Symbols of Mortality In Tankerness House Museum.
by Bernie Bell - 08:59 on 20 February 2025
Symbols of Mortality In Tankerness House Museum.
I have to admit that I wouldn’t normally have chosen to visit this exhibition. I’d seen it advertised and had visions of morbid Victorian mourning paraphernalia, but I had an hour to kill ( no pun intended) so thought I’d go to see what was to be seen in Tankerness House, and I’m glad that I did.
It’s a fascinating collection/selection of expressions of the human response to death, brought together by Lorraine Evans who is a professional Archaeologist and Death Historian.
Walking clockwise around the room, I saw what must be the cheeriest skeleton I’ve ever seen - doing a little dance!….
….part of a collection of images of memorials from St. Magnus Cathedral…..
There’s an explanation of the Victorian taste for Floriography – the ‘Language of Flowers’…
And, above the door, three panels containing floral motifs….
Moving on, the Paupers Coffin made me stand and think, of all the people who were too poor to afford a coffin to be buried in….
Note that the varnish has gone from the centre, as it was scrubbed after each ‘burial’.
I’ll quote briefly from Fran Flett-Hollinrake’s description, which includes more information…
“This shaped wooden board was kept at the Orkney Combination Poorhouse and was used for burials of those who could not afford burial plots or headstones.”
Moving on to the next section of displays – this caught my attention…
Described as….
“White marble cross enwrapped with a full anchor and chain symbolising hope, steadfastness and eternal life. It’s often found on sailor’s headstones”
This reminded me Memorials in the Kirkyard at Kirkhouse, South Ronaldsay…
http://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=16079
Being of Irish descent, an image of a classic Celtic Cross appealed to me…
As did the simplicity of this one …
Then to the cabinets in the centre of the room, containing what must be the oldest memorial in the exhibition – part of a Viking hog-back stone…
There a complete, and impressive hog-back stone in St. Ninian’s Kirk, Sandside Bay…
https://theorkneynews.scot/2021/04/07/a-different-approach-to-sandside-bay/
There are quite a few examples of Victorian mourning jewellery and images made from hair from the departed ’loved one’, but I didn’t take pics. as they give me the creeps. It was the fashion at the time, but not of the time I live in!
Among the rather gloomy reminders of mortality, I was pleased to see some scallop shells, the label of which states…
“Scallop shells symbolising birth and everlasting life.”
In the Museum, whilst talking with a young woman who works there, she told me that there’s a monument in St. Magnus Cathedral in memory of a member of the Paplay family. It’s in the form of a low arch, and the story is that the wife said she’d dance on the husband’s grave, so he gave instructions for his monument to be built in way which would prevent her from doing so!
After my visit to the Museum, I went across the road to St. M’s to find this monument, which was pointed out to me by one of the Custodians….
….who added to the tale of the monument by showing me a Hexafoil ( six-petalled flower) carving which is very feint, but can be seen, just to the left of the memorial…
Another female member of the Paplay family was accused of being a witch – she wasn’t convicted, but it’s thought that the Hexafoil carving by the Monument might be a way of fending off any ill-will towards the family.
Another little detail in St. M’s that I wasn’t aware of….
http://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=16683
The Museum exhibition finishes at the end of February – so – get it while you can!
We have our own monument….at the bottom of the garden…. a cairn in memory of all who have passed…
https://theorkneynews.scot/2019/04/26/theres-cairns-and-theres-cairns/
Add your comment
