ARTEFACT GALLERY #9
‘Gansey Style’ Woollen Blanket
Proposed by: Dr Catherine Anne Cassidy (research fellow)
University of St Andrews - SCOTLAND
Technical Specifications
Name
‘Gansey Style’ Woollen Blanket
Tipology
Blanket
Authorship
Timespan Knitting Group, Timespan Heritage & Arts Society
Date or period:
2005-06
Materials:
Wool
Techniques:
Scottish traditional hand-knitting methods and patterns
Country/ region:
Helmsdale, East Sutherland, Highlands of Scotland
Related links:
This beautifully hand-knitted blanket reflects the distinctive symbolic patterns of traditional fishermen’s jumpers or ganseys. Each distinct hand-knitted square depicts patterns from a particular port or harbour along the Moray Firth region, from Buckie in the southeast to Helmsdale and finally to Wick in the far north. The gansey was a geographically distinct garment and practical, being closely knitted, retaining the natural oil of the sheep for insulation and waterproofing on board wet boats and stormy seas.
The Timespan Knitting Group was formed in 2005 to keep this traditional knitting heritage connected to the sea alive and share these traditions with people of all ages. The group has created this wonderful artisan blanket, each knitter contributing a square, creating a map of the patterns from the Moray Firth fishing district. The blanket can be displayed as a wall hanging with an accompanying annotated map with the port names.
DETAILS
The Timespan Knitting Group members knitting individual squares to make the blanket. Timespan Heritage & Arts Society.
The blanket shown in full at the CULTURALITY Kick Off Exhibition. CULTURALITY.
Inspiration
Local fishermen wearing ganseys closest to the Helmsdale pattern.
Aerial view of Helmsdale harbour over the River Helmsdale looking out to the North Sea. University of St Andrews.
Location
The selection of this artefact is the responsibility of designer Maria Bruno Néo and is part of her doctoral work ‘A HISTÓRIA INCOMPLETA DO DESIGN PORTUGUÊS: CONTRIBUTOS PARA A INSCRIÇÃO DA DESIGNER HELENA CARDOSO/THE INCOMPLETE HISTORY OF PORTUGUESE DESIGN: CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INSCRIPTION OF DESIGNER HELENA CARDOSO’ supervised by Professors Susana Barreto and Luís Mendonça, both from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Porto/Portugal.
