Heritage Crafts and Gifts at the Shetland Museum and Archives
Visitors to the Shetland Museum and Archives can now complete their tour of the islands’ rich culture and history with a trip to the on-site shop.
Showcasing work from a number of Shetland’s best craftsmen and women, the shop stocks a range of quality products inspired by and reflecting the isles’ heritage and traditions, many of which are exclusively designed for the Museum and Archives.
Jimmy Moncrieff, general manager of the Shetland Amenity Trust said: “We decided to opt for a less is more approach, focusing on quality rather than quantity when we put the shop together. That’s not to say the shop isn’t packed full of a fantastic range of products – it is! However, we believe that our visitors will be able to source extra special items that will not only remind them of their visit to the Shetland Museum and Archives, but also celebrate the culture, heritage and talent of the islands’ themselves.”
One such exclusive item is the Burra Bear designed by Wendy Inkster. Although widely available throughout Shetland, the uniqueness of the bears sold at Shetland Museum and Archives comes through the colours and design of the fabric used, which is all based on the Fair Isle patterns on show in the museum itself. Specially commissioned and knitted by Shetland College, the wool is spun by Jamieson’s Spinning of Sandness and then fashioned to produce the beautiful bears.
Fair Isle fabric designs play an important feature within the shop. Notebooks from the Shetland Bookbinders, socks designed and made by Tak Da Sock and rose broaches by Mootie House Designs are all available and help emphasise the Fair Isle collection housed within the Shetland Museum and Archives.
Many of the craftsmen and women say that they are inspired by the culture and natural surroundings of Shetland when producing their individual items. Cecil Tait, is one of them and he uses traditional furniture making techniques to create individual and contemporary pieces. His Nordlys (Northern Lights) collection is exclusive to the Shetland Museum and Archives and contains candlesticks based on the geometric shapes of the table legs found in the Hay’s Dock Café Restaurant, made from ash and ingrained with peat to bring out the grain of the wood.
The shop also contains a ‘pick and mix pocket money’ section for youngsters eager to purchase their own Shetland Museum and Archives ‘treasure’. Featuring items such as twig pencils, dragon eyes and whipping tops the section has been a big hit with young children and those adults that are young at heart!
The ongoing project means that all the profits taken from sales go back into re-stocking the shop and continuing the project to incorporate products from more local producers.
Karen Clubb, Retail Product Development coordinator at the Shetland Museum and Archives, said: “We wanted the shop to reflect the treasures and objects contained within in the Museum and Archives, which in-turn reflect the creative history of Shetland as a whole. We are extremely fortunate to have so many artistic craftsmen and women throughout the islands’ and to have the opportunity to showcase them is great.”
The shop itself was designed and built by the skilled construction team at the Shetland Amenity Trust. Occupying the far corner of the entrance foyer, the shop is made from recycled and sustainable materials – including timbers from the 19th Century German boat, Elenore von Flotow, which was found when dredging Hay’s Dock.