Mauchline Ware are wooden souvenirs 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.
On offer here is a little honey-toned wooden box. It has a lift off lid to allow you to access the contents inside. I think that this was probably designed as a little vesta case - as there are remnants of of old worn down sandpaper on the base. The box takes the form of a little book. It would have been a sweet little Victorian souvenir that you would have purchased on your travels in Scotland.
It is very interesting historically. The front of the box is embellished with a little image of the village of Markinch in Fife. In the center of the vignette is an image of the spire of the church of St Drostan and St John the Baptist.
It is in lovely condition - nice and clean. The wood is a rich honey colour. These little wooden vestas in the shape of a week book are rare survivors, especially in this lovely condition.
Measurements: The height is 8.5 cm. The width is 5 cm and the depth is 2 cm. Listed at a fair price. I have taken lots of images for your inspection. Any white marks on my images are not on the box - but as only reflections from the shiny varnish on the box.
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HISTORY: Mauchline Wares are Scottish wooden items that 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 center 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.