Antique Mauchline Ware Tartan Ware Cylindrical Pin Case / Needle Case, Caledonia Tartan, with Bone Finial
Antique Mauchline Ware Tartan Ware Cylindrical Pin Case / Needle Case, Caledonia Tartan, with Bone Finial
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Item Title: Antique Mauchline Ware Tartan Ware Cylindrical Pin Case / Needle Case, Caledonia Tartan, with Bone Finial
**Additional Description:** A small cylindrical lidded case covered in red, green, black and yellow tartan, with the lid labeled "Caledonia" in gold lettering near the edge. A small turned bone or ivory-colored knob sits at the center of the lid. The lid slips over a bare wood collar on the base. The interior is bare wood, and the inside of the lid carries an old paper label with the handwritten number "13574" and a smaller "1" below it. The label may be an old inventory, shop, or collection number. Cylinders of this shape were typically used as needle, pin, or toothpick cases.
**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. "Caledonia," the Roman name for Scotland, is a less common label than clan names, and it was used for a general "Scotland" souvenir tartan. Turned sewing accessories with decorative finials were a staple of the trade.
**Provenance:** Unknown. The paper label inside the lid (number "13574") may point to a prior collection, dealer, or museum inventory. 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, a bone or ivory-colored finial (not tested), and a bare wood interior with a paper label.
**Dimensions:** Not provided. It appears to be roughly 2.25 in (5.5 cm) tall, including the finial, and about 1.25 in (3 cm) in diameter, judging by the hand in the photos. Please measure to confirm before listing.
**Disclaimers / Condition:** Good antique condition with age-appropriate wear. The lacquer is darkened and yellowed in places, with small scratches, a couple of small chips or flecks of paper loss on the body, and some darkening on the lid. The tartan remains vivid and the gold label is clear. The bare wood interior is clean, with light soiling at the collar edges. The lid fits the base, and the finial is present. The piece has not been professionally authenticated, and the finial material has not been tested. The description reflects visual assessment only. Please review all photos.
**Value:** Estimated retail value of $50-$130 USD. The vivid tartan, the unusual "Caledonia" label, the finial, and the intact interior support the upper end, while the surface wear and small paper losses hold it back. Check recent sold listings (eBay sold, LiveAuctioneers, Etsy) for comparable tartan ware pin or needle cases before pricing, as the market varies by tartan name, size, and condition. If the finial is confirmed as bone or ivory, check shipping and sale restrictions that apply in your market.
Item Title: Antique Mauchline Ware Tartan Ware Cylindrical Pin Case / Needle Case, Caledonia Tartan, with Bone Finial
**Additional Description:** A small cylindrical lidded case covered in red, green, black and yellow tartan, with the lid labeled "Caledonia" in gold lettering near the edge. A small turned bone or ivory-colored knob sits at the center of the lid. The lid slips over a bare wood collar on the base. The interior is bare wood, and the inside of the lid carries an old paper label with the handwritten number "13574" and a smaller "1" below it. The label may be an old inventory, shop, or collection number. Cylinders of this shape were typically used as needle, pin, or toothpick cases.
**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. "Caledonia," the Roman name for Scotland, is a less common label than clan names, and it was used for a general "Scotland" souvenir tartan. Turned sewing accessories with decorative finials were a staple of the trade.
**Provenance:** Unknown. The paper label inside the lid (number "13574") may point to a prior collection, dealer, or museum inventory. 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, a bone or ivory-colored finial (not tested), and a bare wood interior with a paper label.
**Dimensions:** Not provided. It appears to be roughly 2.25 in (5.5 cm) tall, including the finial, and about 1.25 in (3 cm) in diameter, judging by the hand in the photos. Please measure to confirm before listing.
**Disclaimers / Condition:** Good antique condition with age-appropriate wear. The lacquer is darkened and yellowed in places, with small scratches, a couple of small chips or flecks of paper loss on the body, and some darkening on the lid. The tartan remains vivid and the gold label is clear. The bare wood interior is clean, with light soiling at the collar edges. The lid fits the base, and the finial is present. The piece has not been professionally authenticated, and the finial material has not been tested. The description reflects visual assessment only. Please review all photos.
**Value:** Estimated retail value of $50-$130 USD. The vivid tartan, the unusual "Caledonia" label, the finial, and the intact interior support the upper end, while the surface wear and small paper losses hold it back. Check recent sold listings (eBay sold, LiveAuctioneers, Etsy) for comparable tartan ware pin or needle cases before pricing, as the market varies by tartan name, size, and condition. If the finial is confirmed as bone or ivory, check shipping and sale restrictions that apply in your market.