Blairs Museum

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Blairs Museum

Blairs Museum offers a unique insight into Scotland's history and heritage with spectacular collections spanning more than 500 years.

Highlights include artifacts relating to Mary Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie and the history of the Catholic faith

17/06/2026

✝Happy Wednesday! Today we are highlighting this portrait of Reverend John Strain (1810–1883) in our collection.

🖌Reverend John Strain was the Rector at Blairs College from 1858 until 1864. There are three portraits of him in the collection which suggests that he was rather prominent whilst Rector. He featured in a list of pupils at the former seminary of Aquhorthies, as a student of Latin poetry.

10/06/2026

✝Happy Wednesday! Today we are re-highlighting this ring in our collection.

💍This ring contains a plaited lock of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s hair. An inscription on the inside reads: ‘Prince Charles Edward Stuart’s Hair, 1746’. Many rings such as this were produced during the Jacobite era, as propaganda and also in order to commemorate the Stuart monarchs. Did you know that it was very fashionable for female Jacobite supporters to wear jewellery containing Bonnie Prince Charlie’s hair?

03/06/2026

✝ Happy Wednesday! Today we are re-highlighting the Lumsden (Corgarff) Chasuble in our collection.

🐍This Latin shaped chasuble is the oldest piece of embroidery in the collection, dating from the 15th century. The back features St Michael slaying the serpent (first and last photo). The embroidery is executed in silks and gold threads worked on hand woven linen.

27/05/2026

✝What's in our collection Wednesday! Today we are re-highlighting a miniature portrait of Prince James Francis Edward Stuart.

👑James Francis Edward Stuart was the father of Bonnie Prince Charlie and Henry Benedict. This oval miniature shows the Prince as a chevalier and dressed in armour. On the reverse it is inscribed, ‘JR3’: a reference to his status amongst his supporters as King James III (of Britain). Miniatures like this were worn concealed under clothes by both men and women. They were often secretly imported into Britain from Europe.

20/05/2026

✝Happy Wednesday! Today we are re-highlighting this painting by John Aubrey (1909–1985) titled Bishops at Pluscarden.

🖌This painting commemorates the Ordination of Bishop Matheson at Pluscarden Abbey, near Elgin. Bishop Matheson's train is held by pupils from the school at Fort Augustus. The two boys are wearing the Lovat dress tartan in honour of the patron of the Roman Catholic school. Matheson is following members of the Chapter of Canons of Aberdeen into the chancel of Pluscarden Abbey, then unroofed, where already one can see a line of white robed monks processing to the altar.

13/05/2026

✝Happy Wednesday! Today we are highlighting this painting titled the Transfiguration in our collection.

😇This painting is a copy and the original is by Raphael. The original painting (1517–1520) is in the Vatican Picture Gallery in Rome. Two stories are told in this painting: above, Christ rises between Moses and Elijah; below, a boy possessed by evil spirits is taken to the disciples to be cured.

06/05/2026

✝Happy Wednesday! Today we are re-highlighting the St Anne and St Joachim Chasuble.

😇The embroidery on the vestment is believed to be from the 16th century while the main fabric of the chasuble is modern. This practice of salvaging older embroidery onto modern vestments is common. The embroidery depicts scenes from the lives of St Anne and St Joachim, the parents of Mary.

29/04/2026

✝What's in our collection Wednesday! Today we are highlighting this chalice in our collection!

🍷The original cup was believed to be owned by Alexander Gordon of Auchintoul (1669-1751). The underside bears the inscription 'Alexr Gordon of Auchintoul 1682.' while the cup appears to have been replaced at some point. This cup was designed to unscrew from the base so that it could be hidden away. The celebration of Mass involving the use of this cup could have led to serious retribution for the celebrants.

22/04/2026

✝Happy Wednesday! Today we are re-highlighting this portrait in our collection.

🖌We don't know much about the gentleman in this portrait. However, we believe the portrait is from the late 18th century or early 19th century. Do you have any ideas as to who this gentleman might be?

15/04/2026

✝Happy Wednesday! Today we are highlighting this portrait of Mary Queen of Scots (1542 - 1587) in our collection.

👑This portrait of MQS was painted on a wooden panel. Oil painting on wooden panels was common practice prior to the 16th century when canvas became popular. Paintings on wood are especially susceptible to damage due to changes in humidity which can cause the wood to warp and crack and the paint to chip.

Address

Riverside Of Blairs, South Deeside Road, Blairs
Aberdeen
AB125YQ

Telephone

01224 863767

Website

http://www.blairsmuseum.org.uk/

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