Arts

Fermanagh County Museum has recently purchased some fine examples of 19th and 20th century art and craftsmanship for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

These include a series of four paintings by Enniskillen born artist, TP Flanagan entitled A Winters Series: Roughra 2, Roughra 3, Roughra 4 and Roughra 5.

Four four important examples of Belleek Pottery were recently purchased.

A rare First Period Scotch Whisky barrel used originally in a public house, a coffee set decorated with Celtic animal interlace and designed in the 1920s, a First Period three-stranded basket and a very delicate Second Period covered basket.

An ornate table, was also recently donated by local collector Selwyn Johnson. The table was made by William Scott (1865-1910), who is remembered as the woodcarver responsible for the ornate doors of the Enniskillen townhall in 1900 and the stalls in the convent chapel in 1904. During his lifetime he was best known as an exceptionally versatile musician, accomplished in singing as well as in playing violin, cello & dulcimer, xlyophone, banjo and guitar.


^{A Winters Series: Roughra 4 by T.P. Flanagan.} ^FCM_2005_063 ^{© T.P.Flanagan.}	^{A Winters Series: Roughra 5 by T.P. Flanagan.} ^FCM_2005_064 ^{© T.P.Flanagan.}


^{Carved Table by W. Scott, Enniskillen.} ^FCM_2009_062 ^{© Fermanagh County Museum}	^{Detail of Carved Table by W. Scott, Enniskillen.} ^FCM_2009_062 ^{© Fermanagh County Museum}

Resources

In 1892 Mary Montgomery, wife of the local landowner in Fivemiletown, founded an art metalwork industry to provide employment for local boys and young men. The designers included Mary’s husband, Hugh de Fellenberg Montgomery and John Williams, an art teacher from England. The work, mainly in copper and brass, won numerous awards at exhibitions and was purchased by Queen Victoria, the Duke of York and the Princess of Wales. A pair of copper jugs in the Museum’s collection is a very good example of this successful, although short-lived, industry.

Belleek Pottery, established in 1857 by John Caldwell Bloomfield of Castle Caldwell to give employment in the area, is still a thriving concern. The Museum has on display a representative collection of Belleek ware, porcelain figures, vases, and table ware, delicate basketwork, a wide range of earthenware pieces for the home market, including simple sponge-decorated mugs and bowls, and a very unusual terracotta water cooler.

Also on view is a bust of Gladstone displayed beside a less flattering image of the 19th century prime minister, printed on the bottom inside of a small chamber pot. These chamber pots were produced to sell to Irish landlords who did not welcome the land reforms introduced by Gladstone.

The Belleek Pottery, from the beginning, exported porcelain to North America and later to continental Europe, India and Australia. It won prizes at international exhibitions and was purchased by Queen Victoria and members of the nobility.