Writing case won by George McIntosh 1882
Writing case won by George McIntosh (Pitgrudy) in 1882 in a Sutherland Golfing Society competition.
The case (a) consists of a rectangular varnished wooden chest with brass straps inset at the side corners and triangular brass plates inset to the corners of the lid. A brass plaque inset into the centre of the lid is engraved "Sutherland Golfing Society Gained by George McIntosh 1882". The plaque is corroded at the edges and where it has been engraved. The chest has brass hinges and a brass lock on the front, in working order with the key (b) still present. The lock has three levers. Its inner plate is stamped with two crowns and "VR SECURE" "VR PATENT". The base of the chest is covered with grey fabric, worn at the edges and corners. The outside of the chest is in generally good condition although there are some scuffs and marks from wear and one deep scratch near the top right corner of the lid.
The chest opens out to create a sloping writing surface. The body of the chest is mahogany or similar with an oak veneer. The writing surface is covered with black leatherette stamped with a geometric gold border. Both halves of the surface lift up to reveal storage compartments below. Two brass catches keep the lower half in place as the lid of the chest is lifted. The tabs for lifting the flaps of the surface are both missing. The leatherette is torn where they have come away and there is some damage to the edges of the flaps, particularly the upper and lower left corners, where objects have been inserted to prise up the flaps. To either side of the writing area on both flaps there are shallow channels lined with brass.
Above the upper flap, at the deeepest section of the chest, there is a storage area with compartments for ink bottles at either end. One ink bottle (c) is present, the other missing. The bottle is square and shallow with chamfered shoulders. It has a brass screw cap (d). There are traces of ink remaining inside. The left hand ink bottle compartment has ink stains at the bottom.
Between the ink bottle compartments is a longer compartment for storing pens. This consists of a concave tray (e), slightly ink-stained, which can be tilited and lifted off to reveal another space underneath. In this space there is a narrow leather purse (f) with a metal clip top (one clip missing). Inside the purse is a nugget of gold (g). Nothing is known about its origin. It is an irregular shape with gaps and crevices, although the outside is fairly smooth, probably from handling. There are specks of grit embedded in it. One possibility is that it is from Kildonan.
On the right of the long compartment is a small square compartment with a sloping base for small items such as stamps. The base lifts out, although in the past it was glued in place. The space underneath has blocks of wood and metal bands which prevent the divider between this compartment and the adjacent ink bottle compartment, which slides up, from being fully raised. The reason for this is unknown. The Sutherland Golfing Society was the forerunner of Dornoch Golf Club and opened 9 hole courses at Dornoch and Golspie in 1877. There is some information on the society in John Macleod's A History of the Royal Dornoch Golf Club 1877-1999.
Dimensions: Width 417 mm depth242 mm - Height 163 mm