Tartanware Inkstand

This is a classic example of Mauchline Ware, specifically the sub-category known as Tartanware.

Description

This Victorian-era inkstand is designed in a characteristic “egg” or ovoid form, standing on a wide, circular footed base.

• The Exterior: The body is decorated with two distinct Scottish tartans—McKenzie and McFarlane—which are separated by delicate, gilded “zig-zag” or ric-rac borders. The labels for the tartans are printed in small, unassuming script near the base of the lid.
• The Finial: The apex of the egg features a small, turned finial crafted from cow bone, providing a neutral contrast to the colorful patterns below.
• The Base: The circular wooden base is finished in a dark lacquer and embellished with a continuous gilded scroll or Greek-key style border around the circumference.
• The Interior: The egg-shaped top is entirely removable to reveal a central cylindrical housing. Inside this housing sits the original glass inkwell, which shows dark ink staining.

What is Tartanware?

Tartanware is a type of decorative wooden souvenir that became immensely popular in the mid-to-late 19th century. It is part of a larger family of items called Mauchline Ware (pronounced Moch-lin).

Materials and Construction

Contrary to how it might look, the tartan is not painted directly onto the wood.

• Wood: These items were almost exclusively made from sycamore wood, which was chosen for its close grain and pale color.
• Application: The wood was turned or joined into the desired shape, and then a high-quality paper transfer printed with the specific tartan pattern was glued to the surface.
• Finish: To protect the paper and give the item its characteristic “glow,” multiple layers of clear copal varnish were applied and polished until the surface felt like glass.

Origins and History

• Location: Tartanware was primarily produced in the village of Mauchline, Ayrshire, Scotland. The most famous firm was W. & A. Smith, who pioneered the mass-production techniques for these souvenirs.
• The Victorian Influence: The “Tartan Craze” (or Tartanry) was sparked largely by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, whose well-documented love for the Scottish Highlands and Balmoral Castle made everything Scottish incredibly fashionable throughout the British Empire.
• Souvenir Culture: As the railway system expanded, tourism in Scotland boomed. These items were sold as high-end souvenirs. Because there are hundreds of registered tartans, collectors would often seek out pieces that represented their own family lineage or “Clan.”

The “Dual Tartan” Significance

Finding a piece with two tartans, like this one featuring both McKenzie and McFarlane, is rarer than single-tartan pieces. It was often done to appeal to a wider range of tourists or perhaps as a “friendship” or “marriage” piece representing two different clans. The gold zig-zag lines are a hallmark of the Smith factory’s more elaborate work, used to hide the seams where the different paper transfers met.

Determining Age

This piece likely dates to the late 19th century, specifically between 1870 and 1890.

In the world of antique Scottish woodenware, this era represents the height of the “Tartanry” craze fueled by Queen Victoria’s obsession with the Highlands. Here is how we can narrow down that timeline:

Why the 1870–1890 Period?

• The Design Style: The “egg” or ovoid form was a popular novelty shape for Mauchline Ware during the mid-to-late Victorian period. These were often produced as sewing kits (etuis), thimble holders, or, as in your case, specialized desktop items like inkstands.
• Materials: The use of a turned cow bone finial is a hallmark of late 19th-century production. Earlier pieces might have used wood or metal, but bone became a standard decorative accent for these “fancy goods” during the 1870s and 1880s.
• The Printing Technique: By the 1870s, the firm of W. & A. Smith (the primary manufacturer of Tartanware) had perfected the machine-inking process. This allowed them to produce complex “Dual Tartan” pieces like this one, featuring the McKenzie and McFarlane clans, to maximize their appeal to tourists who might have connections to more than one family.
• The Condition and Finish: The gilt “zig-zag” borders (ric-rac) were a sophisticated finishing touch used by the Smiths to transition between different tartan papers. This level of ornamentation was most common in their premium catalog items from the late Victorian era.

The Hard End Date

Production of these specific items effectively ended in 1933. A catastrophic fire destroyed the W. & A. Smith factory in Mauchline that year, consuming the specialized machinery used to print the tartan papers. While some stock was sold afterward, the era of authentic Mauchline Tartanware ended with that fire.

Given the vibrant colors of the McKenzie and McFarlane tartans and the specific “egg” configuration, this inkstand is a classic example of a Victorian souvenir at its most refined.