Review - Thomson Roddick & Medcalf Sale of Scottish Provincial Silver - The Finial, December/January/February 2003/04

Review - Thomson Roddick & Medcalf Sale
of Scottish Provincial Silver.
Edinburgh - 10th November 2003
Report by Mr M.

On an initial scan though the catalogue it appeared that this sale probably offered buyers one of the best selections of good Scottish Provincial flatware, particularly tablespoons, to come onto the market recently. The catalogue was greatly enhanced with a good number of the marks being illustrated. In the field of collecting Scottish Provincial silver the variation of marks that many silversmiths used is one of the interesting subjects.

There was more than the normal number of tablespoons on offer, with some rare and good quality marks. At the viewing it became apparent that this was possibly due to a single vendor providing a good offering, from a well put together collection, of rare and good quality tablespoons.

(Please note that the achieved price does not include the 17.625% buyers premium.)

Aberdeen

Lot	Achieved	Ł
301.	Alexander Thomson, c.1770 - a tablespoon, Hanoverian pattern, initialled IIR (three bottom A marks - AT script; ABDN script; A script). Ł70 - 100. ~ "A fair spoon with slight ware to the bowl and the ABDN mark being slightly worn".	110
302.	William Byres, c.1800 - a tablespoon, Old English pattern, initialled D (three marks - WE; ABD; Gothic Q). Ł50 - 80. ~ "A good spoon with reasonable marks including the uncommon 'Q' mark".	75


Lot 301	Lot 302


Lot 303	Lot 304

303.	James Wildgoose, c.1765 - a tablespoon, Hanoverian pattern with double-drop heel, initials AS above later initial F (two bottom marks - IW; ABD). Ł80 - 120. ~ "Another fair tablespoon with a slightly worn bowl, this one having a good set of marks".	130
304.	George Robertson, c.1725 - a tablespoon, Hanoverian pattern with unusual diamond-shaped drop heel, initialled CG over MS (three bottom marks - GR worn; ABD worn; GR). Ł150 - 200. ~ "If only this early Hanoverian pattern tablespoon had unworn marks".	150


Lot 305	Lot 306

305.	George Cooper, c.1745 - a tablespoon, Hanoverian pattern engraved with two later crests (three bottom marks - GC; three castles; gothic a). Ł100 - 150. ~ "This tablespoon had little ware to the bowl, but unfortunately the marks were again worn".	120
306.	James Begg or John Barron, c. 1820 - an Old I English teaspoon, initialled C (three marks - IB; sporran; dog). Ł40 - 60.	48
307.	James Erskine, c.1810 - a teaspoon, long oar pattern (two marks - E; three castles). Ł25 - 35.	25
308.	Alexander Grant, c.1830 - a fiddle pattern teaspoon, initialled GIS (three marks - AG; thistle; ~ AG). Ł25 - 35.	38


