A furniture maker has been following in the footsteps of his ancestors by creating beautifully unique furniture which is now on display at Blair Castle.
Colin Stewart Sandeman, a retired civil engineer from Brechin, was invited to the castle to see the work of his great-great-great grandfather, George Sandeman, who produced furniture for the castle’s Derby Dressing Room in the late 18th century, and to present the castle with a newly crafted chair to feature alongside his ancestor’s creations.
In 1758, John Murray, who later became the 3rd Duke of Atholl, commissioned George Sandeman, a furniture maker from Perth, to make the Derby Dressing Room’s furniture.
George crafted the room’s broom wood bureau first and then made the tables in the 1770s. Colin, also a talented furniture maker, has created a chair also made out of broom wood following methods used by George more than 250 years ago.
Coincidentally, Colin developed an interest in broom wood before he knew that his ancestor had made furniture from the plant centuries before.
Colin said: “I’ve been making furniture from broom wood since the mid-80s when a friend suggested I see furniture made of broom at Blair Castle.
“At that stage, I had no idea that my great-great-great grandfather had created the broom furniture there, but I was inspired to collect some broom and I made my first piece, a desk, in the summer of 1985.”
Colin spent 243 hours lovingly creating the new chair for the castle with the front legs and dowels between the legs made of solid broom, veneer on the front and back of the seat and the back made from hundreds of smaller broom pieces. Colin’s chair now resides in its new home at the castle next to George’s handiwork, representing a family legacy and dedication to quality craftsmanship that has lasted for centuries.
Sarah Troughton, head trustee at Atholl Estates, said: “It has been lovely to welcome Colin to Blair Castle and learn more about the
making of broom wood furniture. It is a very unusual wood to work with.
“Colin’s family connection, knowledge and passion for this unique furniture is wonderful and we are delighted with the chair which will complete the suite of furniture in the Derby Dressing Room.
“We are sure many visitors will admire the craftsmanship.”
Colin, said: “I am delighted that a creation of mine has been included alongside some of the greatest furniture ever made in Scotland.” His
love for furniture making began after learning about the craft from
the family gardener, William Maclellan.
“My father died when I was very young but was also very talented at making furniture. I had a little bureau and a set of bedroom furniture that he made.
“I learned a great deal from our family gardener who had a great many skills. He taught me all about furniture making.
“I believe that broom furniture originated from Scandinavia which makes sense as George Sandeman’s grandfather, my grandfather five-times removed, was Scandinavian, so the Sandeman furniture connection can be traced back even further.
“Furniture making certainly ran in my family.”
To find out more about visiting Blair Castle, go to www.blair-castle.co.uk