Family tradition of craftsmanship

Furniture maker’s chair joins ancestor’s work at Blair Castle

A furniture maker has been following in the footsteps of his ancestors by creating unique pieces for a Perthshire castle.

Colin Stewart Sandeman, a retired civil engineer from Brechin, was invited to Blair 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 he presented the castle with a newly-crafted chair to sit 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 over 250 years ago.

“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,” he said.

“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 seat front and back, and the back made from hundreds of smaller broom pieces.

His chair now resides in its new home at the castle next to George’s fine work 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.”

Colin added: “I am delighted that a creation of mine has been included alongside some of the greatest furniture ever made in Scotland.”

I’m delighted that a creation of mine has been included alongside some of the greatest furniture ever made in Scotland. COLIN STEWART SANDEMAN

Colin Stewart Sandeman sitting on the chair he made at a bureau created by his great-great-great grandfather, George Sandeman.