Mauchline Ware – Collectable Wooden Souvenirs
In the 1860s, what is now the Fire Station in Mauchline was a large factory employing over 400 people in the production of the iconic wooden souvenirs known as Mauchline Ware.
Mauchline Ware factories flourished in Scotland for over 100 years, during which time hundreds of thousands of these high-quality wooden souvenirs were dispatched to all parts of the British Isles, Europe, North and South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Mauchline Ware items were generally quite small and included snuff boxes, egg cups, serviette rings, trinket boxes, ashtrays, sewing accessories, ink wells, small children’s toys and so on. In all, almost 200 different products were manufactured. Most items bore images designed to appeal to19th century tourists. These images often depicted local scenes of, for example, Alloway, Burns Cottage, Millport, Rothesay, as well as famous landmarks and buildings, especially those associated with Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott.
Items were made from local sycamore wood, decorated with hand-painted or inked designs, finished with multiple coats of amber-coloured varnish for shine and durability. Later, time-saving paper transfers of images were introduced. Often, there was also some writing, usually the location of the scene depicted, or an indication of the origin of the wood used, for example “made of wood grown on the banks of the Doon”.
Mauchline Ware items have various finishes including: Tartan Ware (depicting stylised tartans often with the accompanying Scottish clan name); Fern Ware (showcasing dried fern leaves); and Black Lacquer Ware (featuring a dark finish).
The last Mauchline Ware factory closed in 1933, when a fire devastated the production site, thus bringing to an end almost 100 years of making this uniquely Scottish souvenir. However, although no longer produced, Mauchine Ware is still much in demand and is considered very collectible throughout the world.
Nanse Tinnock’s Museum in Mauchline holds the largest known public collection of Mauchline Ware in the world. Smaller collections are on display in the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum and the Baird Institute in Cumnock.
Although there are public collections displaying Mauchline Ware, the vast majority of items are held in private ownership, in Scotland, UK, Europe, US, indeed worldwide. There is an international on-line Mauchline Ware Collectors Club, which promotes the accumulation and dissemination of information regarding these fine antiques. The Club publishes a regular Journal for members, holds regular meetings and stages an annual convention, with speakers and demonstrations.
My personal interest in Mauchline Ware stems from the time when, as a member of Ayrshire Philatelic Society, I met someone who owned a Mauchline Ware stamp box. This was a tiny, decorated wooden box, which was just big enough to hold a small number of postage stamps. I tend to collect things that I like, and this wee box fascinated me! My interest in Mauchline Ware was stimulated. I now have a modest collection of items.
I tend to buy items on-line. I am not particularly attracted to items which have been renovated and restored, I like to purchase ‘lived in’ items. One of my prized possessions is an item which was described on eBay as an “Old Vintage Mauchline Ware Box”. The illustration showed part of the eaves and one side of a stone-built building with one large window … nothing else. The box looked a bit battered and worse for wear, however I felt I just had to find out more about it. I was intrigued by it, especially as I was sure I could see some writing beneath the photograph, though I could not it make out. I put in a modest bid of £5 and secured the piece.
I carefully cleaned up the box and saw the writing said “A Window in Thrums”. I had no idea what this meant. I searched the internet for information and, to cut a long story short, “A Window in Thrums” is the title of a book written in 1889 by JM Barrie, the well-known author of “Peter Pan”. This is one of several novels Barrie wrote about the fictional village of Thrums, said to be modelled on his hometown of Kirriemuir. However, I didn’t stop there. I was determined to find more items on this theme. Now, I have my own copy of the book, and a postcard dated 1908 which shows the actual cottage on which the Mauchline Ware box design was based.
The book was challenging to read, as much of the dialogue is written in old Scots dialect, however by reading it out loud to myself I was able to get the hang of the dialect. The story is a portrayal of village life in the middle of the 19th century and relates humorous sketches about life in Thrums, village gossip and family tragedy. It was a fascinating read and, for me, completes the full story of my “box with a window”.
I now live just outside Alloway, very close to the Alloway Railway Tunnel. I am Brown Owl with 3rd Alloway Brownie Pack and my daughter is Little Owl Lara.
At our last Burns Night celebration with the Brownie Pack, we featured Tam O’Shanter. The Brownies acted out Tam’s story and I showed them a Mauchline Ware box featuring a picture of Tam O’Shanter. This activity also counted towards a local badge, the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere Badge, which includes finding out about local myths and legends.
I plan to show the Brownies more Mauchline Ware items when our activities resume in September. I will provide each of them with a little undecorated wooden craft box and let them decorate it with something local to make their very own Mauchline Ware box!
It would be wonderful if paintings of some items of Machine Ware could be included in the Alloway Railway Tunnel Mural. That would be a very fitting tribute to the once thriving souvenir manufacturers who provided these lasting souvenirs for the enjoyment of visitors to the area at the time and to collectors like me who enjoy these artefacts today.
Lise Whittle
