Exploring a Victorian 'Mauchline Ware' Souvenir of Dunkeld

1870's 'Mauchline Ware' box with image of Dunkeld
[From my own collection]

In this blog I am featuring a recently purchased circa 140 year old Scottish Mauchline Ware velvet lined jewellery box covered with no less six engraved block images of 1840's to 1860's era Victorian buildings and scenes from in and around Dunkeld in Perthshire. I have also been able to identify and research not only the retailer who sold it, being a Mr McLean of Dunkeld, but also, quite unusually, the engraver. For my previous blog featuring a history of Scottish made "Mauchline Ware", including other examples in my slowly growing collection, click HERE.

An advertisement for
"McLean's Bazaar", Dunkeld, 1879.
[Source : Google Books]

Being a small town fifteen miles north of Perth, my box purports to be "Made of Dunkeld Wood", almost certainly sycamore, which according to advertising, would be from the plantations of the Dukes of Athole. "Dunkeld, C. McLean, Publisher" appears under the above attribution. This is Charles McLean, being both an historical author and retailer of Dunkeld  who owned "McLeans Bazaar", a corner shop at "8 Athole street" in Dunkeld where he additionally sold "Fancy Wood Work from the Athole Plantations". In 1857 McLean commendably wrote and published "Dunkeld : It's Straths and Glens" which comprehensively details the history and scenic highlights of the area. McLean published updated editions in 1865 and 1879.

Statutory records show that Charles McLean, "Jeweller, Stationer and Dealer in Fancy Goods" died at Dunkeld in 1882 aged 55 years. So, while this box would definitely have been sold in his shop as a small souvenir or gift this was more likely to have been prior to 1882 when his son Alexander appears to have formally joined the business. As at 1881 his son was 19 years of age with his occupation given only as "Assistant to Father". After 1882 the business appears to have traded as "Dunkeld. McLean & Son Publishers" then later as "Dunkeld. McLean & Sons Publishers" so another of Charles' sons will have latterly joined the business as well. The census also lists residents from 1 to 8 in Bridge street then jumps to the McLean's at 8 Athole street which would appear to confirm the location of the shop on the corner with Brae street. Today No 8 is one residence along although the buildings are contiguous.

An Engraving of Dunkeld by "W. Banks, Edinburgh"
from "Dunkeld : It's Straths and Glens"
published in 1879.
[Source : Google Books]

Usefully, all the engraved illustrations appearing in McLean's 1879 edition of "Dunkeld : It's Straths and Glens" note the engraver as being "W. Banks, Edinburgh", being William Banks, Artist and Engraver. But two of the self same and very detailed engravings also appear printed on my box so we can also safely attribute all these printed and very detailed block engravings to Mr Banks as well. While William Banks, "Engraver of James Square" died in 1866 aged 55 years, his line engraving of Dunkeld Cathedral published in the 1857 first edition appears again in the 1879 third edition of McLean's work as well as on my box. While I cannot access the 1865 second edition it is noted as being "illustrated", assumedly also by Mr Banks. So by 1879 Mr McLean would simply have used Banks' very detailed pre 1866 but still very useful engravings for his third edition. While the sycamore box manufacturer is unknown the majority of Mauchline Ware was made by "W & A Smith" in the town of the same name in Ayrshire.    

Velvet Lined inside of Mauchline Ware Box

I have unfortunately never visited this very picturesque town set in the Tay Valley, being known as "the Gateway to the Perthshire Highlands". I have however passed through Birnam which is just a short walk across the bridge over the Tay River from Dunkeld on the rail line from Perth to Aviemore and have also driven within 12 miles of Dunkeld on my way north from Perth and over the Spittal of Glenshee on my way to Royal Deeside. But the scenic Tay Valley, including the picturesque township of Dunkeld, would definitely appear to warrant further exploration in the future.

"Dunkeld", An Engraving by "W. Banks", Edinburgh

So let us look more closely at the images portrayed on the box. The largest view is looking over the market town of Dunkeld set among the hills of the Tay Valley and clearly shows the very attractive stone bridge over the river with Dunkeld Cathedral just visible to the far left. Dunkeld mostly dates from post 1689, the majority of the township having been all but burnt to the ground on the 24th August of that year after the 'Battle of Dunkeld' between the Jacobites supporting the deposed Catholic King James VII of Scotland and the Cameronians supporting the Protestant William of Orange (King William III). The latter would claim victory after the valiant Highlanders, "depleted of energy and ammunition", eventually withdrew after a sixteen hour battle and with the loss of 300 men which all but ended their campaign. Holes made my musket balls can still be seen in the walls of the Cathedral.

