Year: 1956
Type: article
Abstract: The small fragments of textiles dealt with in this paper are from the tombs of Robert Bruce 1 (died 1329) at Dunfermhne Abbey, Archbishop Gavin Dunbar (died 1547) at Glasgow Cathedral, and from that of an unknown early or mid 16th-century bishop in Fortrose Cathedral.They form a group distinct from the homespuns dealt with in Part I of this paper 2 in that they are imports into Scotland, fine textiles of silk and gold, the cloths from the highly skilled and specialised workshops of southern Europe which had mastered the drawloom, the braids hardly less skilful but possibly of convent origin, 3 and uncertain provenance.The textiles are dealt with in four groups, the cloths, the braids, the piece of embroidery and the pieces of knitting, while a note is added on a plain linen cloth from Bruce's tomb.In the case of the braids and knitting, a discussion precedes the descriptive catalogue entries of the textiles which are numbered consecutively through the paper.The section on the brocaded cloth from the tomb of Robert Bruce is by Mr John Beckwith, and that on the embroidery from the tomb of Gavin Dunbar is by Mrs Crowfoot; the remainder of Part II is by Miss Henshall.THE CLOTHS 37. From the Tomb of King Robert the Bruce (1274-1329).4 (Figs.1; 2, d, PL VII, 1, a and 6.See also the Braids, p. 32.)When the tomb of King Robert Bruce was opened at Dunfermline on 17th February 1818, "a body was found lying in the vault, inclosed in lead, 1 There is a very slight possibility that the tomb may be that of Alexander III.See T. H. Bryce, S.H.R., xxin (1945), 91.2 P.S.A.S., LXXXVI (1951-2), 1-29.3 A suggestion perhaps slightly corroborated by the tapestry in Bheims Cathedral (see p. 32) which shows the Virgin employed in tablet-weaving.4 The National Museum is most indebted to Mr Beckwith of the Victoria and Albert Museum for carrying the study of the fragments further than Miss Henshall was able to do.She is solely responsible for the drawings.
Language: English
Subfield: Museology
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4367138733