Molucca Bean

Molucca bean - entada gigas

sea heart, 2.5"across

found on the north shore of Egilsay

from the sea

The bean comes from the Monkey Ladder Vine which grows in the tropical rainforests of Central America & is carried across the Atlantic Ocean by the Gulf Stream. In Scotland sea hearts were considered a powerful charm for sailors, women during childbirth & worn by children as protection against the evil eye.

 

Lamp Parts

Lamp Parts

copper and brass

collected along the shores of Sanday 

from the sea

 

Cut Glass Mustard Jar

Cut Glass Mustard Jar

hinged silver lid and fitting spoon, 4.5" high

with shore crab exoskeletons

the jar from Rusness, Sanday

 

Reels of Silk

Reels of Silk

Japanese, mid C20th, wound on cardboard tubes

the largest 4" high

found in a sewing chest

from a temple market in Osaka

 

Kelp Stalks and Roots

Kelp Stalks and Roots

known on Orkney as Tangles or Ware

shrivelled by sun and air

brought ashore from the dense seaweed forests that grow around Sanday

From the C18th until the early C19th  kelp brought great wealth to the landlords of Orkney. During the summer months the land was often neglected while the crofters were put to work collecting the ware snd burning it in pits. Reduced to ash, rich in soda and potash, it was exported for production of glass and soap.

In 1806 Patrick Niell writing of his travels around Orkney says: "The kelp of Sanda is generally accounted of excellent quality. The tides around this island flow and ebb with the velocity of a rapid river: and to this circumstance is perhaps to be ascribed both the quick growth of the sea-weed, and it's richness in alkali".

 

Headlight Dish

Headlight Dish

7" across

from the sea

 

Autumn Flowers

Autumn Flowers

pressed

from Stove

Hanging Lamp Holder

Hanging Lamp Holder

rusted steel, 25" high

found in John Scott's workshop at Stove

The Scott's lived their entire lives, throughout most of the C20th without electricity.

 

Sycamore keys

Sycamore Keys

samara, designed to twirl through the air

from Helen Scott's garden

The row of sycamores which Helen Scott planted in the mid C20th have grown more sideways than upwards, due to the wind, with mighty sprawling branches. Every year hundreds of seedlings appear beneath the trees.

 

Ceremonial Dolls

Ceremonial Dolls

mid C20th, Japanese, Hina

from a garage clear-out, Osaka, Japan

The emperor, 7" high, ceramic hands and head, dressed in the ornate robes of the imperial court. A set of these dolls are brought out annually and displayed on tiered shelving covered with red cloth for Hina Matsuri - The Doll festival also called Momo no Sekku - The Peach Festival. This happens in March on Girls Day; a celebration of daughters. The origins of the Festival go back several hundred years.

Miniature Possessions belonging to the Hina

the broom 4" long

The characters of the imperial court represented by the dolls include maids of honour serving sake to the royal couple, musicians, bodyguards, gardeners & ministers.

Maids of Honour

with golden sake ladle

8.5" high

In the past Hina were considered to be family members and when no longer used or wanted taken to the temple where they were cremated. Now they are more freely parted with. This set was donated to the Museum by the Sakurai family and sent to Orkney.