Mauchline Wares are Scottish wooden items which date from about the 1880s - until the 1900s. They are generally wooden souvenirs and giftware - made of fruitwoods 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.
This is a more unusual piece of Mauchline - it takes the form of a castellated town in a Scottish country house or castle. It is a money box or bank - there is a slot at the top where you can pop your money in. When you come to retrieve your coins - the lid slides off at the top and allows you access to the contents.
This one features an image on the front of Burn's Cottage (the home of the poet, Robert Burns). There is a little piece of text from one of his poems below: it also says that this little Mauchline box - was originally bought as a souvenir in the house itself - so an early example of Scottish tourist wares.
It has a lovely honey-coloured patina to the wood. The transfer printed image is in pretty fine condition. The fruitwood which makes up the stand is without cracks, chips or damage.
Dimensions: Height approx 3¾ Inches. The box is about 3 inches on each side.
A very unusual and attractive example of late 19th century Mauchline ware. It looks much nicer in real life than it does in my photographs!
UK Postage with be with Royal Mail Recorded Delivery (Small Parcel). This will be applied to your order at the checkout.