Summary

Model of Broch of Mousa, Shetland

Accession Number

X.GA 229

Other references

Original description

COLLECTIONS FROM BROCHS. Model of Broch of Mousa, Shetland, about 1/25th size of original. Trevor Cowie notes, 20 September 2012: this is a model of considerable antiquarian interest. Brian Smith, Archivist, Shetland Museum & Archives has kindly supplied the following information regarding this object. See Robert Cowie 1874, Shetland, descriptive and historical (Edinburgh and Glasgow), p.116 footnote 1: ‘About twenty years ago this building [broch of Mousa], which was literally mouldering into dust, was somewhat restored at the expense of the Society of Scottish Antiquaries. Gifford Laurenson, the very intelligent Shetland mason, who had charge of the work, built a miniature of the Burgh in small slatey stones, which now graces the Society’s Museum in Edinburgh.’ This is Gifford Laurenson, mason, born Bressay, Shetland, 1828, emigrated to Dunedin 1874, died at Dunedin 11 March 1891. See also Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 4, 1860-2, p.300 'Mr Stuart reported [10 June 1861] that the repairs on the ancient ‘Burg’ of Mousa had now been completed; some discoveries had been made in the course of doing so … and the fabric was now reported to be in such a state of repair as to give promise of its permanency as a complete specimen of this peculiar class of ancient remains. He also adverted to the propriety of obtaining a model of the ‘Burg’ for the Museum.' Trevor Cowie notes, 21 December 2015: see short piece by Brian Smith on 'Gifford Laurenson's brochs', in Unkans, 53 (2015), 2 (where Jim Wilson is misnamed as Jim Taylor).

Associated person/people (e.g. excavator/former collection)

None

Discovery / field collection

Date of discovery

Not recorded

Method (e.g. excavation)

Not recorded

Place (i.e. location of discovery)

Grid reference

Not recorded

Acquisition

Acquisition date

1864

Acquisition source (i.e. name of donor)

Unknown

Acquisition source role (e.g. donor)

Not recorded

Image

None