Three makers have left autographed chairs,
John McMath, J.K.Black and Hugh Shields. There were obviously other makers
and apprentices over the century but their names can only be guessed.
John McMath
John McMath was born in Darvel in 1797. His father was a cooper and his
grandfather was a wright from the neighbouring village of Galston. This is
an old Scottish term for 'a worker in wood' or 'maker' which gradually went
out of use toward the end of the 18C. John McMath lived in West Main Street,
and carrying on the family tradition of working in wood, produced chairs,
and other pieces of furniture all his life. In the census returns in the later
part of the century he calls himself a cabinet- maker.
J.K. Black
J.K.Black does not feature in any of the returns in Darvel [from 1840] and
as the only chair bearing his stamp is almost identical to early McMath chairs,
we can only assume he started work with McMath and died or left the area before
1840.
Details of the leg and arm pillar
sections
of a chair by J.K.Black.
