Lot 289
A stained pine miniature Scotch chest of drawers,
Auction: 30 June 2004 at 12:00 BST
Description
the rectangular top above ogee moulded frieze drawer and three graduated drawers flanked by carved brackets, the base with moulded drawer above a plinth and turned legs, bears printed label to the base 'These drawers were bought at the Franchise Demonstration which took place at Falkirk on 27th September 1884' also inscribed in pencil 'Made by Robert Rae, Cow Wynd, Falkirk'; '£1.10s'; 'George Rankine, Comely Park Terrace, Falkirk at £1.10s'
Dimensions
39.5cm wide, 49.5cm high, 21.5cm deep
Footnote
Robert Rae was fourteen when he made this chest , and in the Census of 1891 was recorded as a chair maker in Falkirk. He must presumably therefore must have been serving his apprenticeship when he made it, making this chest one that can confidently be called an 'apprentice chest'.
It is of a typical Scotch or 'OG' form, the OG referring to the ogee profile of the top drawers, such as those illustrated in the catalogue of Christie and Miller, Furniture Manufacturers of Falkirk, but made all over Scotland in the 19th century. It is however thought to be the only known marked piece of Falkirk furniture.
The inscription refers to the demonstration by the tradesman of Falkirk in support of the Government's bill to extend the rights of suffrage to all men over the age of twenty one, which had just been rejected by the House of Lords. The Falkirk Herald and Linlithgow Journal of 4th October 1884 reported this remarkable demonstration and recorded that the tradesman had 'a large collection of models, amongst which may be named a sideboard, a chest of drawers, wardrobes, tables, chairs and sofas'. Purchasing these must have helped offset the costs of the demonstration, as the workers would surely not have been paid for their time off, as well as actively showing support for their cause.
This chest is consequently of great significance not just as a record of Scottish furniture making, and the apprentice system, but also as a witness to the political growth and awareness of the working classes during the Victorian era.
For further analysis of this chest of drawers see the article about it by Bernard Cotton 'A Political Miniature Chest of Drawers from Falkirk' Furniture History XXXIII 1997 pp.295-298.
For Scotch chests in general see David Jones 'Scotch Chests' Regional Furniture II 1988 pp.