Lady Marianne Isobel Moncrieff
Lady Marianne Isobel Moncrieff | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 December 1875 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 28 September 1961 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Occupation | Monart Glassware Designer |
| Spouse(s) | John Moncrieff, married 19 April 1904 |
Isobel Moncrieff (1875 – 28 September 1961) was an artistic designer[1][2] of Monart Art Glassware in Perth, Scotland between 1924-1934. Due to the era she was never officially made a director. While the Ysart family[3] had the technical know-how to create the glassware within the Monart Glassworks, it was Moncrieff's designs which were the basis for their world-renowned coloured glass pieces. Queen Mary was an admirer of the glassware[4][5][6][7] and 33 glassware pieces were designed and commissioned by her to be presented as Perth's gift[8][3] to the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on their wedding. These pieces can be found in the audits of Balmoral Castle with only 32 pieces left.
Early years
[edit]Moncrieff was born Marianne Isobel Dunlop on 21 December 1874, the youngest of seven, at 20 Lynedoch Street, Glasgow. The name "Marianne" was chosen as the closest baptismal name to that of her aunt 'Mary Anne'. She preferred to be addressed as Isobel according to her nephew Dr James Percival Agnew L.L.D in his reminiscences of his aunt in Michael Thomas Vaughan's short bibliography "Scottish Art Glass, Women and Design".[9]
She had one sister and five brothers. Her father Matthew Dunlop was a flour and grain importer. Her mother Margaret Waters Ure had a brother, John Ure, L.L.D., who was the Lord Provost of Glasgow (1880–1883), deputy lieutenant of Lanarkshire (1882), Deacon of the Incorporate of Bakers (1854 & 1857), Dean of Guild, an ancient city office (1890–91). He declined a knighthood for personal reasons.[9]
One brother, Nathanial Harvey Dunlop, married in London to Kate Louise Christie, who had been the childhood playmate of Queen Mary.[9]
Isobel was educated in Glasgow at the Dame school. Moncrieff considered herself a young lady.[9]
Career
[edit]Although not registered as a Directory Designer of Monart Glass, Moncrieff's artistic nature was well fitted to take a principal part in the production and arrangement of the Monart glassware which her husbands business produced.[3][10]
Moncrieff designed shapes in her mind and then had these drawn out at the works, and brought refinement to the product. Salvador Ysart and his family produced the glass designed by Moncrieff.[3][11]
Exhibiting at the British Industries Fair with special one-off pieces, Queen Mary never failed to visit. She was presented with two bowls, one outspreading and one inverted.[9]
On the occasion of the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, 33 pieces of Monart Glass designed by Isobel, as well as table linen, were sent to them as a wedding gift from Perth, Scotland.[3] A letter to the then Provost was received from Princess Elizabeth.[12]
The pieces produced were supplied to Watson's of Perth, on Perth High Street, on a sale or return basis.[3][9]
After Moncrieff left the Monart Works, the Ysart family continued to produce glassware but in her opinion the colours became garish, and lost some of their refinement.[9]
Personal life
[edit]She honeymooned in America and visited such places as the Carnegie Steel works at Detroit and the White House, meeting President Theodore Roosevelt on a guided tour.[10] Returning early from honeymoon due to her father's failing health, she and her husband set up home in Perth and took part in the social and civic life.[9] Isobel and John lived in SummerBank,[13] Isla Road, Perth, Scotland
Moncrieff mixed with the likes of the Duchess of Atholl.[9] She was involved in Perth Theatre and invited the cast to their house. She hosted tennis parties and soirees.[9] Moncrieff was known as a vivacious and charming personality, with a great love of the theatre and musical life in Perth, and was closely involved in setting up Perth Music Festival. Her witty and charming nature was appreciated by her friends.[9]
Her portrait was painted in pastel and goauche by society artist Wolfgang Craig Hainisch (1905-1995) and titled Lady Marianne Isobel Moncrieff, though there is no evidence of her having that title.[14]
The portrait depicts a lady in her later years, with a very kind face and wonderful blue eyes. She is wearing a sea-green dress with a fur coat over it and has on a pearl necklace and pearl drop earrings.
