Glenrothes: Fife Cultural Trust Collections Center
Water pipe with enamel decoration, China, 19th century. Collection of the Collections Centre in Glenrothes. Image reproduced from East Asian Collections in Scottish Museums (2020), p.90.
Silver box, export ware, China, 19th century. Collection of the Collections Centre in Glenrothes. Image reproduced from East Asian Collections in Scottish Museums (2020), p.91.
Chinese objects in the Fife Cultural Trust Collections Centre in Glenrothes are mostly everyday objects and export items. For instance, Mrs Helen M. Forbes donated Chinese export silverware, a cabinet and ceramic objects in 1950, while John Galloway donated Chinese jade bracelets and ivory carvings in 1960. Other donations include a Buddha statue from Sir David Young Cameron (1865-1945), two Chinese baluster vases from J. Newman, and two bricks of tea, manufactured for export to Russia, from Captain J Bruce.
Notably, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Gilmour (1876-1940) donated a crossbow that was used at the Second Battle of Taku Forts (1859) during the Second Opium War (1856-60). Objects with unidentified donors include a carved bone “flower boat” ornament produced in Canton (Guangzhou) in the 19th century for export markets; three ceramic tiles possibly from the Emperor Kangxi 康熙 (1654-1722, r. 1662-1722) era and a porcelain bowl with the reign mark of Emperor Guangxu 光緒 (1871-1908, r. 1875-1908) at its base; and seven metal water pipes used for smoking tobacco or opium.