The opening of the new bridge in 1809 led to the construction of the row of substantial and very well preserved buildings leading off the bridge along what is now called Atholl street. It was here that our Mr McLean had his shop, most likely on the corner of Brae street.

The bridge, built with elegant stone arches by Scottish Civil Engineer Thomas Telford, dates from 1809. This was originally part of the main road north to Inverness hence the substantial nature of its construction which still serves its purpose well today. Since 1977 the A9 has diverted traffic through Birnam. The township itself features a very well preserved and delightful 18th century streetscape, being acknowledged as "one of the most complete 18th century country towns in Scotland".

"Dunkeld Cathedral" and "Murthly Castle",
Engravings by "W. Banks", Edinburgh 

Dunkeld Cathedral dates from the 13th to 15th centuries but suffered greatly after the reformation. Today only the much restored choir, having originally been built in 1318, is in use today as the Parish Church. The nave, which is now roofless, was built between 1406 and 1448 with the aisles and porch being finished in 1460. A Chapter House followed in 1469 then the still extant tower in 1501, now including a clock with four faces and a chime of bells, having been installed by the Athole family (click HERE to hear the bells]. Around the outer walls of the Cathedral may still be seen the arms of the various Bishops who erected the various parts of the building for "the worship and glory of God".

At the time of the Protestant Reformation "the superior enlightenment of the reformers considered it their duty to destroy [the Cathedral] in 1560", leaving it in a ruinous state. While the order from the Scottish Privy Council had simply asked for all idolatrous images to be taken down and burnt and to "cast down the altaris [altars]", the rest of the building, including the windows and ironwork were to be left intact, "Faill not, but ye taik guid heyed that neither the dasks, windocks, nor durris, be onywise hurt of broken - eyther glassin work or iron wark." But the reformers were not about to entertain any half measures and completely sacked the Cathedral, including smashing all the windows.

An Engraving of Dunkeld Cathedral 

by "W. Banks, Edinburgh", 

from "Dunkeld : It's Straths and Glens",

published in 1857.

The same image appears on the Box.

[Source : Google Books]

It was however the local laird who was responsible for removing the roof of the Cathedral, despite one of his ancestors having built a considerable portion of the building. In the year 1600 Stewart of Ladywell, a "neighbouring proprietor", re-roofed the choir then in 1691 the Dukes of Athole, being owners of the cathedral ruins, converted the choir into the present day Dunkeld Parish Church. In order to save it from further decay restoration of the fabric of the roofless parts of the old Cathedral were first undertaken in 1815.

"Dunkeld House", An Engraving by "W. Banks", Edinburgh

The Dunkeld House Hotel website claim that the present Dunkeld House (now being incorporated into the Dunkeld House Hotel) had been built by the Duke of Athole after 1897, being situated a mile further up the river from the previous older pre 1811 Dunkeld House which had been situated on the Cathedral lawns. The former had been an old Inn and was bought by the 4th Duke of Athole as a "summer house", being renamed "St Adamnan's Cottage". Over the following years it was extended, mainly by the 6th Duke, George Murray, who spent £20,000 to £30,000 on his "Palace". Queen Victoria stayed here on one occasion and in 1887 I note that it served as the residence of the Dowager Duchess of Athole.  On the Duke's death it was still unfinished and the 7th Duke decided to build the new Dunkeld House which is now incorporated in the present hotel and country club. While this must be correct I do not know what became of the 6th Duke's pre 1897 "palace". But if you look at images of the current hotel (click here for link) the central block bears a very striking similarity to the above pre 1866 engraving of the old Dunkeld House.

The present day hotel is surrounded by 280 of woodland and guests can engage in many outdoors activities including walks, cycling, shooting and salmon fishing.

