Review - Bonhams Scotland 'The Scottish Sale'
Edinburgh 21st- 23rd August 2003.

(Continued from previous pages)


Banff
All the items of Banff silver sold well, a number on which I will comment.

Lot 132 Lot 133
LotAchieved£
132.A set of six Dessert Spoons, of Old English pattern, engraved initial by John Keith of Banff, circa 1800, four marks, fish, IK, R, B. £1000 - 1500.1,000
133.A Tablespoon, of Old English pattern, engraved initials by John McQueen of Banff, circa 1825, four marks, B, A, thistle, McQ. £350 - 400.N/S
134.A set of Tablespoons, of Old English pattern, engraved initial, by William Byres of Banff, circa 1800, three marks WB, ABD, scroll. £300 - 400.300

Lot 132 Lot 133
135.A Toddy ladle, of oar-end pattern, by John McQueen of Banff, circa 1830, four marks, B, A, thistle, McQ. £150 - 200. "This Toddy Ladle had an unusually long Oar-End.. The oar was 45% of the overall length of the stem/handle. For this reason and its condition pushed it to a premium price".260
136.A Toddy ladle, of fiddle pattern, with ovoid bowl, by George Elder of Banff, three marks, GE, mother and child, B. £200 - 300. 300
137.A Sifter Spoon, of Old English pattern, with foliate bowl by John Keith of Banff, three marks, IK, F, third mark. £150 - 200.220

Lot 138

138.A Masking Spoon, with twist stem, engraved W.I.D, by John Argo of Banff, circa 1800, £250 - 350. "A nice masking spoon of a typical pattern from the North East of Scotland. These type of spoons often have a worn bowl, but this example was in good condition".550
139.A silver Fish Slice, the shaped oval blade with central pierced 'ladder' with foliate terminals, with stained reeded wooden handle, by John Keith of Banff, circa 1810, three marks IK, B, H. £700 - 900. "A good fish slice with a wider than normal slice that was unusually pierced with what was described as a 'ladder', being enhanced with foliate engraving. Overall a rare item with slightly worn marks".950
140.A Teaspoon, of Old English pattern, by John Keith of Banff, circa 1800, three marks, G, IK, third mark. £80 - 120.100
141.A Tablespoon, of Old English pattern, engraved initials, by John Keith of Banff, three marks, IK, Banf, scroll; and a dessert spoon, by John Keith of Banff, three marks, *,IK,*. £200 - 250.240
142.A Basting Spoon, now adapted to a serving spoon, by William Byres of Banff, three marks, WB twice, Banff. £200 - 300.180

Dundee
The few items of flatware from Dundee I felt did not 'excite', with only Lot 144 a Cameron Basting spoon rising much in excess of its top estimate.

Lot 145 Lot 150

144.A Basting Spoon, of fiddle pattern, with engraved initial, by Alexr. Cameron of Dundee, circa 1830, five marks, Dundee, pot'o'lilies thrice, Cameron. £100-150.200
145.A Fish Slice, of fiddle pattern, with engraved initials, the blade pierced and chased with a fish amidst a floral and foliate border, by Austen of Dundee, circa 1830, five marks, Austen, pot'o'lilies thrice, Dundee. £300 - 500.480
146.A Tablespoon, of fiddle pattern, engraved initial, by Cameron of Dundee, circa 1825, five marks, Cameron, C, thistle, pot'o'lilies, Dundee. £200 - 300.N/S
147.A set of six tablespoons, fiddle pattern with engraved initial, by Cameron of Dundee, five marks, Cameron, C, thistle, polo'lilies, Dundee. £300-400.280
148.A George III Soup Ladle, of feather-edge old English pattern, crested, by W. Scott of Dundee, four marks, WS twice, pot'o'lilies, M. £400 - 600.400
149.A George IV Toddy Ladle, of fiddle pattern, by William Young of Dundee, circa 1820.£100-150.160
150.A pair of Toddy Ladles, of fiddle pattern, with engraved initials, by Edward Livingston of Dundee, three marks, EL, pot'o'lillies, D. £200 - 300.280

Dumfries
Of the four items of Dumfries silver the one lot that raced away to a large premium was lot 151 a pair of wine labels by David Gray. Although being slightly worn and having similarly rated marks they were rare, the hammer falling at a price of over triple top estimate of £650.

