J. Winton Mackie

Mr. J. WINTON MACKIE, Marble Cutter, &c., Glasgow.

    If we call to mind the thousand-and-one articles comprised in the term “fancy goods”, we shall probably not be so surprised as we otherwise should, on discovering the multitudinous products of a “marble cutter”, as illustrated by a visit to the showrooms of Mr. J. Winton Mackie, of 123, West Regent Street, Glasgow, who established this business some years ago. This gentleman, with an experience of over thirty years in London and other parts of England, Glasgow, and the West of Scotland, has undoubtedly acquired an unrivalled practical knowledge of the business in which he is engaged.

    The business premises in West Regent Street comprise commodious and efficiently-appointed showrooms, &c., containing a most elaborate, extensive, and artistic display of sculptor work in busts, figures, pedestals, marble fonts and monumental work, marble and enamelled slate chimney-pieces, a large and varied selection of tiles of every description from the ordinary white glazed earthenware tile to the more elaborate hall tile, and art painted tiles of every description, for interior or exterior floor and wall decorations, and cabinet work, &c. These comprise the Mosaic, tesselated, and encaustic tiles for vestibule floors, special grooved floor tiles for ships’ galleys, lavatories, &c. ; glazed and enamelled tiles, porcelain and decorated Majolica tiles for the walls and windows of butcher, fish, dairy, and provision shops ; and the passages, staircases, entrance halls, and vestibules of private and public buildings ; also for bath rooms, hearths and fire places, furniture panelling, washstand backs, etc.

    A large assortment of grates (register), slow-combustion and other stoves, fenders, fire brasses, rests, &c., together with numerous plain and ornamental iron and bronze stands with marble tops, for dining rooms, restaurants, &c., are kept in stock. All the marble used is imported direct from the quarries at Carrara, Italy, Belgium, etc. A large quantity of all the ordinary kinds and most of the rarer specimens, some of which are very expensive, is always kept in stock. The showrooms contain the largest, most extensive, and most valuable display of marble and tile work in Scotland, and this, in conjunction with the artistic method of arrangement, makes the establishment one of the principal attractions of the neighbourhood. The works and stores are situated at 228 and 230, West George Street, where every description of marble masonry and the general work of the business is executed. A large and efficient staff of skilled workmen is constantly employed, and all orders are executed with dispatch and promptitude.

    Amongst the numerous important works executed by this firm in connection with the marble, tile, and mosaic works departments may be mentioned the following public buildings — the new Municipal Buildings, Greenock ; new northern district Court Houses and Police Buildings ; Mitchell Library ; Belvedere Hospital ; Royal Asylum, Gartnavel ; Woodilee Asylum, Lenzie ; Stirlingshire Asylum, Larbert ; the Crichton Royal Institution, Dumfries ; the Hillhead, Woolsley Street, Thomson
Street, Barrowfield, Washington Street, Hozier Street, and Townhead Public Schools ; Blair Lodge School, Polmont ; Technical School, Coatbridge ; the Burgh Academy and Knoxland School, Dumbarton ; Whiteinch Orphanage ; and other large Schools and Institutions in the city and district. Amongst the private mansions that have been fitted up with marble and tile work by Mr. Mackie may be mentioned those of Sir William Mackinnon, Bart., Kilmarie, Skye ; William Strang Steel, Esq., of Philliphaugh, Selkirkshire ; Duke of Hamilton, Brodick Castle ; AuldjoJamieson, Whitehouse, Lamlash ; and many others too numerous to mention.

    The skill and energy of Mr. Mackie are not only directed in the lines as above indicated, but he does also a large trade amongst the shipbuilders on the Clyde and elsewhere, in a special line of work, by decorating and lining the walls of the saloons, &c., of large passenger steamers with marbles of various colours, some of these being done in a very artistic manner, having panels of various descriptions with figures, fruit, and flowers cut out upon the face of the marble and inlaid and filled in with gold. Amongst many other vessels that have been treated in this style of decoration by Mr. Mackie may be mentioned the “Tuskar” and the “Arranmore”, for the Clyde Shipping Co., and the “Scott”, which is the latest and the largest steamer ever built by the Messrs. Denny, Dumbarton, and now in the Cape trade of the Union Line. In this connection it might be mentioned also that Mr. Mackie is at present executing a large order for the Messrs. Denny for another large vessel they are at present building. A part of the order is six full-size marble baths, hewn out of the solid block, and polished outside and inside — complete.

    As a manufacturer of general marble work, monuments, memorial tablets, etc., Mr. Mackie has acquired a wide reputation, his work entitling him to the credit of being an artist of a very high order and rank among the highest in the trade. He is also possessed of very valuable testimonials from leading architects in various parts of the country ; but, valuable as these are without doubt, Mr. Mackie may rest content to allow the articles of his manufacture to speak for his reputation, for his showrooms contain specimens which could only result from the highest possible attainment and the most thorough practical and theoretical skill. Mr. Mackie has acquired an extensive and valuable connection, and the extent of his trade affords him the enjoyment of an almost unlimited practice, of which he is not slow to take advantage. A distinct speciality of the house, and for which he is extensively patronised, is the fitting up and decorating of dairies, butchers’ and fishmongers’ shops, etc. For, admirably combining utility with artistic effect for beauty of arrangement and design, the work in this connection is unsurpassed. Many specimens of this branch of the business may be seen in Glasgow and, in fact, throughout the country. In this connection we would call special attention to the spacious shops of Messrs. J. & T. Sawers, the celebrated fishmongers ; the butchers’ shops of Mr. Young, Duke Street ; and Messrs. William Annacker, of sausage fame, &c., &c., their general effect forming a pleasurable contrast to the ordinary shop interior. A wide trade has already been developed in this direction, but the system is becoming still more widely renowned and extensively adopted, and it is yet doubtful whether ingenuity and enterprise are by any means exhausted in this direction.

    The maintenance of trade and of reputation with this house may, however, be safely trusted to the capable hands of the proprietor, Mr. J. Winton Mackie, whose far-seeing policy, whose tact and zeal, will always be exercised to enhance the beauties of his art, and whose general attributes and personal good qualities will ever endear him to a wide and still widening circle of friends.

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