Lot 155
Dundee - a Scottish provincial canteen
Auction: 13 February 2008 at 11:00 GMT
Description
by Alexander Cameron of Dundee, marked CAM / ERON, Newcastle 1830 - 31, DUN / DEE, of Fiddle pattern with engraved family crest and motto, comprising six, table and dessert spoons and six table and dessert forks (24)
Dimensions
combined weight 53oz
Footnote
Notes: The crest of a ship in sail and the motto of 'DEUS ADESTO' are that of Brown.
The fact that these items (and others of a similar date) by Cameron are hallmarked in Newcastle followed a well publicised altercation and falling out between Alexander Cameron and the Edinburgh Assay Office.
The Edinburgh Assay Office had found that contrary to the statutes and acts of hallmarking in Scotland, Cameron had been using local marks and not sending his work to Edinburgh for assay. On testing items struck with only his local marks they found a majority to be below standard and therefore illegal.
After this, as a show of defiance to the findings of their tests, Cameron started sending by ship, a proportion of his work for official Assay in Newcastle between 1827 and 1831. By the survival of work with only local marks it must be assumed that he also continued to mark in the way that had started the trouble but one asumes to a higher standard.