"Murthly Castle", An Engraving by "W. Banks", Edinburgh

The "[New] Murthly Castle" portrayed on my box [image next to Cathedral image above] was a magnificent Elizabethan style house designed by James Gillespie Graham being built between 1828 and 1836 for Sir John Drummond Steuart. But building work ceased on the death of Sir John and the house was never finished, always being classed as a folly, and being demolished in 1949. The stone work was used as "ballast" for the Hydro Electricity Boards dam at Pitlochry. Even by 1879 a great many of the stones were "decayed" and "it's completion may be considered doubtful." While the house always remained a shell some quite ornate interior rooms intended for installation in the new castle were simply transferred to the old castle where they remain today. The former (and present) castle dates from the 15th century, being remodeled in the 17th century.

"Birnam", An Engraving by "W. Banks", Edinburgh

The town of Birnam, through which I passed on the train on my way to Aviemore and Inverness some years ago, lies just across the Tay River from Dunkeld. It owes its existence mainly to the "Perth and Dunkeld Railway" which arrived in 1856. It is well known for the neighbouring forest of Birnam Wood which also features in Shakespeare's "Macbeth". The large building with the corner tower is the still extant "Birnam Hotel" being built in the "Saxon Gothic" style around 1840 to 1850.

"Pass of Killicrankie", An Engraving by "W. Banks", Edinburgh

The Pass of Killiecrankie lies about 16 miles north of Dunkeld, being an impressive mountain gorge between the 2,757 ft Ben Vrackie and Tenandry Hill on the River Garry, also being famous for the Jacobite battle which took place nearby in 1689.

"[The] wooded gorge is a popular location for walkers and naturalists. There are a number of easily accessible trails by the River Garry through fine oak and deciduous woodland, rich in wildlife. Autumn colours are particularly spectacular, with the view along the pass from the Garry bridge being one of the most photographed in Perthshire. The gorge is a Site of Special Interest and lies within the Tummel National Scenic Area."

Sources :

- Wikipedia

- "Dunkeld : It's Straths & Glens", by Charles McLean, 1879 (Google Books)

- "Scotland's Lost Houses" by Ian Gow, 2006 (from my own collection)
- "Leslie's Directory for Perth and Perthshire 1891-92" (Google Books)

Three 19th Century Snuff Boxes

A Scottish 'Mauchline Ware' Snuff Box
by I. Richmond of Cumnock

This Blog features a detailed look at three Scottish family owned snuff boxes from my collection, all ranging age in age from the 1830's to the 1850's and being quite different in design. That the provenance of these items is known adds considerably to their historical interest, not to mention their sentimental value.

"An Antique Pair of Snuffers",
and drawn by Frederick Barnard.
From "Harper's Weekly", 5th May 1888.
[Source Wikipedia]

Snuff is in fact simply powdered tobacco, the inhaling of this product to get a "hit" of nicotine being particularly common in the British Isles and elsewhere throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. It is clear that senior male members of my family also enjoyed "taking snuff".

A Cowrie Shell Snuff Box dated London 1829

My first box is a cowrie shell snuff box which has been fitted with a sterling silver base with the underside of the cover additionally being gilded. The silver mark is for London 1829 but there is unfortunately no makers mark. The cover also features a fascinating inscription reading :

"This 

Was presented me 

Jany eighteen thirty-three. 

To solace me when alone, 

A poor blind man och on! 

By my only surviving son 

O'Three 

John".

The Engraving on the Cover

Provenance of original ownership is always extremely important and adds so much to the history of any item. This snuff box belonged to my Great Great Great Grandfather, Mr John Hall Snr. [born circa 1755, died 1835], a "portioner" [land-owner] residing in Roslin village, Midlothian in Scotland. This would have been a gift from his third son John Hall Jnr., hence the "O'Three John", who himself died in 1856 aged 71 years. While noted in the inscription as being "blind", this could just as easily have been cataracts. After John's death in 1835 this box, along with his engraved gold carnelian intaglio wax seal, were kept as keepsakes by his daughter who had married my Great Great Grandfather (pictured below) in 1808.

The gilded Underside of the Cover

My second featured item is a 'Mauchline Ware' holly root snuff box, the flat side being shown in the image at the top of this page. While featured in a previous Blog, new specific information has since come to hand. The manufacturer can be positively identified as "I. Richmond" of Cumnock in East Ayrshire, being a very typical example of his own specific design. This is confirmed from the design of the box, the red-jacketed huntsman, and the so-called "sea weed" decoration around the edges, all being typical trademark aspects of his designs.