Lot 309	Lot 311

309.	David Pirie, c.1825 - a fiddle pattern teaspoon with chamfered-edge stem, initialled B also GAC (two marks - DP; ABD). Ł35 - 50.	40
310.	George Booth, c.1820 - a pair of fiddle pattern mustard spoons with gilded bowls, initialled C (two marks - GB; ABD). Ł50 - 80.	50
311.	James Erskine, c.1800 - a tablespoon, Old English pattern, initialled S (three marks - E; three castles; hand with dagger). Ł45 - 60.	85
312.	Peter Lambert, 1818 - a toddy ladle, fiddle pattern, initialled A (five marks - PL; and four Edinburgh marks). Ł70 - 80.	95
313.	George Sangster, 1852 - two fiddle pattern teaspoons, initialled DIG (eight marks - GS; A; B; D; and four Edinburgh marks). Ł20 - 25.	20
314.	George Booth, c.1820 - a wine label, cut-cornered rectangular, inscribed MADEIRA (five mis-struck marks - GB; A; B; D; N). Ł100 - 150.	170
315.	George Sangster, 1861 - a sugar or preserve spoon, fiddle pattern (eight marks; GS; A; B; D; and four Edinburgh marks). Ł50 - 60.	60
316.	Rettie & Son, 1840 - a fiddle pattern dessert spoon (eight marks - R & S; A; B; D; and four Edinburgh marks); a similar dessert spoon by George Jamieson with London marks for 1842; a teaspoon by George Jamieson and another by William George Jamieson with London marks; and an Old English teaspoon by James Erskine. Ł40 - 60.	32
317.	Unknown, 1861 - a double-struck Queen's pattern teaspoon (ABDN; & four Lon. marks). Ł10-20.	10
318.	William Jamieson, c.1810 - a pair of dessert spoons, Old English pattern, engraved with three sets of initials (two marks - WJ; ABD). Ł30 - 40.	48
319.	William Dunningham & Co - a horn salad spoon with silver mounts and a citrine coloured glass thistle finial, unmarked but with original label 'Real Scotch Horn, WD & Co, ABDN'. Ł40 - 50.	N/S
320.	John Ewan, c.1805 - three Old English pattern mustard spoons with oval bowls, initialled (maker's mark - JoE only). Ł40 - 60.	40
321.	George Sangster, 1867 - a fiddle pattern teaspoon (eight marks - GS; A; B; D; and four Edinburgh marks); and another similar, by the same, 1851. Ł30 - 40.	N/S
322.	Alexander Mollison, c. 1845 - a fiddle pattern teaspoon (three marks - AM struck thrice); and another initialled P (four marks - AM; A; B; D). Ł50 - 60.	N/S
323.	Peter Gill & Son, c. 1825 - a fiddle pattern teaspoon, initialled WM over P (six marks - PG; &; SON; A; B; D). Ł20 - 30.	22
324.	George Sangster, 1864 - a fiddle pattern teaspoon, initialled T (eight marks - GS; A; B; D; and four Edinburgh marks), another, similar, by the same, 1867, another, similar by William Jamieson, with Edinburgh marks, 1838. Ł45 - 55.	45
325.	William Jamieson, c. 1815 - an Old English pattern teaspoon (two marks - WJ; ABD); and a double-struck King's pattern teaspoon by George Jamieson, with London marks for 1861. Ł35 - 40.	N/S
326.	William Jamieson, 1839 - a sugar or preserve spoon, fiddle pattern, initialled M (six marks - WJ; four Edinburgh marks; ABDN). Ł40 - 60.	38
327.	William Jamieson, c.1810 - a teaspoon, O.E pattern, initialled M (maker's mark WJ only). Ł10 - 15.	12
328.	Nathaniel Gillet, c. 1790 - two teaspoons, Old English pattern, initialled RC over IR (maker's mark NG only). Ł15 - 20.	20
329.	Nathaniel Gillet, c.1800 - a fine silver soup ladle, Old English pattern with drop heel, initialled 11M (two marks - NG; AED). Ł200 - 300. ~ "A fine quality soup ladle with good marks".	230

Arbroath

330.	Andrew Davidson, c.1830 - a teaspoon, fiddle pattern, initialled MG (five marks - AD; plant; portcullis; plant; plant). Ł80 - 120.	80
331.	Andrew Davidson, c.1830 - a rare soup lade, fiddle pattern, of heavy gauge (five marks - AD; plant thrice; portcullis). Ł600 - 800. ~ "With this soup ladle having poorly struck marks, a slightly scratched and pitted bowl, I felt that it had an over optimistic estimate. Therefore it did not surprise when it was bought in at Ł440".	N/S
332.	Andrew Davidson, c.1830 - a teaspoon, oar pattern, initialled ACE (maker's mark AD struck thrice). Ł25 - 40.	20
333.	Andrew Davidson, c.1835 - a fiddle pattern toddy ladle, initialled W (four marks - AD; plant; plant; portcullis) (tiny crack at junction of stem and bowl). Ł60 - 80.	90

Ballater

334.

William Robb, 1926 - a silver souvenir spoon with twisted stem and finial set with a faceted citrine (five marks - WR; ELTR; and three Edinburgh marks). Ł60 - 80. ~ "At over twice top estimate, this I felt was an excellent price for a 'Robb' souvenir spoon that did not have a 'Balmoral' connection".

170

Banff

335.	George Elder, c.1820 - a tablespoon, fiddle pattern (three marks - GE script; thistle, B). Ł80-120. ~ "A fine tablespoon with a very good set of marks. However an inscription may have been erased".	190
336.	John Keith, c.1795 - a tablespoon, Old English pattern, initialled AM (four marks - R; IK; salmon; B). Ł150 - 200. ~ "Another fine spoon with the marks having little ware".	200


