The Garnkirk Urn and the Garnkirk Vase

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By Gavin Stamp

It may sound like a minor distinction, but even the Society in the past has had its points of confusion about the fireclay object designed by Thomson properly known as the Garnkirk Urn.

There is every reason for confusion, for both a Vase and an Urn were on display at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and examples of both are held by the Glasgow Museums and Art Galleries. Confusion is also created by both Vase and Urn being published in the Great Exhibition catalogue, ‘The Industry of All Nations’ but apparently attributed to Ferguson, Miller & Co. of the Heathfield works near Glasgow when both, in fact, were made by the Garnkirk Fireclay Co. Further confusion may be created by the fact that the Garnkirk Company also made a ‘Florence Vase’ which was exhibited at the Dublin Exhibition of 1853 and which now stands proudly in the Signet Library in Edinburgh.

The Garnkirk Vase is shown above left; the Garnkirk Urn above right. Far right, The Garnkirk Urn restored by Frank Worsdall.

The Garnkirk Urn was designed by Thomson and modelled by his friend, the sculptor John Mossman. It is quite different from the other fireclay vases inspired by Antique models as it is of a distinctive tall and narrow form, of singular elegance. A specimen is held in store at Kelvingrove in Glasgow. This was given by John Thomson, the designer’s son, in 1927 and was exhibited in the Glasgow Parks Department’s display during the Garden Festival in 1988. The accessions register records that the urn,

"as stated on the authority of Mr. John Thomson... was designed by his father ‘Greek Thomson’ for the Garnkirk Fireclay Company. The Grecian Vase [sic] was later presented by said Company to the donor’s father. It is noteworthy that this vase now presented was sent by said Company as a sample of their work to the International Exhibition organised by Prince Albert in Hyde Park London in 1851. It is also noteworthy that there is another copy of this vase (May 1927) in the hands of Mr. Adam Cairns of Ingleside Newlands (Glasgow) a son-in-law of ‘Greek Thomson’."

In a note on ‘Alexander Thomson and Garnkirk’ in Garnkirk Fireclay by G. Quail [Auld Kirk Museum Publications No. 11, Strathkelvin District Libraries & Museums, 1985] Francis Worsdall recorded that,

‘The copy of the urn in my possession is 4ft. 3in. in height and was rescued from the already vandalised Caledonia Road U.P. Church a short time before the interior was totally destroyed by fire in 1965. At the time it had been smashed into some 60 fragments (one only missing) and was carefully restored. It stood in a special niche on the gallery staircase and was lit from above by a small dome. During restoration it was quite clear that it had been painted in bright primary colours, the base being the red which he frequently used. The rest was not clear. It obviously had matched the internal decoration of the church which Thomson himself had designed.’

This restored Urn (top left) fell apart in the fire which gutted part of Mr Worsdall’s home shortly before his death.

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