Lot 279
A rare George II dolphin handled sauce boat
Auction: 16 August 2010 at 15:00 BST
Description
by Robert Gordon, Edinburgh 1752 - 1753, Assay Master Hugh Gordon, the deep inverted pear shaped body with everted scalloped rim chased with trailing foliate design and plain wide pouring spot, with cat figural dolphin S scroll handle with chased details, raised on three scroll supports with shell terminals and simple hoof feet
Dimensions
17cm long, 7oz
Footnote
Notes: this very unusual 'flying' scroll figural handle forms part of a small survival of Scottish silver. Although rare, both dolphin and snake formed handles are known but in only very small numbers, while the S scroll 'flying' handle must be considered a standard of the period.
Of dolphin formed examples it appears as few as six recorded examples exist (including a pair, counted as one), the earliest being by William Dempster (or possibly Davie), Edinburgh 1743 - 1744.
Of the six known examples surviving, they are only produced by three makers, William Dempster (or Davie), Robert Gordon and Ebenezer Oliphant all of Edinburgh, with Robert Gordon with four of the six bearing his mark. One thing all these maker have in common is the continual highly quality and fashionable work they produced, and in fact it is not surprising they are the makers who produced these unusual items.
References:
'Compendium of Scottish Silver II' R & J Dietert, illustrated plate 17, listed page 181