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Records of Bonnar and Company, interior decorators, Edinburgh, Scotland

551 23

Description Records of Bonnar and Company, interior decorators, Edinburgh, Scotland

Date 1834 to 1932

Collection Records of Bonnar and Company, interior decorators, Edinburgh, Scotland

Catalogue Number 551 23

Category All Other

Scope and Content A large collection of designs by this firm, founded c.1845 by Thomas Bonnar I in partnership with Robert Carfrae. The designs include a record drawing of the staircase ceiling at Penicuik House painted in 1782 by the house-painter Thomas Bonnar, father of Thomas Bonnar I; design for Queen Victoria's Waiting Room at Paddington Station; design for the firm's contribution to the 1862 Exhibition; designs for decorations by the firm including: Lothian Road United Free Church, Edinburgh; Falkland Palace, 1895; St Bernard's Well, Edinburgh; surveys of early Scottish painted decorations including Mary of Guise's House, Edinburgh; Earlshall; Pinkie; and many modern designs in the same idiom, c.1845-1950. Also, and album of decorative details and source material including: photographs of early Scottish painted decoration (some from drawings by the firm); continental mural decoration; details from medieval illuminations; designs for unidentified ceilings, and a panel for Milton House School, Canongate, Edinburgh; a printed bookcover c1750; a Christmas card from Mr and Mrs Bonnar, and a photograph of his drawing room at 7 Ann Street, Edinburgh, c1880-1900.

Archive History Presented to the Scottish National Buildings Record by Mrs Bonnar, 1958. See correspondence in MS 68/3/9 between Mrs Bonnar and the Scottish National Buildings Record.

System of Arrangement The catalogue is arranged by county, then by unlocated or unexecuted designs. The catalogue includes reference to analogue and digital surrogate images.

Access Conditions There are no restrictions upon access.

Administrative History A prominent firm of interior decorators, Bonnar and Company were active c.1845-c.1960, particularly in Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife.

Finding Aids A handlist is available.

Accruals No further accruals are expected.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1176322

Collection Hierarchy - Collection Level

Collection Level (551 23) Records of Bonnar and Company, interior decorators, Edinburgh, Scotland

Preview Category Catalogue Number Title Date Level
All Other 551 23/10 Perthshire Group Level
All Other 551 23/2 Clackmannanshire Group Level
All Other 551 23/3 Edinburgh Group Level
All Other 551 23/4 East Lothian Group Level
All Other 551 23/5 Fife Group Level
All Other 551 23/6 Inverness-shire Group Level
All Other 551 23/7 Kincardineshire Group Level
All Other 551 23/1 Ayrshire Group Level
All Other 551 23/8 Midlothian (except Edinburgh) Group Level
All Other 551 23/9 Peebles-shire Group Level
All Other 551 23/11 Renfrewshire Group Level
All Other 551 23/12 West Lothian Group Level
All Other 551 23/13 Unlocated designs and drawings Group Level
All Other PA 231 PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM No 231 Bonnar & Co. Album. Collection of decorative designs c1875, copies and originals of early works by Thomas Bonnar and Christmas cards from Mr. and Mrs. Bonnar (possibly William Bonnar 1800-53, decorative artist and painter). Includes drawings and water-colours of “tempora decoration in black of a ceiling and wall in dining hall at Earlshall, Fife-shire” and of painted ceilings at Stobhall, Balbegno, Holyrood and elsewhere. There is a photograph of a room which may have been the same showroom as that shown in PA74. c. 1875 Batch Level

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