A close-up of the Pen and Ink image on the Snuff Box
by I Richmond, Cumnock

One whole side of the box is formed from a hollowed out holly root while the flat cover of sycamore wood includes a coloured pen and ink drawing of a mounted huntsman wearing a red riding jacket and doffing his top hat while out riding. Along the top are the words "For Auld Lang Syne" and two hands clasping. Some wear is evident to the cover. This box includes the highly ingenious 'Mauchline Ware' hidden hinge although this example is unfortunately broken. The best estimate of date of manufacture would be circa 1840's to 1850's.

The Holly Root Snuff Box
by "I. Richmond" of Cumnock 

The provenance of this holly root box is known, having been in the possession of one of two brothers of the Watson family originally of "Burnhead Farm", in the Parish of Dalserf in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Both of these brothers died in 1881 and 1883 respectively.

The Horn Snuff Box with Silver Inlay

My third box is not in itself particularly remarkable but still has quite an interesting tale to tell which now proves its provenance beyond any shadow of a doubt whatsoever. Sometimes one has to simply believe that we are truly meant to discover information and that someone is looking down on us and guiding us. Such occurrences, with some being more than mere chance, have occurred to me on a number of occasions over the years. Interestingly, such serendipitous occurrences happened quite often (but not just to me alone) when I was employed in a National Church Archive.

Horn Snuff Box With Original Contents

But firstly, this item is a simple and well-used horn snuff box with a silver inlay which in itself has not been engraved. We can also observe the (intact) 'hidden hinge' common to most 'Mauchline Style' wood or horn snuff boxes of this era. Upon opening the box some of the original contents, although much decayed, are evident. While I knew that this box had come down through my paternal family line, I had no engraving on the box itself or family notes to make an incontrovertible identification as to original ownership. But luck came my way in a quite unexpected but conclusive manner.

Horn Snuff Box belonging to my Great Great Grandfather,
being identified by the shape and markings on the horn

Extensive genealogy enquiries in Scotland in the 1990's brought me into contact with a distant and hitherto unknown relative in New Zealand who advised me that her family had held an old unidentified photo album since 1912. As the original owner of the album was known to be a member of my paternal family she kindly lent it to me for my perusal. I could only make one positive identification, being a previously unknown carte-de-visite portrait of my Great Great Grandfather (pictured below) who died in 1870 aged 86 years, facial features being able to be compared with another but different image I already held. The portrait is in itself rather interesting, quite unusually being taken slightly side-on. But what took me by surprise was to see his snuff box placed on the pillar beside him. Under high magnification the very same markings appearing on my snuff box could be discerned. Having held this family owned snuff box since 1978 I had never thought that the original provenance could ever be positively proven. Dating this box is extremely problematic but it could be from the 1830's to 1840's.

My Great Great Grandfather (died 1870)
with his Snuff Box on the Pillar

Quite surprisingly, another piece of my own jig-saw puzzle of family artefacts came together while I was writing and researching this Blog. The moral of this last story is therefore, never lose hope and keep an open mind, information can come our way from the most unexpected quarters. Often even just a small but critical part of the jigsaw puzzle enables the overall picture to become obvious.

“Mauchline” Scottish Transfer Ware – An Appreciation

Mauchline [pronounced Moch’lin’] Ware is now the generic term for items of decorative wooden transfer ware produced primarily in Ayrshire Scotland from 1810 through to 1933. 

A well used but early holly root snuff box with engraved and
painted image of a rider atop his horse on the underside,
circa 1850's. Maker : I. Richmond, Cumnock

The top of the above snuff box showing the holly root.



Production initially comprised solely of hand decorated wooden snuff boxes which included a highly ingenious hidden hinge. By the 1820’s over 50 factories in Ayrshire were producing snuff boxes, mainly using sycamore for its pleasing colour and grain. Diversification into small items for personal and domestic use had commenced from as early as the 1830’s. By the 1870’s the declining use of snuff additionally led to the manufacture of all manner of souvenir items.

 The colourful front plates to two religious
 memorial text books (normally used as
 birthday books), purchased in 1881-1882

 The attractive floral back panel of the lower of the above
 two books, purchased in January 1882 as a parting gift
for a friend before he emigrated to New Zealand.

