Walking into the library of the Glasgow School of Art it seems impossible that anything could have survived the fire that ripped through it last May. In the library, the “gem within the gem”, all that remains of an ethereal balcony are the four charred pillars that held it up.
However, thanks to a forensic archaeology team, even amid this devastation the central lights and a clock have been recovered.
The team has spent the past 12 weeks documenting, sifting and removing the remains, which have been put into storage to be assessed for conservation work.
Tom Inns, the director of the Glasgow School of Art, said: “There have been some remarkable finds. The majority of the pieces making up the intricate metal lanterns from the iconic light fitting have been found, along with books from the rare book collection which can be conserved to some degree, parts of the studio clock and of the original library chairs and periodicals desk.
“We have also learnt a tremendous amount about the construction of the library, which will be invaluable when we come to begin the restoration.”
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The majority of the paper archives and artworks on paper, including more than 100 works by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who designed the building, survived the fire, along with many of the school’s collections of ceramics, small sculptures and jewellery. Most of the library’s other contents were destroyed.
The team from Kirkdale Archaeology sifted through layers of debris to unearth the artefacts. Pieces of wood were found that may allow restorers to reproduce the techniques that were used by Mackintosh.
It is not known how much the destroyed works are worth and insurance assessors are still working on a valuation. However, it is thought that the total will be in the tens of millions.
The cost of restoring the building has been estimated at £20 million, although that figure could also well rise.
Ironically, it was Mackintosh’s own design that fanned the flames. A ventilation system he designed a century ago allowed the blaze to spread after a projector ignited gases from expanding foam used in a student project.