority of objects fall into this broad category and the bulk of these date from the 16th to the middle of the 20th century.

  Many of these objects tell the story of people’s homes, and recreational and social lives – from general domestic objects to unique items such as an embroidered fire screen made by the suffragette Marion Wallace Dunlop.

  Many also tell the story of people’s working lives and the products they made. This is reflected in our Stirling Guidry and trade collections. Highlights of this collection include the Box of the Seven Incorporated Trades and a significant collection of weights and measures.

  Stirling was also strategic military town, and six major battles which changed the course of Scottish history took place in the area. Highlights include weaponry from the Battle of Bannockburn and items used by Bonnie Prince Charlie during the Siege of Stirling Castle (1746).

  The star object from the social history collection is the World’s Oldest Football which dates to the early 1540s and was discovered in the Queen’s Bedchamber in Stirling Castle.

  COSTUME & TEXTILES

  Approximately 700 items

  The Stirling Smith manages a small collection costume, costume accessories and textiles from 16th to 20th centuries.

  The costume collection is Strong in Victorian whiteware, children’s dresses, and ladies’ dresses. Male costume is represented mostly by military and civic uniforms.

  The highlights from the costume collection are a 18th century Jacobean wedding dress and the Siege of Stirling fan.

  The highlights from the textile collection includes the Wilson of Bannockburn tartan collection and the 16th century Blue Blanket which was made by Mary Queen of Scots and the Four Marys.

  WORLD CULTURES

  Approximately 2,000 items

  The Smith manages ethnographic items from Africa, China, India, Pakistan, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Americas. The material is of variable quality and provenance, including some extremely rare items.

  This collection has been shaped by the travel, business, and cultural interests of the people of Stirlingshire, who traded with, and fought across the British Empire.

  Highlights from this collection include a Chair of Power from Zanzibar, Samurai Armour and a rare Tiger Army uniform from the Second China War.

  BRITISH PEWTER

  Approximately 2,000 items

  In 2011, the Alex Neish Collection of British Pewter was accepted into the collection, to complement the Smith’s existing pewter pieces.

  This is a nationally significant and world-renowned collection which contains examples from Roman Britain to present day.

  Highlights include medieval pilgrim badges, Art Nouveau items made for Liberty & Co. and pieces made for royal households.

  NUMISMATICS

  Approximate number of items: 6,000

  The Stirling Smith manages a good collection of coins, Scottish trade tokens, Scottish communion tokens, military, and commemorative medals.

  This collection includes coins from across the world, including early Greek and Roman coinage. Highlights from this collection include coins pre-dating the Act of Union and early American bank notes.

  The Smith also holds the third largest collection of communion tokens in the world, over 3,000 items, including Scottish churches overseas.

  FINE ART

  Approximate number of items: 2,700

  This art collection is primarily from the 19th and 20th century but also contains some notable 18th century and contemporary works. It is almost evenly divided between oil paintings and works of art on paper and includes a small number of pieces of sculpture. The collection contains works of national and international significance.

  The collection contains works from three main categories:

  • Scottish art: This forms the majority of the collection. The collection includes notable works by the Glasgow Boys, many of whom visited and stayed in Stirlingshire. The two particularly outstanding groups of work in this category are: 400 paintings and drawings by the museums founder Thomas Stuart Smith and 74 oil sketched the Sir George Harvey.
  • Non – Scottish art: A small number of English and European paintings, including work by Joshua Reynolds, Jan Van Zoon and Maurice Poirson.
  • Local art: Local views, portraits and scenes and work by local artists, including the oldest painting of Stirling by Johannes Vosterman which was commissioned by King Charles II.

  NATURAL HISTORY

  Approximate number of items: 22,000

  This collection explores the geology of our planet and life on earth, and includes botany, minerals, rocks, fossils, corals, birds and mammals.

  The highlights of this collection includes 18,000 herbarium specimens, collected in the late 19th and 20th centuries. The original identifications of species and location are known to be accurate, and the collection is of national importance.

  There are two major collections of rocks and minerals, containing reasonable numbers of local specimens, and being of reasonable quality. There are additional general mineral and fossil specimens collected in the 1840s and important due to the date of collection.

  PHOTOGRAPHS

  Approximate number of items: 6,000

  The Stirling Smith manages a large collection of photographic images which capture 200 years of people, built heritage and events in Stirling.

  The collection includes examples of many of the photographic processes used since photography’s invention.

  Strengths include the work of local photographers, Arthur D, S, MacPherson, Sargent W Mackenzie and Isabella Murray Wright.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2024

  Licence: CC BY-NC