Review - Thomson Roddick & Medcalf Sale, 29th October 2002 - The Finial, February/March 2003

Review - Thomson Roddick & Medcalf Sale
29th October 2002, Edinburgh.
Report by Mr M.

In the conclusion of my report of the Bonhams Scottish sale last August I stated - 'A lot has happened, outwith (not as printed - with) the antique trade, over the past year since last years sale. These events must surely have had an effect on the market'.

This effect now seems to be ongoing as there was a distinct feeling that the market in Scottish Provincial silver has possibly reached a point of 'stagnation'. The trade and private buyers appeared not to be buying at the level of only a couple of years ago.

It would appear that of the 'provincial' items on offer, not including Edinburgh or Glasgow, approximately 40% did not sell. Even some rare and good quality items from Forres and Tain not finding buyers.

With apparently a lack of new collectors and possibly the trade being 'stocked up' at the moment, the buying pattern may have been to fill gaps in a collection or trade stock.

Please not that the achieved price does not include the 15% buyers premium.

Aberdeen

Lot	Achieved	Ł
201.	William Jamieson & Co., c.1810 - a tablespoon, Old English pattern, initialled RMF (three marks - WJ&Co; gothic-letter ?; ABD). Ł50 - 80.	48
202.	James Gordon, c.1770 - a tablespoon, Hanoverian pattern with double-drop heel, initialled M (three bottom marks - IG; ABD; three castles) Ł80 -120.	100
203.	Robert Cruickshank, c.1705 - a rare Queen Anne three-prong table fork, Hanoverian pattern, engraved with a bird crest (three marks -AB; RC; date letter C?) - prongs partly worn Ł300-500. "This was indeed a rare item. As so often is the case with a fork the tines were worn which possibly suppressed the price to just above the bottom estimate."	320
204.	Alexander Mollison, c. 1845 - a sugar or preserve spoon, fiddle pattern, initialled IMS (four marks - AM; A; B; D) Ł40 - 60.	55
205.	James Erskine, c.1795 - a set of six teaspoons, Old English pointed- end pattern, initialled WS, maker's mark JE only. Ł80 - 120.	N/S
206.	James Pirie, c. 1820 - a dessert spoon, fiddle pattern, initialled P (three marks - JP; ABD; JP) Ł60 - 70.	N/S
207.	John Leslie, c. 1780 - a berry spoon, formed from an Old English pattern table spoon with later chased stem and embossed and gilded bowl (three marks - IL; thistle - incuse; gothic letter) Ł180 - 200.	N/S
208.	Peter Lambert, c. 1810 - a masking spoon, Old English pattern (three marks - thistle; PL; thistle); and a similar teaspoon by the same maker. Ł70 - 90.	N/S
209.	William Jamieson, c. 1830 - a teaspoon, fiddle pattern, initialled AW (two marks - WJ; ABD); and two fiddle pattern teaspoons by George Sangster with Edinburgh marks for 1847 and 1867; and another teaspoon, Old English pattern, by William George Jamieson, with London hallmarks for 188. (4) Ł90 -120.	N/S
210.	John Leslie (possibly), 1800 - a set of four pointed-end dessert spoons, initialled REH and numbered (five marks - IL and four Edinburgh marks). Ł80 -100.	80
211.	Alexander Mollision, C. 1845 - a large toddy ladle, fiddle pattern with oval bowl (five marks - AM twice; A; B; D). Ł140 - 160.	N/S
212.	William George Jamieson, 1880 - a set of large tablespoons and six matching table forks, Old English pattern, engraved with demi-lion rampant crest and initials IMBC (six marks - WGJ overstriking another; four London marks; ABDN). (12) Ł400 - 600.	N/S
213.	Nathaniel Gillet, c. 1800 - a soup ladle, Old English pattern, initialled M (four marks - potted flower; NG; mallet; potted flower). Ł350 - 500. "First impression was that this was an excellent ladle. However, on very close inspection, in good light, there was a small split at the edge of the bowl, which had been 'professionally' repaired. This no doubt being the reason that it was 'bought in' at Ł340".	N/S
214.	George & Alexander Booth, c. 1825 - a large fiddle pattern toddy ladle with chamfered edges, initialled P (three marks - GB; ABD; AB). Ł120 -160.	N/S
215.	Nathaniel Gillet, c. 1795 - an Old English dessert spoon with bright-cut engraved decoration (three marks - reversed parallel commas; NG; mallet). Ł60 - 80.	95
217.	George Jamieson, 1854 - two large tablespoons, fiddle pattern, initialled IW (six marks - GJ; four London marks; ABDN). Ł40 - 60.	42
218.	George Booth, c. 1820 - a silver table service, of Onslow pattern, comprising: six tablespoons, six table forks, six dessert spoons (five marks - GB; A; B: D; N) and nine dessert forks of matching pattern by John Round, Sheffield 1901; and nine matching teaspoons by George Jamieson, with London marks for 1855, weight 63oz.Ł2,000 - 3,000	N/S
219.	Peter Ross, c. 1820 - a tea- spoon, fiddle pattern, initialled DS (three marks - A; PR; A). Ł30 - 50.	30
220.	Nathaniel Gillet, c. 1800 - a fine silver soup ladle, Old English pattern with drop heel, initialled IIM (two marks - NG; ABD). Ł400-500	N/S
221.	James Erskine, c. 1815 - three large tablespoons of heavy gauge, fiddle pattern with chamfered edges, initialled MDM (four marks - hand with dagger; E twice; three castles) Ł200 - 300.	200

