Colouring the Nation is a collaborative project between National
Museums Scotland and the School of History, Classics and
Archaeology, University of Edinburgh. The project is funded by
the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Scottish Government under
their Major Research Grants in the Arts and Humanities
Scheme. The project, which began in May 2011 and will run for
two years, is directed by Dr Stana Nenadic of the University of
Edinburgh and employs Dr Sally Tuckett as postdoctoral
researcher.
What is the aim of the Colouring the Nation project?
The results of the research and outreach workshops aim to
challenge the popular perception that Scotland’s industrial past
was dominated by heavy industry. By looking at decorative
textiles manufacture, the project will show that Scotland played a
key role in the production of colourful and fashionable fabrics
with an international appeal. The collaborative nature of the
project means that many aspects of the Scottish textile industry in
its broader economic, social and cultural context can be explored,
including the history of design.
How does the project link to the Museum?
A main focus for the project is the Turkey Red Collection at the
National Museums Scotland, which contains 200 pattern books and
approximately 40,000 textile samples from the Turkey red dyeing and
printing industry in the west of Scotland (some examples of Turkey
red cottons can be seen in the Scotland
Transformed gallery of the National Museum of Scotland).
What is Turkey red?
‘Turkey red’ was a complex method of dyeing cotton, which
produced a bright, fast and washable shade of red. It became a
major industry, particularly in the Vale of Leven in
Dunbartonshire, employing thousands of workers and producing
brightly coloured, exotic fabrics that were sold throughout the
world, from India and China, to North America and the West
Indies.
Click on the images below to see larger images from the turkey
red pattern books in the National Museums Scotland collection.
The project will investigate the history of the National Museums
Scotland pattern books and the wider significance of the Turkey red
printed cotton industry. It will also explore other notable
Scottish fancy textiles, including the Dunfermline damask linen
industry and the Paisley muslin trade.
You can follow the progress of the project at its blog: www.colouringthenation.wordpress.com.