This collar was worn by one Alexander Steuart, 1701. Such collars were not worn by serfs generally. This one was worn by a convicted criminal, made a serf at the coal mines of Sir John Erskine of Alva, as an alternative to execution. It was found in the River Forth at Logie, Stirlingshire, and given to the Museum in 1784 by Mr William McKillop. It is a unique relic of serfdom in Scotland, which was not finally abolished until 1799.
Isn't this a startling object - those few words describe an astonishing practice that produced my 'treasure' for the 26 Treaures project - 26 writers being given one of 26 treasures in the care of The National Museum of Scotland and asked to produce a single piece of writing inspired by it. I shall go and visit mine in the next couple of weeks - I'm very excited by this opportunity. The completed pieces will be exhibited at the museum in Chambers Street, Edinburgh from St Andrew's Day 2011 until Burns Night 2012 and there will be podcasts, blogs and videos made of work created. There's a website to tell you more about the 2010 project at the V&A which led to this one : www.26Treasures.com
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The Powfoot writing project that has happened over the last six months has produced a fine collection of work from people who have never tried creative writing before. We are close to completing an illustrated book which will be published in the summer. The content focuses on the experience of living in a coastal community and has work from writers young and old in memoir, poetry, fable and anecdote. More soon.
the shore - illustration by Hazel Lowther
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