Lady Marianne Isobel Moncrieff

Isobel Moncrieff, (1875 – 28 September 1961), was an artistic designer of Monart Art Glassware between 1924-1934. Due to the era she was never officially made a director. While the Ysart family had the technical know-how to create the glassware within the Monart Glassworks, it was Moncrieff's designs which were the basis for their world-renowned coloured glass pieces. Queen Mary was an admirer of the glassware   and 33 glassware pieces were designed and commissioned by her to be presented as Perth's gift to the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on their wedding. These pieces can be found in the audits of Balmoral Castle with only 32 pieces left.

Early years
Marianne Isobel Moncrieff "Isobel" was born Dunlop on 21 December 1874, the youngest of seven, at 20 Lynedoch Street, Glasgow. The name "Marianne" was chosen as the closest baptismal name to that of her aunt 'Mary Anne'. She preferred to be addressed as Isobel according to her nephew Dr James Percival Agnew L.L.D in his reminiscences of his aunt in Michael Thomas Vaughans short bibliography "Scottish Art Glass, Women and Design" 25 November 1990.

She had one sister and five brothers. Her father Matthew Dunlop was a flour and grain importer. Her mother Margaret Waters Ure had a brother, John Ure, L.L.D., who was the Lord Provost of Glasgow (1880–1883), deputy lieutenant of Lanarkshire (1882), Deacon of the Incorporate of Bakers (1854 & 1857), Dean of Guild, an ancient city office (1890–91). He declined a knighthood for personal reasons.

One brother, Nathanial Harvey Dunlop, married in London to 'Kate Louise Christie', who had been the childhood playmate of Queen Mary.

Isobel was educated in Glasgow at the Dames school, Moncrieff considered herself a young lady.

Career
Although not registered as a Directory Designer of Monart Glass, Moncrieff's artistic nature was well fitted to take a principal part in the production and arrangement of the Monart glassware which her husbands business produced.

Moncrieff designed shapes in her mind and then had these drawn out at the works, and brought refinement to the product. The Ysart family produced the glass designed by Moncrieff.

Exhibiting at the British Industries Fair with special one-off pieces. Queen Mary never failed to visit. Presented with two bowls, one outspreading and one inverted.

On the occasion of the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, it was 33 pieces of Monart Glass, designed by Isobel and well as table linen which was sent to them as Perth, Scotland's gift. A letter to the then Provost from Princess Elizabeth was received.

The pieces produced were supplied to Watsons of Perth on a sale or return basis.

After Moncrieff left the Monart Works the colours became garish, and lost some of their refinement.

Personal life
She honeymooned in America and visited such places as the Carnegie Steel works at Detroit and the White House, meeting President Theodore Roosevelt on a guided tour.

Returning early from honeymoon due to her father's failing health, she and her husband set up home in Perth and took part in the social and civic life.

Isobel and John lived in SummerBank, Isla Road, Perth, Scotland

Moncrieff mixed with the likes of the Duchess of Atholl.

Involved in Perth Music Festival and Perth Theatre, she invited the cast to their house and hosted tennis parties and soirees.

Moncrieff had miscarriages and she and her husband had no living children to inherit the estate, which was therefore left to their nephews.

Moncrieff had a vivacious and charming personality, a great love of the theatre and musical life in Perth, and was closely involved in setting up Perth Music Festival. Her witty and charming nature made was appreciated by her friends.

Death
Isobel Moncrieff died on 28 September 1961, aged 85, in an Edinburgh hospital after operations for throat cancer.

Highlighting Isobel's contribution
During a "Raise the Roof", (Visit Scotland Media Toolkit) a Visit Scotland Year of Stories, event in Perth, Scotland, conducted a project to create artistic wire women of notable Perth Women, including Isobel. The Wire Women project took place as part of Perth and Kinross’ Year of Stories' with community groups, creatives and cultural organisations sharing the stories of women.

Sparks, Kinross did the research on Isobel and created their own glass window to commemorate the occasion. Isobel was No 13 of 20 wire sculptures which were set out in a trail around Perth City Centre. The Isobel sculpture was situated outside 2 High Street, Perth, Scotland.