Lot 694
A comprehensive Victorian private die suite
Auction: Jewellery, Silver & Watches
Description
R Gray & Son of Glasgow, various dates, of private die pattern, double struck, comprising: thirty five table forks; twenty three table spoons; soup ladle; fish slice; two large pairs serving spoons and two smaller; sauce ladle; fifteen dessert spoons; two sugar tongs; five condiment spoons; twelve teaspoons; thirteen dessert forks
Dimensions
Combined weight: 272oz
Footnote
Note: The Work of Robert Gray (and Robert Gray & Sons) is without doubt some of the finest produced in Scotland in the 19th century. The constant quality seen throughout their work from small items of flatware to much larger and impressive tea and coffee services, salvers and wine coolers is perhaps unique in Scotland.
While there were no truly specialised flatware makers in Scotland, as is seen in England, Gray is as close as is found. They produced not only the standard patterns in Scotland at the time but particularly fine variations of these. These included standard die struck patterns, the use of double struck patterns (rare in Scotland) to completely unique patterns to their workshop. They perhaps showed their ability and skill most expertly in the production of private die patterns featuring the crest or armorial of the client. Canteens featuring these designs are rare and the cost to the client to have a number of specially produced dies for their own use meant these were the preserve of only the highest reaches of Scottish society. These private die patterns are rare in Scotland and when encountered are predominantly by Gray, showing Gray's place as the premier flatware makers in the country.
The pattern seen on this canteen is not commonly encountered and is considered an invention of the Gray workshop. Commonly called Scottish Kings shape (rococo end) it takes the common and popular outline of Kings Pattern but adds a unique pattern and decoration, occasionally seen with the addition of private die crest / armorials, but in the main seen such as this with simple cartouche for engraved initials / crest.
Single items of this pattern are scarce but a canteen of this size is rarely encountered.