Moncrieff had miscarriages and she and her husband had no living children to inherit their estate, which was therefore left to their nephews.[9]
Death
[edit]Isobel Moncrieff died on 28 September 1961, aged 85, in an Edinburgh hospital after operations for throat cancer.[15]
Highlighting Isobel's contribution
[edit]During a "Raise the Roof",[16] a Visit Scotland event in Perth created artistic wire women of notable Perth women, including Isobel. The Wire Women project took place as part of Perth and Kinross 'Year of Stories' with community groups, creatives and cultural organisations sharing the stories of women.[17][18]
The Sparks group in Kinross did the research on Isobel and created their own glass window to commemorate the occasion.[19][20] Isobel was No 13 of 20 wire sculptures which were set out in a trail around Perth City Centre.[18] The Isobel sculpture was situated outside 2 High Street, Perth.
References
[edit]- ^ Worden, s; Seddon, J (1995). "Women Designers in Britain in the 1920s and 1930s: Defining the Professional and Redefining Design". Journal of Design History. 8 (3): 177–193. JSTOR 1316031.
- ^ https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/perth-kinross/852102/collection-of-perth-glass-masterpieces-worth-thousands-of-pounds-to-go-under-the-hammer/
- ^ a b c d e f Andrews, F. E. Ysart Glass. pp. 12, 13, 15, 16, 23, 34, 41. ISBN 0-9514465-1-7.
- ^ "Monart purchased by Royalty and from abroad at BIF". The Perthshire Advertiser. 1935-03-09. p. 18. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- ^ "The Perthshire Advertiser, etc. 04-04-1934 Page 6 Royal admirers of Monart + picture". The Perthshire Advertiser. 1934-04-04. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- ^ "Royal Patronage". The Perthshire Advertiser. 1933-03-04. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-10-11. Perth, Tayside, Scotland • Sat, Mar 4, 1933 Page 9 [1]
- ^ "Princess Mary purchases Monart". The Perthshire Advertiser. 1932-02-27. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-10-11. Perth, Tayside, Scotland • Sat, Feb 27, 1932 Page 9 [2]
- ^ https://www.ysartglass.com/Ysart/Wedding.htm
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Vaughan, Michael Thomas. Scottish Art Glass : Women and Design : Marianne Isobel Moncrieff of Monart Fame (21st December, 1874 – 28th September, 1961) : Some Biographical Details. Larkhall: Author], 1990. Print.
- ^ a b "Marianne Isobel Moncrieff of Monart Glass fame". L748.294132 [L.B.MON]. 1990.
- ^ "John Moncrieff History". www.scotlandsglass.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Princess Elizabeth letter to Provost re wedding gift". The Perthshire Advertiser. 1947-12-20. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
- ^ "Perth, Isla Road, Summerbank". Canmore – National Record of the Historic Environment. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ "Pastel Portrait Of Lady Marianne Isobel Moncrieff". Antiques Atlas. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Death of Mrs Moncrieff, Summerbank". Perthshire Advertiser. 30 September 1961. p. 1.
- ^ VisitScotland. "Visit Scotland Media Toolkit". toolkit.visitscotland.org. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ^ Emma (2022-08-20). "Raise the roof Perth Sculpture Trail". Foodie Explorers. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ a b Ballantyne, Hannah (2022-05-26). "First look at life-size wire statues honouring Perth's inspirational women from Eve Muirhead to burned witches". The Courier. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
- ^ Sparks, Kinross (2 June 2022). "The SPARKS group was created with the aim of integrating and offering leisure activities for adults with a disability living in Kinross-shire". Sparks, Kinross Facebook page. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "Kinross Museum Official Website". www.kinrossmuseum.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-12.