Mauchline Ware Letter Rack with Burns Cottage and Alloway Kirk, c. 1900

A Mauchline ware letter rack with ‘Pictorial Post Cards’ on the front and a depiction of the interior of Burns’ cottage and Alloway Kirk.

The sycamore letter rack is in very good condition.

Throughout the 19th century the cult of Burns rose to huge proportions. Images derived from his life and work, and of the poet himself were to be found in most Scottish homes. Burns Cottage is where Burns was born and lived until the age of seven. An alehouse for most of the 19th century, it was restored to its former glory by the Burns Monument Trust in 1881. Alloway Auld Kirk was the burial place of Burns’ father. It was also the origin of his poem ‘Tam O‘ Shanter‘. In 1790, Burns agreed to write a witch story to accompany an illustration of the 16th century Kirk, to be published in Grose‘s ‘Antiquities of Scotland‘. ‘Tam O‘ Shanter‘ was the result and includes the scene of the witches‘ dance: “Kirk-Alloway was drawing nigh, Whare ghaists and houlets nightly cry.”

The town of Mauchline in East Ayrshire became synonymous with souvenirs made from sycamore wood and decorated with famous local landmarks from around Britain. Although the origin probably lies with Charles Stiven (1753-1820) of Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire, it was two Mauchline brothers, William and Andrew Smith, who became the prime producers from 1825. At its peak in the 1860s, over 400 people were involved in the manufacture of Mauchline ware and the high quality souvenirs were despatched to all parts of the British Isles, Europe, North and South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.