Lot 297
WICK – A RARE SCOTTISH PROVINCIAL SOUP LADLE
DONALD FRASER
Auction: Day Two | Thursday 20 August from 10am | Lots 199 - 555
Description
Marked DF, WICK, DF, of tapered long Fiddle pattern with foliate script initials JML to terminal and shallow circular bowl
Dimensions
28.5cm long, 3.8oz
Provenance
Likely Philips Edinburgh 20th May 1983, lot 264
Likely Scottish Provincial Silver from the David Morris Collection, Christie’s Scotland 3rd July 1984 lot 63
Footnote
Very little is recorded by Donald Fraser bearing Wick marks. It appears that in the 1983 Philips sale mentioned above three lots were sold (262 and 262 sauce ladles and 264 like this soup ladle), all bearing the same initials. Little else has been seen since and this combination of marks must be considered amongst the rarest in Scottish Provincial silver.
It would appear they relate to Donald Fraser of Inverness however it is not known if he is working in Wick or retailing work from the town. The marks are so well struck and with no signs of distortion or overstriking, it seems fair to assume all marks were struck by the same hand at the same time, perhaps suggesting a period of Fraser’s career in Wick.