Smith honour for benefactor
Pewter collector given fellowship
A man who donated to the Stirling Smith one of its most valuable collections has been honoured.
Alex Neish received a fellowship of the Smith as a ‘thank you’ for handing over to the museum his ‘world class’ collection of pewter, one of the largest in Britain.
Fifty guests last week attended the ceremony, held at the Smith, at which Mr Neish received an award conferred only on the institution’s most important benefactors.
Mr Neish, accompanied by his wife, Patricia, was presented with a medallion made from silver by Dunblane silversmith Graham Stewart.
Mr Neish, an Edinburgh graduate, left Scotland in 1962 to pursue a successful business career in Argentina and Brazil before retiring to Barcelona.
Over 50 years, he amassed a huge collection of pewter and was determined that it should return to Scotland.
He agreed to give the collection to the Smith because he didn’t want the pieces hidden in packing crates but on display.
The collection numbers 1500 pieces – ranging from Roman times to pre-war Art Deco – and includes everything from tankards and rose bowls to urinal bottles.
Among the key pieces are three rare thistle measures which were ordered to be destroyed around 1840 because of their ability to retain part of the liquid content.
The collection had been displayed in the former court building in Spittal Street, Stirling, but now it is on show at the museum in Dumbarton Road.
Pewter is an alloy of tin, lead and copper and before the mass production of pottery in the 18th century was the most common material for making household utensils.
Among guests at the ceremony were Provost of Stirling Christine Simpson, Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford and Keith Brown, MSP for Clacks and Dunblane .
They were joined by pewter specialist Carl Ricketts and members of the Incorporated Trades of Stirling and Worshipful Company of Pewterers of London.
Poet in residence John Coutts read out his newly-composed work ‘Honest Pewter’ and Kathie Costello of the Friends of the Smith sang some entertaining songs.
Mr Crawford said: “It is fantastic to have this collection as part of the Stirling Smith’s display.
“Around 400 years ago, Stirling was at the centre of Scotland’s pewter production so I am delighted that Alex chose this as the place to display his collection – a fitting tribute to our historical relationship with pewter as a material.
“If you haven’t yet been down to the Smith Museum to see the Neish Collection for yourself, I would urge you to do so.”
Colin O’Brien, chair of the Smith Trustees, said: “We award the Fellowship of the Smith only to those who have done extraordinary things for the organisation and are delighted that our benefactor has travelled all the way from Barcelona to receive the award today.”