The son of a celebrated Aberdeenshire artist is hoping to find a new home for the trinkets and treasures displayed in the museum she set up in her house.
Mary McMurtie, who was recognised as the oldest active artist in Britain before her death in 2003 at the age of 101, began collecting the objects after she bought Balbithan House, near Kintore, in 1959.
Over the years visitors and friends also added to the collection, which Mrs McMurtie displayed in a museum she set up on the ground floor of her A-listed home.
Her son John, who has lived at Balbithan for the last 25 years, is now looking for a new home for the items as he and his wife are relocating somewhere smaller.
Balbithan House is currently on the market for offers of £1.2million, and with several viewings already, Mr McMurtie is keen to hear from any local heritage museums or groups who may be interested in the collection, which includes old-time lighting, classic kitchenware and even an early fridge.
He said: “The house is on the market and I would hate to see this stuff end up on the skip.
“There’s the museum in Inverurie, or another local history museum might be interested in some of this stuff. The other possibility is the National Trust for Scotland – I always think it brings the properties to life if you can see some of the things that would have been used when the castles were lived in.
“There’s a lot of interesting stuff and it really would be a shame if I couldn’t find a home for it.”
There are hundreds of items in the collection, including an acetylene gas lamp which would have been used by repair engineers on old trawler boats, cooking utensils, Verrenville Pottery made in Glasgow in 1841 and even a World War I gas mask.
In a large cabinet, the McMurtie family have gathered dozens of old jars and bottles – including a ginger beer brewed in Stonehaven – and even an old fire extinguisher.
And on top of an old-style fridge – which would have kept things cool in the days before electricity – is an impressive looking clock, one of many items Mr McMurtie is fond of.
The 77-year-old said: “A lot of things are personal memories. The clock used to be in the kitchen when I was a wee boy.
“But most of the stuff would have been used by people in the north-east, which is why I think it’s of interest.”
Anyone interested in finding out more should e-mail john.mcmurtie@balbithan.com.