Old Aberdeen - a rare Scottish provincial table fork
£1,350
Auction: 13 February 2008 at 11:00 GMT
Description
by Robert Cruickshank of Old Aberdeen, circa 1705, marked RC, OABD, C, of Hanoverian pattern, with three tines and wide Hanoverian terminal, engraved with (probably later) crest of an ostrich head between two plumes
Dimensions
19cm long, 1.5oz
Footnote
Notes:
Robert Cruickshank was the only Old Aberdeen goldsmith working, who was born in Scotland, the only other two recorded are Etienne (Stephen) Agate and Samuel Le Revier both of French origin. While it is believed Robert Wildgoose worked in Old Aberdeen definite evidence is still needed to confirm this.
The extant examples of Cruickshank's work show a highly skilled and accomplished silversmith making items of great importance at the time. Among his known work are two of the surviving Huntley Race prizes, a two handled cup and cover circa 1725 (now in a private UK collection) and a silver basket hilted broad sword circa 1727 (in the Royal Collection).
His extant flatware currently recorded is scarce and oddly all recorded examples being three pronged forks as follows:
A matched pair of three pronged Hanoverian pattern table forks, with engraved initials, one marked OAB, RC, C, the other marked AB, RC, C - Sotheby's 21st December 1967 lot 222 - one now in the National Museum of Scotland collection, the other's location unknown
A pair of three pronged Hanoverian pattern table forks, with later engraved crest of an ostrich between two plumes, marked AB, RC, C - in a private UK collection (note these are ensuite with this lot)
Dr James in Goldsmiths of Aberdeen mentions a set of six table forks by this maker one marked RC, OABD J, the other five RC, AB. It is possible the above forks are part of this set or duplication of the above. Until these forks are noted again they should be considered with care.
This and the other body of hollow ware goes to show that the true Old Aberdeen town mark of OABD is rare and that it was not standard for Cruickshank to use this on all his wares, a number of items are struck with makers mark only so 'fully' marked items are also scarcer.
The crest recorded in 1634 for GUEST of Row Heath, Worcestershire, descended from John Gheste of Handsworth, Staffordshire. temp Henry VII.
References:
'Old Scottish Communion Plate' Rev T Burns
'The Goldsmiths of Aberdeen 1450 - 1850' Dr I E James
'Scottish Gold and Silver Work' I Findlay