The Collection
of Frederick Eck 1806?-1884?
This collection
was donated in 1884, with a smaller donation from Miss Eck (presumably his daughter), in 1896. The collection contains over 3000 specimens, mostly minerals, but also inlcuding significant cut gemstones, and fossil, numismatic, archaeological and ethnographic material:
"In October last, the family of
the late Mr FA Eck of Hollybush presented to Glasgow University......the
collection formed by Mr Eck during his long residence in South America........
The special feature of the Eck collection
is that it illustates the metallic ores obtained from the more famous mines
of Peru, Chile, Bolivia, New Granada, Mexico and Ecuador. The copper ores
alone number 600 specimens, the silvers [this is blank], and among the
latter are examples of great variety and beauty. The gold ores are chiefly
Mexican and Californian, and some from the latter district very fine.
Exceptional as were Mr Eck's opportunities,
his selection of specimens shows that he understood the art of collecting,
while his catalogues, models of care and calligraphy, prove his familiarity
with mineralogical sciences. The European series, about 1200 specimens,
is a good typical series, in which the Cornish and Cumberland minerals
are well represented.
A choice group of polished precious stones
is exhibited alongside a most valuable collection of Peruvian pottery of
great value because of its authenticity. The finer work in gold, ivory
and coral from China and Delhi is worthy of notice"
[From an unidentified University manuscript
in the museum donor files]
Few other museums have any material
from Eck. In 1882 he gave the following to the British Museum (Natural
History):
"Nos 54702-54711, 54721 . 2 chrysocollas,
4 chloride of silver, 2 sulphate of copper, 1 native sulphate of copper,
1 nodule of silver, 1 native copper with native silver, part of a crystal
of light ruby silver, 1 titanium, 1 earlite [??]."
He also gave a Trichasteropsis senfti
from the Muschelkalk, to the Zentrales Geologisches Institut, Berlin.
Biography
Surprisingly little is known about Frederick
Eck:
-
born Nevey, Geneva [=Vevey, near Lausanne?]
Known to have died aged 78,perhaps in 1884?
-
came to London very young and was trained
there
-
joined House of Antony Gibbs and Sons in1823,
where he became a partner/manager
-
sent to Lima in 1825 [some accounts say 1823]
-
partner/manager in Valparaiso - his bank accounts
for this period still exist!
-
probably returned to Britain in 1852.
-
"a man of high culture, he spoke English,
French and Spanish with almost equal facility, and wrote other languages
with ease and grace"
-
"disposition was retiring, and the range of
his knowledge and his varied accomplishments were known only to a limited
circle."
-
in 1852 bought Hollybush Estate near Dalrymple
from a Mr Hunter of Dunoon, and built a mansion - Hollybush House.
-
married a Glasgow woman (nee Alexander - brothers
John and George)
-
only son ("a gentle and gifted boy") died,
and he sold Hollybush (after 20 years?) and went back to Cromwell Rd, London.
-
on leaving [Hollybush] he settled a sum in
the hands of trustees sufficient to yield about ten pounds per annum to
be spent at Christmas in gifts for humble villagers at Dalrymple.
-
died aged 78 at Cromwell Rd. in London, on
a Saturday, possibly in 1884.
-
collection donated by "his family" in 1884 - contains upwards of 3000 specimens.
(Mentioned in Glasgow University calendar 1885-1886 p 97)
-
collection accompanied by beautiful boxed, copperplate, leather-bound catalogues. For some parts of the collection these inlcude a great deal of interesting historical and other background information, especially on the South American material.