Robert Carfrae
Robert Carfrae FSAScot (1820–1900) was Curator of the Museum of Antiquities of Scotland. He accumulated a large art and coin collection. By profession he was a furniture maker, having been involved in the firms Bonnar & Carfrae and Moxon & Co. A noted numismologist he left a huge collection of Greek coins.[1] He gives his name to the Carfrae Collection: a number of ancient Greek and Roman coins now held by the British Museum.[2]
Life[edit]
He was born on 1 April 1820 the son of Robert Carfrae a jeweller and silversmith living at 17 Union Place at the head of Leith Walk in Edinburgh.[3] The family were originally from East Lothian.[4]
In 1860 he was in partnership with Thomas Bonnar's company, together decorating many fine Edinburgh houses: Bonnar seems to be responsible for plasterwork; Carfrae for decorative ironwork, staircases, fireplaces etc. Larger commissions included the interiors of the Royal Scottish Academy and National Gallery of Scotland.[5]
From at least 1866 he was Curator of the Museum of Antiquities.[6]
In 1878 he is noted as acquiring 5 watercolours by William Blake.[7]
In 1884 he went into partnership with John Moxon of Edinburgh creating Moxon & Carfrae.[8][9]
In 1886 he was living at 3 Osborne Terrace, facing Donaldson's School.[10]
His huge coin collection was split during his final years: a large proportion was sold to Thomas Coats of Paisley; a second section was auctioned at Sotheby's; and a third section was donated to the National Museum of Antiquities.[11]
He died at Montrave, a villa in the Murrayfield area of West Edinburgh on 18 September 1900. He is buried in Dean Cemetery in the concealed lower terrace.[12]
Family[edit]
He was married to Alison Kinghorn (1833-1905) from Liverpool. Their children Katherine and Robert both died in July 1869.[13]
Their daughter Mary Carfrae lived 1865 to 1927. She married James Hume Notman (d.1934).[14] Alison Carfrae was born in 1876.[citation needed]
Artistic recognition[edit]
His portrait in stained glass by William Graham Boss forms one of the multiple portraits of committee members on the main stair of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.[15]
References[edit]
- ^ shop, VCoins, the online coin. "SOTHEBYS' 1894 SALE OF ROBERT CARFRAE COLLECTION OF GREEK COINS. PRICED & NAMED". www.vcoins.com. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Collections Online | British Museum". www.britishmuseum.org. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1820
- ^ "NPG 1872; Peter Mews - Portrait Extended - National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh - Joe Rock's Research Pages". Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries 1866
- ^ bq.blakearchive.org/pdfs/issues/7.1.pdf
- ^ Edinburgh Courant (newspaper) 25 February 1884
- ^ "Williamson's directory for the City of Edinburgh, Canongate, Leith, and suburbs, from the 25th May 1773, to 25th May 1774, being the first published. Reprinted in exact facsimile". 1889.
- ^ Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1886
- ^ "Sothebys' 1894 Sale of Robert Carfrae Collection of Greek Coins. Priced & Named".
- ^ "Robert Carfrae grave monument details at Dean 2e Cemetery, Edinburgh, Lothian,Scotland". www.gravestonephotos.com.
- ^ Grave of Robert Carfrae, Dean Cemetery
- ^ "Mary Carfrae grave monument details at Dean 2a Cemetery, Edinburgh, Lothian,Scotland". www.gravestonephotos.com.
- ^ Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries; 1990, p. 206