Lot 362
Inverness - a modern Scottish provincial brooch
Auction: 2 December 2008 at 11:00 GMT
Description
by J Fraser, for Medlock & Craik, marked JF (in monogram incuse), M&C, Edinburgh 1958, INVSS, in a similar style to the Iona prioress brooch, with Celtic knot border and four standing figures with collet set Cairngorm to centre
Dimensions
4cm diameter
Footnote
Notes: the brooch is additionally inscribed on the reverse From the Provost of Inverness.
at the time of manufacture the Provost of Inverness was Robert Wotherspoon (held office from 1955 until 1961)
The combination of a pseudo makers mark for J Fraser and the official assayed makes mark of Medlock & Craik is interesting. Fraser trained under Medlock & Craik and was the last line of silversmiths to follow in this illustrious Inverness tradition. it seems possible that the JF punch could be a designers / makers punch on the piece as the design is later carried on by him into his own firm and not one commonly associated with Medlock & Craik.