The Glasgow School of Art has brought together external experts in heritage and conservation along with representatives of the School’s Library, Archives and Collections and of the restoration design team to consider how the iconic lights from the Mackintosh Library might be conserved and used in the fully restored building.
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| A lamp with its bulb intact which was recovered in the archaeological dig in 2014. All 600+ pieces of the lights were unpacked for the event |
Last December saw the beginning of a meticulous archaeological survey of the remains of the library by Kirkdale Archaeology and AOC Archaeology during which over 600 pieces of the light (including some of the original glass) were recovered. The GSA is now looking at how much of the retrieved material can be restored and used in the library when the Mackintosh Building reopens.
All of the retrieved parts of the lights were laid out for the first time since the fire offering people the opportunity to examine the state of each piece. This has helped inform what it might be possible to restore.
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| Experts gather to examine the sections of the Mackintosh Library lights and decide the best approach - restore and reinstate or conserve ? |
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| Experts examine a surviving Mackintosh Library light which was on loan to another institution at the time of the fire |
"The central light in the library was a classic piece of Mackintosh design,” says Sarah McKinnon, Mackintosh Building Restoration Project Manager. “Given that so much of it survived the fire we wanted to explore whether it might be possible to reinstate it in some way in the restored library.”
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| The iconic lights - a centrepiece of the Mackintosh Library |
“We have now begun the process through a careful examination of the hundreds of surviving pieces and a detailed discussion of the pros and cons of various approaches.
"The general consensus from the experts we gathered together was that enough of the original metalwork and glass had survived to make restoration viable.”
“The next stage in the process will be testing the metal to ensure that is indeed strong enough to be reused and we will then move forward to appointing specialists to undertake this particularly challenging 3D puzzle.”
Ends
Further information
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474
press@gsa.ac.uk
Further information
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474
press@gsa.ac.uk
Notes for Editors
- The methodology developed to help decide how the lights might be restored will be used in future to help guide the restoration team’s approach to the myriad decisions that will need to be made in restoring the building.
- Among the experts contributing to the discussions were representatives from:
AOC Archaeology
Ceramic Restoration Scotland
Glasgow Life
Harley Haddow
Historic Environment Scotland
Page \ Park Architects
Scottish Conservation Studios
The Glasgow Guild
The National Museums of Scotland
along with specialist glass conservers, lighting designers and furniture restorers