Lot 335	Lot 336	Lot 337

337.	Alexander Shirras, c.1755 - a fine & extremely rare tablespoon of heavy gauge, betrothal initials G.MG (4 bottom marks - AS; BANF; AS; hieroglyphic S). This is one of the finest examples of this rare set of marks by the highly regarded Shirras to come to the market in recent years. Ł300-500. ~ "Possibly the best spoon in the sale! That is what I noted at the viewing. It was indeed a fine and rare tablespoon with as good a set of marks as one could hope for. At least two people probably agreed that it was the best spoon in the sale as they chased the hammer price up to Ł3100".	3,100
338.	David Izat, c.1795 - unusual salt spoon of O.E pointed-end pattern (maker's mark DI, only) Ł30-50.	32
339.	William Simpson I, c.1830 - a dessert spoon, fiddle pattern (four marks - WS; e; thistle; B). Ł60-80.	90
340.	John Keith, c.1795 - a pair of sugar tongs, \ bright-cut Old English pattern, initialled McL (four marks - 'ribboned' B; IK; head?; 'ribboned' B). Ł100 - 150. ~ "Sugar Tongs have not been in as much demand recently. This pair were in good condition and obviously bucked the trend".	170
341.	John Keith, c.1820 - a masking spoon, fiddle pattern with narrow stem, initialled S (four marks - IK; salmon; R; B). Ł100 - 150.	160
342.	George Elder, c.1820 - a teaspoon, fiddle pattern, initialled JMB (three marks - GE script; mother and child; script B). Ł50 - 80.	60
343.	Alexander Johnston, c.1800 - a rare dessert spoon, narrow Old English pattern, initialled JB (three marks - B; AJ; B). Ł80 - 120.	100
344.	William Simpson, c.1830 - a sugar or preserve spoon, fiddle pattern, initialled G (three marks - WS; thistle; B). Ł150 - 200.	160
345.	George Elder, c.1820 - a fine large toddy ladle, fiddle pattern with chamfered edges, initialled T (three marks - GE script; mother and child, script B). Ł300 - 500. ~ "A toddy ladle in very good overall condition".	460
346.	John Keith, c.1800 - Old English pattern teaspoon, initialled ARI (three marks - M;IK; B). Ł40-50.	N/S
347.	David Izat, c.1795 - an Old English pattern dessert spoon, initialled WIL (maker's mark DI only). Ł30 - 40.	30
348.	William Byres, c.1785 - a Hanoverian pattern teaspoon, initialled W over AW (bottom-struck ma- ker's mark WB only). Ł30 - 40.	30


Lot 345	Lot 349

Canongate

349.	William Craw, c.1765 - a rare tablespoon, broad Hanoverian pattern, initialled N (three bottom marks - WC, stylised thistle head; WC). Ł500 - 800. ~ "A fair tablespoon with slight ware to the bowl".	600
350.	William Craw, c.1770 - a rare tablespoon, broad Old English pattern, initialled H (four bottom marks - WC twice, stylised thistle head twice). Ł 400 - 600. ~ "This spoon was 'marked higher' than the previous lot. On first inspection it appeared to be in superior overall condition with a better set of marks. However, on a closer inspection it was apparent that there had been an old repair near the join of the stem and the bowl. Hence the lower hammer price".	420
351.	Unknown, c.1705 (possibly Canongate) - an unusual set of six wavy-end or 'dog-nose' spoons with rat-tail bowls (worn), engraved with contemporary script initials IFS and dated 1705. Four marks - mostly worn and illegible, though it is possible to discern on some spoons, the first maker's initials - script D - possibly that of David Dunlop of Canongate, which would fit in with the 1705 date. Ł400 - 600. ~ "There was some debate as to whether these were Canongate spoons. With very badly worn marks and equally badly worn bowls I would suggest that they could be regarded as a very speculative lot".	400
351A.	William Craw, c.1770 - a rare teaspoon, Scots fiddle pattern (maker's mark - WC only) (slight dinks to bowl require debruising). For maker's mark see first and second spoons in Canongate section. Ł100 - 150. ~ "An excellent price for a spoon with makers mark only and being in no more than average condition".	170


Lot 350	Lot 352	Lot 353

Castle Douglas

352.

Adam Burgess, c.1835 (probably Castle Douglas) - a tablespoon, fiddle pattern, initialled L (five marks - AB; ruined castle; thistle; gothic D; tree). Ł80 - 120. ~ "A good spoon with near unused condition bowl with only slight ware to one of the marks".

170

Cupar

353.

Robert Robertson, c. 1830 - a rare teaspoon of large fiddle pattern (four marks - RR; fleur-de-lys twice; R). Ł200 - 300. ~ "Even with a thin and slightly crushed bowl and possibly having an inscription erased this teaspoon rose to well above top estimate".

460

Coninued overleaf...

.33. / .34. / .35. The Finial, December/January/February 2003/04