Aberdeen: What Did Santa Leave up the Chimney? Extremely Rare World Map Not a Dampener
Aberdeen: What Did Santa Leave up the Chimney?
Extremely Rare World Map Not a Dampener
Well it is that time of year isn’t it? Things going up and down chimneys like a fiddler’s elbow. On Christmas Eve the kids will be watching Santa’s ride round the world on the NORAD website. If you haven’t done it yet then do it this year, it tracks the red dressed bearded man’s flight with the sunrise across the globe- and it’s terrific fun. Santa also left a present in a chimney in Aberdeen, a rare world map one of only three left in the world which was stuffed up a chimney. It was made by the Dutch engraver Gerard Valck in the 17th century and was found in 2007 during the renovation of a house in the Granite City.
Up in Smoke
This rare 17th-century map of the world was shoved up the chimney to stop draughts and it was on its way to the skip when it was spotted that it might be something special and it was given to the National Library of Scotland. It has now it has been restored as far as possible to a little of its former glory. So famous was it in its day that a similar is shown in Vermeer’s 1666 The Art of Painting. The map, or painting of a map, is now valued at many thousands of pounds and there are only two other known copies.
Bundle of Rags
Looking like a bundle of rags the much abused map arrived at the library rolled up in a Tesco plastic bag. Confetti-like fragments were shed every time the map was moved. The map needed washing in pieces. Then it was dry cleaned and washed then re-assembled in cleaned sections on to a new paper lining. At the end the bits were placed on blotting paper in a process that took 150 hours to complete. Although significant sections of the map have been lost, the remainder has been cleaned and stabilised for future study and enjoyment. Well done the Aberdeen Santa and the National Library of Scotland!
Future Heirlooms
Now hopefully Santa will bring some classy presents down your chimney this Yule Tide, but if he doesn’t we have some lovely items that will age gracefully and be a crystal heirloom in the future, many of which are on special offer. Put some in a stocking this Christmas play Santa yourself.