The range of items produced was truly varied, including boxes and card cases, tea caddies, sewing and knitting requisites, birthday book covers, writing requisites, tableware, gaming ware, children’s toys, commemorative ware and much much more. That most items were generally designed with some useful purpose in mind helped ensure the sale of large quantities of “Mauchline Ware”.

Two sycamore wood napkin rings with an engraving of
the Burns Monument at Ayr including the caption
"Made of Wood Grown on the Banks of the Doon".



The main defining difference to other souvenir ware was the trademark transfer applied to most items, being primarily of a Scottish personage of note [Burns and Scott were naturally popular!], a town, building or seaside resort. Transfer printing commenced from at least the early 1850’s. The development of photogravure processes additionally led, from around the mid 1860’s, to the use of real photographic images.

d A Sycamore wood pin cushion including
an engraving of Burns' Cottage at Alloway
 in Ayrshire. A caption printed on the
 reverse includes a verse from Robert
 Burns and the words
"Bought in the [Burns] Monument".

Interestingly, the printing plates for “transfer ware” and “photographic ware” were expensive to produce. Most plates were manufactured prior to 1880 with few, if any, plates being manufactured after 1890. Thus astonishingly many old plates with outdated views continued to be used for another 40 years! Therefore accurately dating some items of “Mauchline Ware” can often be problematic.

A relatively rare coloured fernware jewellery box in sycamore wood.

Other variations of “Mauchline Ware” included an attractive tartan design [which is now highly prized by collectors], ferns, “sea flowers” [seaweed], and [after the death of Prince Albert in 1861] black lacquer ware. Additionally some items included details of their provenance such as [allegedly!] “Made of Wood Grown on the Banks of the Doon” or “Bought in the Cottage [Burns’ Cottage, Alloway]”. A visual – and moreover useful - reminder of a visit to an historic building or seaside town provided a particularly appealing purchase for Victorian and Edwardian visitors.

This miniature Grandfather Clock  is believed
 to be a piece of Mauchline Black Lacquer Ware
 and includes a photographic image of a delivery
cart and men in Kirk Street, Strathaven. On the
door are printed the words and musical score
for "My Grandfather's Clock". The "clock"
itself is provided by a pocket watch.
 Circa 1880's.



 During the heyday of the 1860’s up to 400 people had been employed in the manufacture of “Mauchline Ware”. But by the second decade of the 20^th century production and sales had steadily fallen. Finally, two fires at the sole remaining factory in Mauchline in the early 1920’s and again in 1933, with the consequent loss of equipment and printing plates, dealt the final blow effectively ending production after an eventful history of over 120 years. 

A small sycamore wood jewellery box with an engraving of Burns'
Cottage at Alloway, Ayrshire, including the caption
 "Bought in the Cottage" and a verse from Robert Burns.



These now highly collectable and decorative items frequently command high prices attesting to the quality of their manufacture as well as their unique and quintessentially Scottish flavour. Ultimately the attractiveness, condition and rarity of each item will determine its value. The highly collectable “Tartanware” can sell for a premium of up to 50% more than other transfer ware.

Two sycamore wood shot glass holders, one with an image of Burns' Cottage at Alloway and stating "Bought in the Cottage" and
the other with an engraving of "Rothesay [Bay] from the East".

The range of “Mauchline Ware” was not however limited to Scotland, growing to include England, France and the Continent, and many countries within the British Empire. Items for export would normally include a transfer or photographic image of a building or town within the country of sale. 

 An oak snuff box in the "Mauchline" style and made of wood  from the
foundations of the "Auld Brig o' Ayr" [the old bridge, Ayr], Built 1252.
Although unmarked this item may possibly be the work of John Lyall
 of Ayr who is known to have made various souvenir items made
of oak from the Auld Brig o' Ayr.

A range of transfer ware of varying styles and varying condition may still be found today, occasionally in antique stores but mainly on Internet auction sites. For those who enjoy the fun of searching for and adding to their collections “Mauchline Ware” can make for a rewarding and rather addictive hobby!

Bibliography :

- “Mauchline Ware” by John Baker, 2004
- "Mauchline Ware : An Industry that Started by Accident!” by John Baker [Internet]

All items shown are from my own personal collection.