Antique Victorian McPherson Tartan Ware Sewing Egg / Reel Holder

A particularly attractive Victorian Scottish Tartan Ware sewing accessory in the form of a small segmented egg, decorated in the McPherson tartan.

The egg is made from turned wood and covered with printed tartan decoration beneath a glossy varnished finish. The tartan has been applied in carefully shaped sections to follow the curved form of the egg, divided by fine dark lines and finished with delicate gilt detailing. One section is clearly titled “McPherson” in gilt lettering.

The egg separates around the centre to reveal a hollow wooden interior with a central spindle or tube designed to accommodate a small sewing reel. This compact form would have made an attractive and practical addition to a Victorian sewing box or work basket.

The rich tartan colouring remains particularly appealing, and the unusual egg shape makes this a lovely example of 19th-century Scottish Tartan Ware.

A desirable piece for collectors of antique sewing notions, Scottish treen, Mauchline Ware and Tartan Ware.