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 Aims

The aim of this project is to carry out a survey and conservation audit of the collection. As part of the conservation audit, essential cleaning and rehousing of the collection will take place, and a report on future conservation needs compiled. Experts from National Galleries Scotland and the University of Edinburgh will carry out a survey of the collection to provide guidance on the importance of the material and to inform future cataloguing.

We will be sharing project updates and discoveries here and via our social media accounts.

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

Upcoming Events

Find out more about Quin, Tassie and this project at our pop-up exhibition in 6 Kildare Street for Heritage Week running from 18 to 22 August.