Lot 151Lot 152Lot 153

151.A pair of wine labels, by David Gray of Dumfries, circa 1820, four marks, DG, unicorn, fouled anchor, G. £150 - 200.650
152.A pair of Tablespoons, of fiddle pattern, engraved initial, by David Gray of Dumfries, circa 1820, three marks, unicorn, DG, fouled anchor. £150 - 200.180
153.A George IV Toddy Ladle, of fiddle pattern, by Mark Hinchsliffe of Dumfries, circa 1820. £100-150.190
154.A pair of Sugar Tongs, engraved with initials within a foliate cartouche, and with shell bowls, by Alexander Cunningham of Dumfries, circa 1800, three marks, AC, unicorn, fouled anchor. £150-200.180

Elgin
Of the three items on offer only one sold on the day. Again wine labels, this time a set of five by William Ferguson possibly as retailer. At £1,350 a slight premium above top estimate.

155.A pair of Toddy Ladles, with circular bowls and part twist baleen handles, with makers mark of WF, for William Ferguson of Elgin. £600-800.N/S
156.A set of five Wine Labels, of escutcheon form stamped with shells and foliate borders, engraved for Brandy, Whisky, Port, Sherry and Madera, with William Ferguson of Elgin's mark, possibly as a retailer. £800-1200.1,350

Fochabers
158.A rare Teaspoon, of fiddle pattern, by J. Mclver of Fochabers, circa 1830. £300 - 400."With a thin and possibly slightly reshaped bowl and a worn Fochabers mark, I was surprised that this teaspoon rose to an above estimate price".460

Forres
Lot 159

159.A Tablespoon, of fiddle pattern, engraved initials by Patrick Riach of Forres, three marks, IPR, tower twice. £600 - 800. "A good crisp teaspoon with excellent marks commanding a more than twice top estimate hammer price".1,650

Greenock
Lot 160Lot 161Lot 164

160.A Toddy Ladle, of Old English pattern, engraved initial, makers mark of AC, Greenock, three marks, AC, tree, fouled anchor. £100-150.170
161.A pair of Toddy Ladles, of fiddle pattern, engraved initials, by Thomas Davie of Greenock, circa 1825, four marks, TD, fouled anchor, C, tree. £300 - 400.260
162.A Soup Ladle, of Old English pattern, with engraved foliate initials, by John Heron of Greenock, circa 1800, five marks, JH, fouled anchor, ship, C, tree £250 - 300.260
163.A pair of Toddy Ladles, with twist stems, by Thomas Davie of Greenock, circa 1805. £200 - 300. "A good pair of Old English pattern Toddy Ladles with nicely twisted stems and the bowls having slightly 'lipped' rims. The only negative being that an inscription had possibly been removed".480
164.A pair of Basting Spoons, of Old English pattern, by WC of Greenock, five marks, WC, fouled anchor, ship, C, Oak. £500 - 800. "These Basting Spoons had good bowls but the marks were slightly worn and had an inscription erased".520

Inverness
Lot 165Lot 166Lot 168

165.A pair of Basting Spoons, of fiddle pattern, with engraved initials, by Jameson & Naughton of Inverness, circa 1820, three marks, J&N, INS, cornucopia. £800 - 1200. "A fine clean pair of Basting spoons. Selling at slightly below estimate, possibly indicating an over optimistic estimate".720
166.A Toddy Ladle, of fiddle pattern, engraved initials, by A MacLeod of Inverness, circa 1830, three marks, AML, INS, thistle. £150 - 200. "This Toddy ladle was another item in good overall condition having crisp marks".190
168.A Sauce Ladle, of fiddle pattern, with makers mark of DF only, struck twice, possibly for Donald Fraser, of Inverness. £400 - 600.N/S

Montrose
Lot 169Lot 170
169.A pair of Dessert Spoons, of Old English pattern, engraved foliate initial, by Peter Lambert of Montrose, circa 1835, four marks, pot'o'lilies twice, thistle, PL. £150 - 200. "These Dessert spoons were in fair condition having good marks".200
170.Five Teaspoons, of Old English pattern, by Benjamin Lumsden of Montrose, three marks, BL, two other marks. £100-150. "An unusual set of marks asked the question as to whether these spoons came from Montrose. I will leave it to members to make judgement on this".160

