Lot 226
Iona - a Scottish provincial belt buckle
Auction: 13 February 2008 at 11:00 GMT
Description
attributed to Alexander Ritchie of Iona, marked CS*FS, Chester 1905-1906, Rg. No. 391329, the two square section buckle formed as vine leaf and branch form
Dimensions
14cm wide, 3.7oz
Footnote
Notes: While this piece is not marked for Alexander Ritchie there seems little doubt it is by his hand. The sponsors mark for assay of Saunders & Shepherd was used on Ritchie's behalf for the early part of his flourishing career before he registered his own punches at Glasgow, Chester and Birmingham. The relatively early date for this piece ties up with other known examples of this period showing both Saunders & Shepherd and Ritchie's makers marks in conjunction.
Reference:
See 'Iona Celtic Art - The work of Alexander and Euphemia Ritchie' by E. Mairi MacArthur, page 71 for an illustration of this design