Antique Mauchline Ware Tartan Ware Cotton Reel Holder / Thread Case, McDuff Tartan
Antique Mauchline Ware Tartan Ware Cotton Reel Holder / Thread Case, McDuff Tartan
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Item Title: Antique Mauchline Ware Tartan Ware Cotton Reel Holder / Thread Case, McDuff Tartan
**Additional Description:** A slim cylindrical lidded case covered in red, green and black tartan, with the lid labeled "McDuff" in gold lettering near the top. The lid slips over a bare wood collar on the base. Inside is a fitted turned wooden spindle holding three small wooden thread reels, wound with cream and black cotton thread, topped with a turned wooden knob for pulling it out. Cylinders of this type are often called "tartan ware cotton reel holders," "thread barrels," or "sewing etuis."
**Era:** Mid-to-late Victorian, c. 1850-1880 (within the broader c. 1840s-1900 Tartan Ware period).
**History:** Tartan Ware is a type of Mauchline Ware made in and around Mauchline, Ayrshire, Scotland, and by other Scottish makers. Pale woods such as sycamore were turned on a lathe, covered with printed tartan paper, and heavily lacquered. Queen Victoria's love of the Highlands and Balmoral fueled demand, and these pieces were sold to Victorian tourists as souvenirs. Tartans were often labeled by clan name, as with this "McDuff" example. Fitted thread barrels with a spindle and reels were among the more desirable and complex sewing forms in the tartan ware line.
**Provenance:** Unknown. Please add any known ownership history, purchase location, or family information here.
**Materials:** Turned wood (likely sycamore or similar pale wood) with printed tartan paper covering and a clear lacquer finish. The interior, collar, spindle and reels are bare turned wood. Cotton thread on the reels.
**Dimensions:** Not provided. It appears to be roughly 2.75 in (7 cm) tall and 1 in (2.5 cm) in diameter closed, judging by the hand in the photos. Please measure to confirm before listing.
**Disclaimers / Condition:** Good to fair antique condition with age-appropriate wear. The lacquer is darkened and yellowed in places, with scratches, small flecks of paper and lacquer loss on the lid and body, and a few small chips or pits. The tartan remains strong and vivid in red and green. The bare wood collar shows soiling, light staining and small nicks. The lid fits the base, and the original spindle with three reels is present, with the existing thread included as found. The piece has not been professionally authenticated, and the description reflects visual assessment only. Please review all photos.
**Value:** Estimated retail value of $60-$140 USD. The clear clan label, vivid red coloring, and complete fitted spindle with reels support the upper end, while the surface wear and lacquer loss hold it back. Check recent sold listings (eBay sold, LiveAuctioneers, Etsy) for comparable tartan ware thread barrels before pricing, as the market varies by tartan name, size, and condition. Intact interior fittings are a plus, since they are often missing.
Item Title: Antique Mauchline Ware Tartan Ware Cotton Reel Holder / Thread Case, McDuff Tartan
**Additional Description:** A slim cylindrical lidded case covered in red, green and black tartan, with the lid labeled "McDuff" in gold lettering near the top. The lid slips over a bare wood collar on the base. Inside is a fitted turned wooden spindle holding three small wooden thread reels, wound with cream and black cotton thread, topped with a turned wooden knob for pulling it out. Cylinders of this type are often called "tartan ware cotton reel holders," "thread barrels," or "sewing etuis."
**Era:** Mid-to-late Victorian, c. 1850-1880 (within the broader c. 1840s-1900 Tartan Ware period).
**History:** Tartan Ware is a type of Mauchline Ware made in and around Mauchline, Ayrshire, Scotland, and by other Scottish makers. Pale woods such as sycamore were turned on a lathe, covered with printed tartan paper, and heavily lacquered. Queen Victoria's love of the Highlands and Balmoral fueled demand, and these pieces were sold to Victorian tourists as souvenirs. Tartans were often labeled by clan name, as with this "McDuff" example. Fitted thread barrels with a spindle and reels were among the more desirable and complex sewing forms in the tartan ware line.
**Provenance:** Unknown. Please add any known ownership history, purchase location, or family information here.
**Materials:** Turned wood (likely sycamore or similar pale wood) with printed tartan paper covering and a clear lacquer finish. The interior, collar, spindle and reels are bare turned wood. Cotton thread on the reels.
**Dimensions:** Not provided. It appears to be roughly 2.75 in (7 cm) tall and 1 in (2.5 cm) in diameter closed, judging by the hand in the photos. Please measure to confirm before listing.
**Disclaimers / Condition:** Good to fair antique condition with age-appropriate wear. The lacquer is darkened and yellowed in places, with scratches, small flecks of paper and lacquer loss on the lid and body, and a few small chips or pits. The tartan remains strong and vivid in red and green. The bare wood collar shows soiling, light staining and small nicks. The lid fits the base, and the original spindle with three reels is present, with the existing thread included as found. The piece has not been professionally authenticated, and the description reflects visual assessment only. Please review all photos.
**Value:** Estimated retail value of $60-$140 USD. The clear clan label, vivid red coloring, and complete fitted spindle with reels support the upper end, while the surface wear and lacquer loss hold it back. Check recent sold listings (eBay sold, LiveAuctioneers, Etsy) for comparable tartan ware thread barrels before pricing, as the market varies by tartan name, size, and condition. Intact interior fittings are a plus, since they are often missing.