Lot 402
ALEXANDER RITCHIE (1856-1941), IONA Y
RARE CELTIC REVIVAL SILVER MOUNTED LETTER OPENER, GLASGOW 1927
Auction: 1 April 2020 at 11:00 BST
Description
the ivory opener with handle cast with scrolling foliate motifs, longboat and Griffin devices and cast inscription, further inscribed MACKINNONS CROSS/ IONA, bears makers marks for George & John Morgan, hallmarked Glasgow 1927
Dimensions
32cm long
Footnote
Literature: E. Mairi MacArthur Iona Celtic Art: The Work of Alexander and Euphemia Ritchie, Iona 2003, p. 46 where a similar letter-opener is illustrated
Note: One side of the handle of this letter-opener bears the design of an Iona cross shaft, set up in 1489 by Abbott John Mackinnon and his father Lachlan, chief of the clan and the reverse mirrors the cross back, with long plant-scroll emanating from the tail of a griffin, a commonly occurring motif in Ritchie's work.
Please be aware that this lot contains material which may be subject to import/export restrictions, especially outside the EU, due to CITES regulations. Please note it is the buyer's sole responsibility to obtain any relevant export or import licence. For more information visit http://www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/imports-exports/cites/
