A museum case with examples of colourful ceramic plates, jugs, and vases.
Departments

Global Arts, Cultures & Design

Welcome to the Global Arts, Cultures and Design department. We research and care for the art, design and cultural collections from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

Our collections are open to researchers for research appointments. Please contact our staff to enquire.

Contact list of staff members

Our collections

Global Arts, Cultures and Design covers a wide range of objects from around the world, dating from the ancient to the present day.

  • Colourful painted portrait of a man with a beard wearing a jeweled turban. He is writing a letter with a feather pen on a desk full of items. The background is a simple green ground and blue sky embellished with landmarks of different cities and other objects.

    Asia

    More than 50,000 items from across Asia represent its cultural diversity.

  • European Decorative Arts

    British and European gold and silver, sculpture, ceramics, glass, enamels, arms and armour, dress, tapestries, textiles and furniture made between 1200 and 1850.

  • Mediterranean, Africa, Americas and Oceania

    Over 35,000 objects, including textiles, pottery, jewellery, sculpture, coffins, musical instruments, tools, weapons, basketry, and contemporary art.
  • Painted glass portrait of a sleeping figure wrapped in a red lace patterned blanket. there are barbed wire fences in the background, a pair of running legs, and a tree, moon and stars on a night sky.

    Modern and Contemporary Design

    Over 35,000 objects dating from c.1850 to the present, including ceramics, jewellery, glass, metalwork, fashion and textiles, craft, contemporary furniture and product design.

What we do

We explore international collections in collaboration with our diverse audiences with the aim of deepening understandings of Scotland’s relationship with the world.

Global Arts, Cultures & Design stories

  1. Fan with wooden sticks and guards painted black with gilt detailing. One guard with inscription 'ESPANA'. Fan leaf in metallic paper printed with a bullfighting scene

    Fan favourites: 5 decorative souvenir fans

    Art and design, Fashion and textiles

    Written by Dr Emily Taylor & Carys Wilkins
    Hand-held folding fans are a lightweight portable accessory. Although their practical function is to keep you cool, the decoration and materials used to make fans communicate much, much more.Fans make ideal souvenirs, intended to be…
    Listicle

  2. 'I am yours': 11 Scottish posy rings

    History and cultures, Scotland

    Written by Dr Georgia Vullinghs
    Posy rings are some of the most evocative objects of love in National Museums Scotland's collections. These finger rings are named for the short inscriptions engraved on the inside of their band. 
    Listicle
  3. Colourful printed cotton with blue geometric print and a blue red and green selection of fruits and flowers in the centre.

    The material lives of ordinary people: rare 19th century Chinese cotton

    Fashion and textiles, History and cultures

    Written by Dr Rachel Silberstein
    When you think of historical Chinese dress, what material comes to mind? Most people would probably assume silk. But the majority of the population in Qing dynasty China (1644-1911) actually wore cotton.However, this reality is not…
    Long read

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