But in a different league to those later souvenir wares are the ink-decorated sycamore pieces from the first half of the 19th century.
A good example was offered for sale at Sworders’ (25% buyer’s premium) Homes and Interiors sale on October 11 in Stansted Mountfitchet: a 5in (13cm) snuff box with a named view of Kinfauns Castle and sides and base worked with a tartan pattern.
As well as an ownership inscription for Peter Clark, Glasgow, the piece has an impressed mark to the interior reading W & G Milne, Lau-kirk.
William and George Milne were apprentices to the better-known Laurencekirk box maker Charles Stiven and both held administrative roles in the Kincardineshire town.
This box, estimated at £100-150, sold for £2000 as part of the contents of 9 Phillimore Terrace, the Kensington house where art dealer Jack Baer lived with his wife Diana for more than 50 years.
Sworders has sold an extensive array of pictures and furnishings from the estate across a series of sales (see Art Market, ATG No 2564).
