This is a Victorian, Scottish Mauchline Ware sovereign purse in the Transfer Ware finish, featuring 'BURNS' MONUMENT' & 'AULD BRIG O' DOON', and dating to around 1860 - 70.

The purse is made from a grained leather with copal varnished sycamore side panels.

The purse has a hinged metal clasp frame & opens to reveal a very soft, leather lined interior (designed to hold coins, etc), and an additional, small, central, metal framed & hinged purse (designed to hold sovereigns).

One side of the case is decorated with a transfer scene entitled 'BURNS' MONUMENT' - 'BOUGHT IN THE COTTAGE' and the verse:

"He'll hae misfortunes great and sma'

But aye a heart aboon them a'

He'll be a credit tae us a'

We'll a'be be proud o' Robin" .

The other side of the purse features a transfer scene of 'AULD BRIG O' DOON'.

Burns' monument is in Alloway & was completed in 1831, & the Auld Brig o' Doon (a 13th Century bridge near Alloway) features in the climax of his tale 'Tam o' Shanter' (where Tam’s mare, Meg, made her last heroic leap for freedom - leaving her tail still in the clutches of Nan, the “Cutty Sark” witch). The verse comes from 'Rantin' Rovin' Robin', which was written by Robert Burns in 1785.

Condition is Fine, with no damage or wear to the transfers. The only point to note is the the interior sovereign purse has lost it's little catch (extremely minor, the frame & hinge are fine) - one of the best examples of this exceptionally scarce form of Mauchline Ware.

The purse measures approx 2 3/4" x 2 1/8" at widest point & excluding the clasp. (approx 7cm x 5.4cm).