(on long-term loan from Kilmartin House Museum) This human face carved on a natural boulder of local igneous stone (37 x 26 cm; 50kg) has been identified by the National Museum of Scotland as a Pagan Celtic Stone Head, dating from the Iron Age1. Jean and the late...
This book (8 x 13 x 4cm), in very poor condition, foxed and brittle, with the back cover missing, originated from the United Free Church at Baligrundle (see the Object for July 2014). It is one of the gifts to the archive from the Odling family, who owned the church...
It is easy to be misled by the appearance of the Lismore limestone. Although much greyer than many commercially-exploited limestones, it is a high-quality source of calcium carbonate (around 90%), and its suitability for burning to produce lime for building and...
The McCormicks at Daisybank were a devoted family, very supportive of one another after the early death, in 1902, of Neil, the owner of Lismore Stores and a profitable tailoring business (see the Object for October 2015). His wife Elizabeth kept the store going for...
Before the introduction of manufactured cartridges and bullets from the mid-19th century, powder flasks were required to deliver gunpowder down the barrel of muzzle-loading guns. The ball, bullet or shot was then driven into place with a ramrod, and secured with a...
LISDD:2010.156 Gold watch chain of twisted oval links, connected to an oval commemorative medal inscribed on one side with the initials DMC and on the other: “Presented to Duncan MacCormick from his friends & well wishers in Lismore. 22 August 1908” Duncan...
It was not until 1801 that a full translation of the bible into Gaelic, by the Rev John Stuart of Luss, was published but, by the time that Victoria ascended to the throne, even if there were no other books in a West Highland household, there would always be a bible,...
(LISDD:2012.Q) With the loss of 563 merchant vessels by U-boat attack in 1940, the British Government introduced food and fuel rationing. The need to grow more at home and conserve imported food became even more important by 1942, when 1322 ships were lost in the...
As part of the Lismore Landscape Project, Dr Ewan Campbell and colleagues from the Department of Archaeology, University of Glasgow, excavated areas of the interior and surrounds of Tirfuir Broch in 2004-5. At the level of the foundations, they uncovered the most...
The museum has a collection of four smoothing irons, which demonstrate different approaches to ironing clothes and bed sheets before the arrival of mains electricity in 1970. Up to the early twentieth century, the iron itself or a metal "slug", which fitted into the...
Before the Reformation, celebration of the birth of Christ was an important part of the religious year in the Highlands and Islands. Alexander Carmichael collected surviving Christmas traditions in the Outer Hebrides, including carols, visits by guisers and...
LISDD:2007.A1 A small (132mm x 93mm) leather-bound Pocket book and diary for 1868, published by Caldwell brothers Edinburgh. Six days per double spread (Monday to Friday); Sundays together at the start. Introductory pages include a Kalendar for the year; lists of...