The Lost and Forgotten Architectural Glass Commissions of Helen Monro Turner

Rothwell, Sarah; Kelly, Jessamy

The Lost and Forgotten Architectural Glass Commissions of Helen Monro Turner

Resource type

Conference paper (unpublished)

Creator (person)

Rothwell, Sarah

Kelly, Jessamy

Abstract

n this talk, we will look to rectify the lack of discussion on the artistic achievements of the distinguished Scottish glass engraver and educationist Helen Monro Turner (1901–1977), who was an artist of importance in the development of glass art, an early role model for women working in glass, and one who paved the way for future generations in the field, by exploring her lost and forgotten public work and architectural glass commissions. On the retirement of the Scottish artist John Lawrie (1928 – 2024) her friend, business partner and de facto-heir, the contents of the Juniper Workshop, the glass studio Monro Turner and he established on the outskirts of Edinburgh in 1956, was put up for auction on Saturday the 3rd of September 2005 at the former Shapes Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers, Edinburgh, Scotland. The contents importantly included Monro Turner’s ‘sketch books, designs, archive material and ephemera – spanning an entire career’. Regrettably, in its subdivision for sale and ultimate distribution by the auctioneers, Scotland lost a vital resource that has consequently resulted in Monro Turner being somewhat forgotten amongst the names of influential twentieth-century British glass artists and designers. A small selection of Monro Turner’s archive from this sale was acquired by National Museums Scotland (NMS) in 2006 from a dealer who attended the sale. This fragmentary collection of drawings, ephemera, and photographs, provides a tantalising glimpse to a forgotten and unpublished area of her oeuvre, specifically her public work and architectural glass commissions, many of which have been lost to the passage of time. The talk will demonstrate how, though incomplete, this small collection of documents establishes Monro Turner as an artist of import in the field of mid-century glass art. How vital the role of museums and archives are in preserving an artist’s legacy for future generations when the physical work has been lost. And conclude by drawing upon the changing contemporary landscape of the glass art field and confront the difficulties that the discipline is facing—including the considerable losses faced where traditional craft skills such as copper-wheel engraving and stained glass are increasingly at risk of endangerment in the UK.