Stop, thief!

 

   Bad news just in regarding The Great Tapestry of Scotland: one of the panels* has been stolen from the exhibition currently on at Kirkcaldy Galleries.

    Here's the text of the press release I've just received:

HELP FROM THE PUBLIC CALLED FOR IN SEARCH FOR GREAT SCOTTISH TAPESTRY PANEL STOLEN FROM KIRKCALDY GALLERIES

Fife Cultural Trust (FCT) has called for the public to help track down one of the panels from the Great Tapestry of Scotland that was stolen from Kirkcaldy Galleries on the morning of Thursday September 10th.

The panel illustrating the story of Rosslyn Chapel was removed from display at around 10am.

The Great Tapestry is one of the biggest community projects in the world, with 160 individual panels, stitched by more than 1,000 volunteers.  The Tapestry has been on display at Kirkcaldy Galleries since 20 June and in that time over 50,000 people have been amazed and delighted by the scale, quality and exuberance of the design and fantastic detail of the stitching.

Fife Cultural Trust is working closely with the police to review CCTV footage.

Laurie Piper, Head of External Relations for Fife Cultural Trust said;

“We are proud and delighted to be able to have the Great Tapestry here on loan, and to give the people of Fife the opportunity to experience this amazing artwork at first hand.  The Tapestry has been exhibited all over the country and has been seen by over 300,000 people since it first started touring. 

The people of Fife have taken the Tapestry to their hearts and we are now hoping that they will help us to bring [the panel] back where it belongs - alongside its 159 companions.”

The panel was designed by artist Andrew Crummy and lovingly stitched by volunteers in Midlothian. The panel took hundreds of hours to create and has now been stolen from the people of Scotland.

'This is a terrible blow for a project that has brought so much joy to so many people. I appeal to those who have taken this panel to return it. Words cannot express how shocked I am that somebody should damage in this way what is now widely seen as a great national treasure.’ Alexander McCall Smith, co-chair of The Great Tapestry of Scotland

Members of the public who may have information regarding the whereabouts of the Rosslyn Chapel panel are urged to get in touch with the local police on 101 or Fife Cultural Trust on 01592 583204.

The remaining 159 sections of the tapestry will be open to the public to view at Kirkcaldy Galleries until 20th September.  

 

*Detail shots here.

Comments

[Fran H-B]

Completely speechless that such a thing has happened. Hope to hear very soon that it has been recovered and is u damaged. I just question was "why?".

[Fran H-B]

Sorry predictive text slipped in . Should read "undamaged "

[Cornflower]

Astonishing, isn't it?
The subject matter of the panel must be of significance. Rosslyn Chapel is an incredible place - the stonework throughout is stunning - and its mysteries are beguiling and perhaps attract fanatics, though that's not to slight those with a keen interest in it who would not overstep the mark to have a 'piece' of it.

[AliceC]

I am staggered by this news and hope that the panel is found very quickly. I wonder if the theft is related to 'The Da Vinci Code' which I think featured the Rosslyn Chapel.

[Cornflower]

That would be my guess, Alice.

[Claire]

Hugely distressing to read this. I've seen this exhibition twice and was so impressed. I think you're correct and that the Rosslyn Chapel connection is significant.

[Cornflower]

I hope analysis of gallery CCTV footage will be helpful, but who would have thought that anything like this would happen?

[Constance]

My family and I were just there a few weeks ago and visited the tapestry several times, such a beautiful and precious treasure. I first heard about it here on your blog and followed its evolution through your writings and the pictures you posted. My greatest wish at the time was to be able to come to Scotland (the land of my ancestors)to see it first hand. Finally this is the year we made it, kids and all. What a pleasure it was, the children, all six of them were very much taken by the history and the beauty of it all, it was a great education for my children to come face to face with the history of their people and some of them returned to the Galleries on their own many times. On our last day in Scotland we all returned to the Galleries for one last visit and as it happens we spend quite some time at the Rosslyn panel, my daughters studying the fine needle work and the boys looking for Dan Brown type clues :) We have taken several pictures that we intend to share with the relatives when we return to Nova Scotia. This is such sad news, I just hope with all my heart that whoever did this terrible thing will reconsider and return the panel undamaged.

[Sam]

Why on earth would anyone steal it?! Loons. I hope it is recovered asap.

[Cornflower]

Constance, I am so glad you and your family were able to see the tapestry and that you took so much pleasure in it!
One of the joys of the concept and the piece itself is that it can involve and delight on different levels, appealing - as a work of art and craftsmanship, and informing - as a history book in pictures, and in both cases having resonance to anyone with a connection to Scotland or an interest in it.
Indeed, let's hope that the culprit sees sense and returns the panel.

[Cornflower]

So much goodwill went into the project, it beggars belief that someone would be as mean-spirited as to steal a part of it.

[Toffeeapple]

I am speechless- why would anyone do such a thing?

[Anji]

I am so sorry to hear that this has happened. I am unable to visit the exhibition in person and I have only been able to look at the pictures, which, I know, really doesn't do justice to the skill of the artists' involved in the project. It was an amazing undertaking and it is really too bad that someone had to spoil It.

I wonder where the panel is, in a vault somewhere because, like many valuable pieces of art that are stolen from museums and art galleries, you can't really show the piece off to friends and colleagues, as they would know that it is stolen property.

Hopefully this panel will be returned but will we ever know why someone went to all the trouble to steal just this one particular panel.

[Katharine]

That's terrible news. Especially for something made by and displayed for the community. I can't think what anyone's motive might be. I would love to come to Scotland and see all the tapestries one day. Thanks for sharing.