Lot 365
PERTH - a Scottish provincial snuff box by Robert Dickson,
Auction: 27 November 2006 at 11:00 GMT
Description
marked RD, eagle, of navette shaped with three quarter opening hinged lid, the lid engraved with fine borders of bright cut borders of hair bell swags, the central cartouche of similar design around and engraved hand plough with presentation inscription JOHN PEULLER TO CHARLES BUDD, the sides and base with prick dot and wriggle work engraved borders, gilt interior
Dimensions
Length 9cm, 4oz
Footnote
This is a rare example of holloware by this maker. There are only a few recorded examples and this piece is one of only three currently available to private hands. The others include a sugar bowl, ex Murray Collection, lot 206, sold by Lyon & Turnbull, 20th August 2003 and a lemon strainer, now in a private North American collection. Public collections include a snuff horn, in the collection of the National Musuems of Scotland, meanwhile a tea pot stand and shoe buckles may be viewed in the collection of Perth Musuem and Art Gallery.
The marks to this piece are also interesting as they do not conclusively determine whether they are for Robert Dickson elder or younger. The town punch is of the earlier style used by Dickson elder while the makers punch is the more distinctive one used by Dickson younger. It is felt that it is probably made in the period where these makers overlap and infact were most likely using the same punches.