Arbroath

222.	William Whitecross, c. 1830 - a fine soup ladle, fiddle pattern with oval bowl, initialled S (five marks - WW; A; B; D; N). Ł400-600. "This ladle was in a very good clean condition".	420
223.	Andrew Davidson, c. 1835 - an egg spoon, Old English pattern, the oval bowl with traces of gilding (four marks - plant; portcullis; plant; AD). Ł100 -150. "One does not often come across an Arbroath egg spoon. It was in good overall condition but unfortunately it appeared that an inscription had been erased. This did not however deter an over estimate hammer price."	160
224.	Andrew Davidson, c. 1830 - a set of five teaspoons and a matching sugar or preserve spoon, oar pattern, initialled ACB (three marks - maker's mark AD struck thrice). Ł150 - 200.	N/S
225.	GR? (possibly George Ritchie of Arbroath), c. 1830 - three teaspoons, Queen's pattern, initialled C (three marks - GR thrice, double punched and overstruck). Ł30-35.	N/S
226.	Andrew Davidson (possibly), 1838 - a set of five large table forks, single struck King's pattern, initialled S (five marks - AD and four Edinburgh marks). Ł100 - 120.	140
227.	Andrew Davidson (possibly), 1842 - a fiddle pattern teaspoon (five marks - AD and four Edinburgh marks). Ł35 - 40.	N/S
228.	Andrew Davidson, c. 1830 - a toddy ladle, Old English pattern, with chased scallop-shaped bowl, inscribed "Annie" (four marks - portcullis, plant twice; AD) Ł150-200.	160

Banff

230.	George Elder, c. 1820 - a tablespoon, fiddle pattern, initialled GIW, (four marks - GE twice; vase twice) (tiny crack to bowl) Ł50 - 80.	75
231.	George Elder, c. 1820 - a toddy ladle of distinctive short fiddle pattern with oval bowl and chamfered edge, initialled a (three marks - GE script; mother and child; script B) Ł500-700. "This was a top condition toddy ladle with the bowl having very little sign of ware. However it did not sell being bought in at Ł420. This possibly being because of an over optimistic estimate of Ł500 - Ł700."	N/S
232.	George Elder - a teaspoon, Old English pattern, initialled R (three marks - GE script; mother and child; script B) Ł100 -150.	100
233.	John Keith, c. 1800 - four teaspoons, Old English pattern (three marks - B; IK; H) (one bowl split, the others thin) Ł50 - 70.	60
234.	John Keith (possibly),c.1800 - an unusual small silver oblong vinaigrette, the hinged cover set with a rust coloured banded agate panel, the gilt interior with hinged grille pierced and engraved with a winged angel and foliage, struck to inside of base with maker's mark IK?, 2.8cm wide. The second letter of the maker's mark is slightly poorly struck. Ł200-300.	380
235.	George Elder, c. 1820 - a tea- spoon of broad Old English pattern, initialled AIC (three marks - GE script; Mother and Child; script B) Ł100 -150.	120
236.	George Elder, c. 1820 - a teaspoon ensuite with the preceding. Ł100 -150.	100
237.	John Keith, c. 1800 - an attractive dessert spoon, Old English pattern with small ovoid bowl, initialled IMR (three marks - IK; B; H). Ł50 - 70	85
238.	David Izat (possibly Aberdeen), Co 1795 - a set of four Celtic-point teaspoons, with pointed drop heels engraved with betrothal initials AP over MH (maker's mark DI only) Ł60 - 80.	70
239.	John Keith,c.1815-afineand rare silver punch ladle with "whale-bone" (baleen) part-spiral stem with urn finial, the front and reverse of the lower stem with unusual elongated silver "sleeves" to reinforce the sturdiness of the stem, with a reverse scroll junction and a flourish of reeded scrolls to the heel, the circular bowl inset with a Spanish coin dated 1812 and with milled edge, initialled GMC (maker's mark IK only) Ł400-600. There was a lot of interest in this punch ladle. "The silver 'sleeves' were a feature that no one I spoke to had seen before. It was even suggested that it did not have a provincial feel about it. Even with these questions over this item it went for a mid estimate price".	520

Canongate

240.

