Back to its former glory, ancient map saved from the skip by builders
A 300-YEAR-OLD map of the world, found during building work on a house in Aberdeenshire, has gone on public display for the first time.
The rare 17th-century wall map was no more than a bundle of rags when it was discovered stuffed under a floorboard during renovations on a house that was once part of the Castle Fraser estate near Kemnay.
Saved from the skip, the disintegrating antique was later identified as one of only three known similar works by the Dutch engraver Gerald Valck, produced in Amsterdam in 1690.
Now, after complex restoration work over several months, it has gone on show at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, until April 17.
Removed from its original fabric backing, the 7ft by 5ft artefact has been delicately washed and cleaned, and re-assembled with a new paper lining.
Fragments that had fallen off, some much smaller than a postage stamp, have been re-attached “like a jigsaw” to reveal the work in fascinating detail.
Aberdeen schoolteacher and map enthusiast Brian Crossan, who handed it in to the library after builders saved it, said its transformation had been “truly amazing”.
He said: “I would never have imagined that this could have been done. I was sure the map was beyond saving and it’s great to see it once more hanging proudly on a wall for everyone in Scotland to see.”
It was separated into eight sections to be able to work on it and has now been re-assembled to appear as it was originally intended. Although significant sections have completely disintegrated and been lost, enough remains to be able to tell a fascinating story.
The map shows views of important towns, large sea battles and important figures including Britain’s then King William III and his wife Mary.
As the map is Dutch, however, it represents a world view as seen from Amsterdam, complete with colonial ambitions.
Australia appears as New Holland, while the nation’s rivalry with its old enemy Spain is represented by a depiction of atrocities committed by Spanish invaders in South America.
Dr Esther Mijers, a lecturer in history at the University of Edinburgh, said: “This map throws up more questions than it can answer. It would be wonderful if people wanted to do more research on the map and its story.”
Clare Thomson, the conservator who worked on project, said: “Never have I worked on anything as bad as this. It was so delicate and there were so many pieces to it. It was so fragmented, some of it was just like confetti.”
Paula Williams, map curator at the National Library, added: “Maps were largely symbols of power at this time. They were very expensive to make and even more expensive, relatively, for people to buy.
“Whoever owned this map wanted to display their own power.”