Cantagalli and a 19th century Italian Pottery – the Scottish Dimension

On 31st August 1880, Margaret Tod and Ulisse Cantagalli were married in the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Mary’s, Edinburgh.

This talk will explore the possibility that it may have been his Edinburgh wife’s wealth which allowed Ulisse, with his undoubted talent, to produce in his Florence workshops some of the finest lustre decorated ceramics ever made.

Sheila Forbes, research volunteer at the National Museums Scotland.

Other Lectures in the Out of the Blue series
The Belfield Ceramic Production Site Near Prestonpans
The Delftfield Pottery Glasgow - 18th century Tin-glaze Earthenware
West Pans – A Scottish Ceramic Production Site
The English Designer and Modeller John Womell
Excavations of Two Major Glasgow Ceramic Production Sites

Exhibition open - 27th June to 23rd August 2008
Monday-Saturday 10am - 4.45pm
Admission Free
Access to the exhibition is via a spiral staircase

For booking and further information about the lecture programme, contact our Learning and Access team on 0131 529 3963/2

The Museum of Edinburgh
Huntly House
142 Canongate, Royal Mile.
Tel: 0131 529 4143

The Museum of Edinburgh is home to important collections relating to the history of Edinburgh, from prehistoric times to the present day. If you know the story of 'Greyfriars Bobby', you will be thrilled to see his collar and feeding bowl, and the original plaster model for the bronze statue in Candlemaker Row.

One of the museum's great treasures is the National Covenant, signed by Scotland's presbyterian leadership in 1638, while the collections of Scottish pottery and items relating to Field Marshal Earl Haig are of national importance.

The museum also features Edinburgh silver and glass, and a colourful collection of shop signs.

The home of The Museum of Edinburgh is picturesque Huntly House, which faces on to the Canongate and dates from the 16th century. It was extended in the 17th and 18th centuries, and has been home to a wide variety of owners and tenants, ranging from aristocrats to merchants and working people.

Robert Chambers, a Victorian antiquarian, called Huntly House the 'speaking house' because of the Latin inscriptions on its facade. It is appropriate that the 'speaking house' now accomodates The Museum of Edinburgh.

The Museum of Edinburgh regularly mounts temporary exhibitions drawn from the local history and decorative art collections.

Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sundays during August 12 noon - 5pm
Admission Free