New book claims Burrell was ‘ raided’ by teens in the 70s
ANEW book based on its a u t h o r ’ s G l a s g ow childhood in the 1970s claims the city’s famous Burrell Collection may not be as complete as its curators thought.
Michael Gallagher says the priceless collection was regularly plundered by cheeky youths before it moved to its custom- built museum home in Pollok Park.
“I recall tales of local boys stumbling on a store of tea chests in a dusty basement – crates that contained ‘ ornaments’ packed under protective straw and newspaper wrappings,” recalled the retired engineer.
“They took what they could carry and pawned or sold them for only a few quid, including Chinese vases and bowls, also a Chinese statuette, and animal figurines like ones I have described in my book.”
Michael, who grew- up in Hardridge on the edge of Pollok Park, added: “From memory, these were wrapped in layers of brown paper. I know of at least a dozen items that were taken but I’m sure there were many more.”
Sir William Burrell, a wealthy Glaswegian shipping magnate and art collector, acquired the collection of rare medieval art and precious cultural artefacts from around the world over many years, before donating it to the city in 1944.
For almost 30 years, until the early 1970s when the collection was properly curated for the first time, its contents were held in several locations across the city.
According to Michael’s new novel Jamie’s Keepsake, items including Chinese statues, vases and figurines were removed in a series of opportunist raids on the basement of Pollok House, where much of the collection was stored.
A spokesman for Glasgow Life said: “Glasgow Museums’ responsibility to care for the works in the Burrell Collection and wider city collection has always been taken extremely seriously. We would always encourage anyone claiming to have knowledge of such criminal activity or the whereabouts of any items stolen from the people of Glasgow to inform us or the police.”
The spokesman added: “Although the collection was stored and exhibited in many different locations, it was not unsecured and was, in fact, exceptionally well cared for.
“We are unaware of any objects which formed part of the catalogued collection given to Glasgow by Sir William and Lady Constance Burrell going missing.”