Perth
172.A Punch Ladle, with oval bowl, (later replacement handle), By Robert Keay of Perth, circa 1840, three marks, RK twice, double headed eagle. £200 - 300.200
173.A pair of Gravy Spoons, of pointed-end old English pattern, with engraved initial by William Ritchie of Perth, circa 1798, four marks, double headed eagle twice, WR twice. £300 - 500.420
174.A set of six Tablespoons, of fiddle pattern, with crest and motto for Denny or Judd, by Robert Keay of Perth, circa 1840, five marks, RK thrice, double headed eagle twice. £400 - 600.350
175.A set of six Teaspoons, of fiddle pattern, by Charles Murray of Perth, circa 1820, four marks, CM twice, double headed eagle twice. £100 -150.180
176.A Punch Ladle, with circular bowl engraved with initial, replacement handle, makers mark of Robert McGregor of Perth. £80-100.70
177.A pair of Basting Spoons, of fiddle pattern, crested, by William Ritchie of Perth, five marks, WR thrice, double headed eagle twice. £250-300. "This pair of Basting Spoons rose to well above top estimate. They were in fair condition having a long fiddle but unfortunately some denting to the bowls".420

Lot 178Lot 179

178.A Soup Ladle, of fiddle pattern, by R&R Keay of Perth, circa 1830, four marks, R&RK twice, double headed eagle twice. £300 - 500. "A good quality soup ladle which may have had an inscription erased".360
179.A pair of Spoons, of Hanoverian pattern, with late adapted bowls, by James Cornfute of Perth, circa 1775, four marks, IC twice, double headed eagle twice. £250 - 300.220


Lot 180

180.A pair of Tablespoons, of Hanoverian pattern, with engraved monogram, four marks, double headed eagle twice, JC script twice. £250-300. "This pair of Tablespoons were in near unused condition with a crisp monogram and the bowls with no apparent ware".300
181.A Soup Ladle, of Old English pattern, by William Ritchie of Perth, four marks, WR twice, double headed eagle twice. £400 - 600.360
182.A Punch Ladle, the circular bowl with engraved initials, part twist baleen handle, makers mark indistinct possibly JS, four marks, JS, JS, double headed eagle twice. £200 - 300. "Another fair Soup Ladle, again having had an inscription removed".180
183.Nine Tablespoons, of fiddle pattern, with engraved crest, by Robert Keay of Perth, five marks, RK thrice, double headed eagle twice; and a sauce ladle by Charles Murray;£300 - 500.400
184.A Toddy Ladle, of fiddle pattern, by Robert Keayof Perth, three marks, RK twice, double headed eagle; and a teaspoon by William Ritchie, three marks WR, double headed eagle twice. £60 - 80.110

Tain
The two items of Tain silver on offer were in reasonable condition. The second lot rising to above top estimate possibly because of the 'Sunburst' mark.

Lot 185Lot 186
185.A Teaspoon, of fiddle pattern, engraved initial, by Richard Wilkie of Tain, circa 1835, three marks, RW, Tain, thistle. £500 - 700.580
186.A Tablespoon, of fiddle pattern, engraved initial, by Richard Wilkie of Tain, four marks, RW twice, thistle, sunburst. £700 - 900.1,000

CONCLUSION
At the start of this report of these two sales I asked the question 'what was going to happen to the prices?' with all this silver coming onto the market at the same time. The answer would appear to be that buyers are still there and willing to purchase particularly good and rare items at premium prices.

Whether a period of 'rest' in demand will follow these two major sales, will possibly be answered at the next scheduled Thomson Roddick & Medcalf sale of Provincial silver on the 10th November 2003. The venue for this sale had not yet been confirmed at the time of writing this report.

Another date for your diary is the 10th December when Lyon & Turnbull are holding a 'Fine Jewellery and Silver' sale in their Edinburgh saleroom. Already a good offering of Scottish Provincial items have been entered for this sale

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.27. / .28. / .29.
The Finial, October/November 2003


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