Maker Unknown, Canongate, Co 1740 - a tablespoon, Hanoverian rat-tail pattern with engraved crest (four bottom marks - only one mark discernible, stag's head - partly rubbed). Ł100 - 200.

120

Cupar

241.	Robert Robertston, c. 1825 - a fine and rare teaspoon, fiddle pat- tern (four marks - RR; fleur-de-Iys; thistle; R). This combinantion of four marks is seldom seen together struck on one spoon. Ł500 - 700. "Lot 241 & 242 - The first of these teaspoons was the better of the two this showing in the prices attained. However it did appear to me that an inscription may have been erased from them both".	520
242.	Robert Robertson, c. 1825 - a fine and rare teaspoon ensuite with the preceding. Ł400-600.	480
243.	Robert Robertson, c. 1825 - a rare tablespoon, Old English pattern with traces of an engraved initial (five marks - RR twice; D; fleur-de-Iys; thistle). Ł800 - 1,200. "The reason that this rare tablespoon did not sell was possibly because there was a slight repair and an inscription having been removed. It was bought in at Ł750".	N/S

Dumfries

244.	David Gray, c. 1820 - a soup ladle, fiddle pattern with circular bowl (three marks - fouled anchor; DG; stag's head). Ł400-600.	N/S
245.	Joseph Pearson, c. 1810 - a teaspoon, Old English pattern with pointed bowl (three marks - anchor; IP; wheatsheaf). Ł60 - 80.	80
246.	Joseph Pearson, c. 1810 - a teaspoon ensuite with the preceding. Ł60 - 80.	N/S
247.	Joseph Walker Hinchliffe, 1830 - a table fork, single struck King's pattern (five marks - HINCH over LIFFE, incuse: and four Glasgow marks). Ł60 - 80.	60
248.	David Gray, c. 1820 - a fiddle pattern tablespoon, initialled H (five marks - fouled anchor; G; unicorn; fouled anchor; DG). Ł90 - 120.	N/S

Dundee

249.	Alexander Cameron, c. 1820 - a set of six large tablespoons, fiddle pattern, initialled C (maker's mark - AC struck thrice) (some makers marks partly obscured) Ł300 - 350.	N/S
250.	Alexander Cameron, 1831 - a table fork, fiddle pattern, initialled M (six marks -CAM over ERON; four Newcastle marks; DUN over DEE). Ł60 - 80.	N/S
251.	William Constable (possibly), 1807, and Thomas Shannon - a matched set of six dessert spoons, oar pattern with pointed bowls, initialled L, (one spoon - TS; pot of lilies twice; thistle) (five spoons - WC; Z; and four Edinburgh marks for 1807). Ł80 -120.	95
252.	James Douglas, c.1795 - a fine set of six pointed-end teaspoons (three marks - ill; shield?; crowned heart). Ł150 - 200.	150
253.	William Scott, c. 1785 - a cream ladle, Old English pattern (four marks - WS; pot of lilies; WS; script M). Ł200 - 220.	N/S
254.	William Scott, c. 1785 - a teaspoon, feather-edge pattern, initialled B and numbered 10 (two marks - WS; pot of lilies). Ł65 - 85.	N/S
255.	Alexander Cameron, 1828 - a fiddle pattern fish slice, of heavy gauge with pierced shaped blade (six marks - CAM over ERON; four Edinburgh marks; DUN over DEE). Ł350 - 500.	350
256.	AlexanderCameron,1831 - a soup ladle, fiddle pattern, of similar gauge to the preceding (six marks - CAM over ERON; four Edinburgh marks; DUN over DEE). Ł350-450.	N/S
257.	Alexander Cameron, 1832 - a pair of large fiddle pattern toddy ladles (six marks - CAM over ERON; four Edinburgh marks; DUN over DEE). Ł150 - 200.	180
258.	Alexander Cameron, 1832 - a pair of toddy ladles en suite with the preceding. Ł150 - 200.	160
259.	Alexander Cameron, 1832 - a set of twelve fiddle pattern table- spoons ensuite with the preceding lot. Ł400 - 500.	N/S
260.	Alexander Cameron, J831- a set of twelve dessert spoons ensuite with the preceding. Ł400-500.	N/S
261.	William Constable, c. 1820 - a teaspoon, fiddle pattern, the heel numbered 4 (four marks - pot of lilies thrice; WC). Ł30 - 50	30
262.	William Constable, c. 1820 - a teaspoon ensuite with the pre- ceding, the heel numbered 8. Ł30-50.	N/S
263.	William Constable, c. 1820 - a teaspoon similar to the preceding, the heel numbered 12Ł30-50.	N/S

.25. / .26. / .27.

The Finial, February/March 2003