The full toll of the devastating fire at the Glasgow School of Art can be revealed.

 

The results of the archaeological survey of the Mackintosh Building, which was engulfed in a blaze last May, show that the majority of works on paper, including key works by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, survived the fire.

However 90 oil paintings and thousands of books were destroyed and many of the contents of a key studio and former furniture gallery were lost.

The fire, which was caused when flammable gases from a canister of expanding foam were set alight by a film projector at a degree show installation, mainly destroyed the world famous Mackintosh Library, and the contents of the studio room above it.

Salvaged from the library were some rare books, parts of a studio clock, its central lights and a silver salver.

The survey of the damage, mainly to the west end of the world-famous building, were analysed by Kirkdale Archaeology over 12 weeks.

Around 90 of the oil paintings on canvas in the School's collections were destroyed.

These included two paintings by Mackintosh, a handful of works by Francis Newbery and one work by Joan Eardley.

Around 8,000 books and journals in the Mackintosh Library, including part of the GSA's rare book collection, were also destroyed in the fire.

However, almost 80% of the rare book collection - which is kept in the main library in the Bourdon Building - survives.

The GSA is not seeking to replace the vast majority of the books and magazines lost from the library, although a 'priority replacement list' has been established, and around a quarter of that has already been donated.

In the library, some books survived, and part of the library chairs and periodical desk.

Nearly all of the items that were in the studio above the Mackintosh Library, which was historically a bookstore and then the GSA's Furniture Gallery for over 20 years from the 1980s until 2008, were lost in the fire.

This includes much of the collection of oil paintings and 97 pieces of furniture.

Around 60 pieces of furniture, including many of the major items in the collection, have survived.

All items that were in the east wing of the Mackintosh Building, including in the Furniture Gallery, Director's office, Mackintosh Room, Mackintosh Museum and Boardroom survived intact.

The majority of the paper archives and artworks on paper, including over 100 works by Mackintosh were unharmed.

A small percentage of the paper archives suffered water damage, but these items have either been air dried or frozen and are now considered to be 'stable.'

The plaster cast collection has also "substantively survived", although many pieces have suffered some smoke and water damage.

All the casts that could be removed have been, while others still remain inside either because they were in too fragile a condition or too large to move.

The object collections, which include ceramics, small sculptures, examples of silversmithing and jewellery and more, all survived.

The textile collections suffered some water damage.

Professor Tom Inns, director of the GSA, said: "We are obviously devastated to have lost anything from our Archives and Collections in the fire.

"Fortunately the vast majority of the artefacts survive including all the works on paper by Mackintosh and many of the most important pieces of furniture, some of which are now on display in our new Furniture Gallery."

He added: "There have been some remarkable finds from the forensic archaeology.

"We are still awaiting the final reports from the survey, but we are delighted that 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 learned a tremendous amount about the construction of the library which will be invaluable when we come to begin the restoration."

He added that the "vast majority" of the GSA Archives and Collections survived the fire "although there have inevitably been losses".

Professor Inns said: "All of the surviving material is now stable and secure. It will be reviewed by expert conservators as part of a recovery programme which will take place over the next three years."