jan-11 - Lochwinnoch Online

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THE STIRRUP CUP Mauchline Ware Part 3 WEST BANKSIDE FARM, GEIRSTON RD, KILBIRNIE, We specialise in vintage & modern jewellery, antiques, curios, art and local crafts Great for Gifts or treat yourself Previously we have covered the popularity and success of one of Scotland’s most famous and long running manufacturers, concentrating on its origins and product ranges. This final piece will discuss the most recognisable part of Mauchline ware, the decoration. More items were produced with transfer decoration than any other finish. Transfer ware was true souvenir ware, in that each piece was decorated with a view associated with the place of purchase. From the 1850’s the transfers were applied to the finished articles prior to their receiving several coats of slowdrying oil copal varnish. This process was said to take from 6 – 12 weeks to complete, although, it seems certain that an accelerated means of varnishing must have been developed to cope with the sheer scale of production. However this lengthy and careful process must largely account for the extreme durability of these products, many of which have survived in near mint condition. While the majority of Mauchline ware items were small, requiring only one transfer, it was by no means unusual for 6 or even more related transfers to be applied to some larger pieces, either by subject or geographically. ‘Burnsian’ views form by far the largest single grouping. For over 80 years of continuous production there was hardly a location in Scotland that was not recorded. In addition a vast number of beauty spots, country houses, churches, schools, ruins, and cottage hospitals have been immortalised in transfer ware. The remainder of Great Britain was also well represented, although views were in the main of many seaside resorts and spa towns that were becoming more accessible as a result of the rapidly expanding rail network. France was the most important European customer with many locations such as Nice and Boulogne. Holland, Belgium and even Spain have also been recorded with transfer print. The British Empire was another obvious market. Many items of Mauchline ware are found with a photographic decoration as an alternative. Although photographic ware was probably introduced some 20 to 30 years after the first transfer printed items, examples will be found on most of the Mauchline ware product range. The obvious exceptions are snuff boxes, tea caddies and other earlier products, manufacture of which had virtually ceased by the time the first photographic ware came on to the market. In the early 1840’s, the inventive Smiths of Mauchline designed an ingenious machine capable of ‘weaving’ tartan designs on to paper. The machine employed a series of pens, each using a different coloured ink, the result being an accurate representation of the so-called authentic tartans. Today these command the highest prices among collectors, especially among our Scottish cousins across the pond. The Victorians were extremely fond of ferns as a decorative motif. This interest had really begun in the late 1830’s when the British countryside attracted increasing numbers of amateur and professional botanists. It is no surprise therefore, that ferns were also used as a finish for many 14 Antiques, Curios and Crafts A dynamic selection of oils, watercolours and Limited Edition prints Bespoke crafts by local artisans, vintage and contemporary jewellery Well worth discovering for yourself The Barn on the farm, open 10am till late every day Contact Greta Logan on Tel: 01505 683338 Email: greta@thestirrupcup.com www.thestirrupcup.co.uk West Bankside Farm, Geirston Rd, Kilbirnie, KA25 7LQ Just opposite the Golf Course on the Largs Rd Mauchline ware products. In most cases actual ferns were applied to the wooden surface which was then subjected to a dark brown stippled paint effect before removal of the fern and subsequent varnishing. In 1861 Great Britain was plunged into mourning following the death of Prince Albert. It seems highly likely that the large quantity of Mauchline ware produced with black lacquer finishes relates to this. Production continued for the next 40 years until Queen Victoria’s own death in 1901. The black lacquer finish was relieved with a more colourful addition, often taking form of a printed transfer or photographic view in a floral surround. Coronations and jubilees were also too good to be missed for decoration. That remarkable man James Sandy, inventor of the hidden hinge in 1819, cannot have dreamt that his design would have been so popular. It led to Mauchline, a small town in Ayrshire, becoming household name for over 100 years. Indeed, Mauchline ware still maintains its name among collectors after nearly 200 years. Greta Logan
Library and Annexe Action Group (LAAG) Update The Action Committee has written to all Renfrewshire Councillors, Council Leader and Chief Executive and to MSPs explaining that the decision made on 4th November by Renfrewshire Council to downsize and move the Library was faulty as it was based on an Asset Management Report that is factually incorrect and not fit for purpose. The Report claimed the Library is under-performing when it is one of the top three in Renfrewshire as judged by the Council's own statistics. The costs of moving the Library are a great deal higher than the £80K suggested in the report as it didn't consider the cost of moving the Out of School Club to the Primary School. Locating a library next to a hall where you have noisy activities like Children's Dance Classes, Country Dancing, etc is inappropriate and, while the Council spoke of selling the existing library building (old school) to raise extra income, there is a clause in the Deeds that make it unlikely the Council would benefit financially if they tried to do this. One issue for parents is what effect moving the Out of School Club into the Primary School hall will have on all Lochwinnoch Primary School children. Parents may want to ask what the impact will be on current after-school activities (so important to the new Curriculum for Excellence) if the school hall is unavailable due to occupation by the Out of School Club. The issue of the Annexe and its displaced users was also discussed, especially the situation of Calderglen FC and the need to guarantee appropriate changing facilities next to Lochwinnoch Park. Response from Councillors has, so far, been disappointing. Councillors Bibby, Holmes and McMillan have responded with offers of help and support as has Trish Godman MSP. Sadly no SNP councillors have yet replied with offers of support. The Action Committee continues to work to keep the library where it is and more updates will follow. Meetings take place on Saturdays 10 am in the Parish Church, come and join! Library Action Collection Boxes Thanks to the businesses in the village who have agreed to host a collection box for donations to the Library Action Fund. The monies collected are used to pay the various costs incurred fighting to save the Library e.g. costs of Deeds, Freedom of Information requests, copying, other document costs etc. We have been fortunate to have legal advisors (who wish to remain anonymous) volunteer to help us without charge but obviously we must cover their extra costs. So please be as generous as you can. Any monies left at the end of the campaign will be donated to the Community Council to be used for the benefit of the village. If anyone wants to make a donation and specify how unspent funds should be used then contact Dave Mellor or any member of the Action Group. 15 Library ‘Petition in a Book’ Campaign’ One way of drawing media attention to a petition campaign is to make it unusual. Since we are trying to save our library service someone had the bright idea of writing petitions on the flyleaf of books - the Council then have to open the books to note the petition details. You may have noticed that some village businesses already have some discarded books available for those who don’t have their own books for the purpose. You could always buy a used book from the St Vincent’s Shop and help two causes at the same time. You might like to write something like: Dear Renfrewshire Council, Please save Council Tax Payer’s money by leaving the Library in the Library and the Out of School Club where it is in the McKillop Institute. Your Signature Your Address Bring your book (or books if you have extra) to the front of the Library (outside) on Saturday 15th January at 11.30 where they will be collected, hopefully with the media in attendance, for transport to Renfrewshire Council.
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jan-11 - Lochwinnoch Online

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