Stained glass of Robert Carfrae in Scottish National Portrait Gallery
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
The grave of Robert Carfrae, Dean Cemetery
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]
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
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]
