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Quin Tassie Collection

A Collaborative Research Project

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Quin Tassie Collection

Working with colleagues from National Galleries Scotland and the University of Edinburgh, and with funding from The Heritage Council, we carried out research into a unique collection that sits at the intersection of art, science and medical history in eighteenth century Dublin.

 

The Quin Tassie Collection

The Quin Tassie collection consists of 26 drawers of miniature gem casts and moulds thought to have been created by James Tassie (1735-1799), the renowned Scottish gem engraver, and his mentor, the Irish physician Henry Quin (1717-1791) an important patron of the arts. The collection may also contain specimens of the raw material used in the manufacturing process as well as related manuscript notes.

Imitations of antique gems were valuable educational tools for those who wanted to learn about the visual culture of ancient Greece and Rome and were part of the 18th century’s fascination with classical times. After learning the technique of gem imitation from Quin, and possibly developing the jealously guarded recipe for their glass paste together, Tassie settled in London and became one of the most famous producers of this type of object. His reputation was international and he secured an order from Catherine the Great of Russia.

 

Project Outcomes

The funding from the Heritage Council allowed us to carry out a survey and conservation audit of this collection. As part of the conservation audit, essential cleaning and rehousing of the collection took place, and a full report laying out future conservation needs. Experts from National Galleries Scotland and the University of Edinburgh carried out a detailed survey of the collection, which highlighted the importance of the material, and will inform future cataloguing and research.

You can read a blog post about the project by our Collections Assistant, Sara here

 

Project Team

  • Lorna Barnes, Object Conservator
  • Liz Louis, Curator, Portraiture (1700-1800), National Galleries Scotland
  • Dr Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth, Senior Lecturer, British and French History of Art, 1650-1900, University of Edinburgh
  • Harriet Wheelock, Keeper of Collections, RCPI
  • Sara Dickson, Collections Assistant, RCPI
 

This project was co-funded by The Heritage Council.