Mauchline Ware is wooden souvenir items which were manufactured in Scotland, primarily in factories in or near Mauchline and predominantly made of sycamore. The items have various finishes in a large variety of applications. Most Mauchline Ware products have transfers or photographs of popular tourist locations. There were also finishes with tartan, fern and black lacquer (as on offer here).
This is a collectable little black lacquer box that would have been used for storing a little medicine bottle or little shot glass for a wee nip of whisky. It is a Victorian souvenir which you would have purchased on the Isle of Cumbrae when on your travels around Scotland..
This box has a lift of lid. On the side is an applied image of the town of Newton at Millport in the West of Scotland. Beside the townscape are little images of Victorian flowers, as you might usually find on these black lacquer boxes.
It is in good antique condition and the black lacquer is nice and shiny with no losses. Any white marks on the images are not on the box - but are reflections from the shiny surface.
Measurements: The box measures 7.5 cm in height. The lid top measures 5 cm and the base measures 3.5 cm.
A nice little example of a Mauchline ware souvenir box.
UK postage will be with Royal Mail Recorded. This will cost £4.95 and applied to your order at the checkout.
HISTORY: Mauchline Wares are Scottish wooden items which date from about the 1880s - until the 1900s. They are generally wooden souvenirs and giftware - made of fruitwood and decorated with black transfer designs. The scenes are usually of landmarks and popular towns - and spots favoured by tourists. They were very popular in their day and many pieces were exported globally.
The centre of the Mauchline Ware industry is the small village of Mauchline - which is located 11 miles inland from the Scottish coastal resort of Ayr. At its peak over 400 people were involved in the manufacture of these small (but always beautifully made) wooden souvenirs. Similar products were also made in Lanark - but most of the pieces are known by the generic name of Mauchline Ware.