The National Museum of Scotland has become guardian of the Galloway Hoard after the Queen’s And Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (QLTR) allocated it to them. QLTR is the owner of last resort in a number of instances such as treasure but also unclaimed inheritances.
Now the museum will put the Hoard on display for a short time as the fundraising efforts to save it for the nation get underway over the next six months.
The exhibition opens on 16 June 2017 to allow as many people as possible a glimpse of the Viking age gold silver and jewelled treasures.
Dr Gordon Rintoul, Director of National Museums Scotland said, ‘We have offered to carry the responsibility of raising the necessary funding to acquire the Hoard and resourcing its long term conservation, care and research requirements. We have also offered to lend a significant and representative proportion of the Hoard to Dumfries and Galloway Council for long term display in Kirkcudbright Art Gallery. The fragile nature of many of the items means a rigorous process of review and delicate conservation work must be undertaken before the future display of individual items can be decided.’
In addition to the proposal for long term display in Dumfries and Galloway, National Museums has offered the Council display of the whole Hoard for a period of time following the completion of conservation, and the loan of other material from the National Collections to give context to the display at Kirkcudbright Art Gallery. Keen to share the extraordinary discovery as widely as possible, National Museums also proposes to create a national touring exhibition, clearly acknowledging the importance of the Hoard and its links to the Dumfries and Galloway region, and would share the digital assets, for example 3D scans and digital photography, educational resources, and research outcomes with the Council.
Prior to the allocation to National Museums, Dumfries and Galloway Council had not accepted this proposal. Since allocation, National Museums Scotland has been in contact with Council officials to confirm that it continues to stand by its offer. A meeting between officials from both organisations is planned for the near future.
The Hoard, which brings together the richest collection of rare and unique Viking-age objects ever found in Britain or Ireland, is of international significance and will transform our understanding of this period of Scottish history. Buried at the beginning of the tenth century, it comprises in excess of 100 gold, silver and other items, some of which are unique.
You can help by donating now at http://www.nms.ac.uk/hoard to secure the Hoard and unlock its secrets or text HOARD to 70660 to donate £5.
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