Kilmaurs - a rare Scottish provincial late 17th century knife and fork
£2,250
Auction: 13 August 2014 at 14:00 BST
Description
David Biggart, marked to pommel caps DB and to blade B and scimitar, the canon handles formed form panel of tortoiseshell with twisted wire between, with reeded mounted and domed pommel caps, with shaped steel blade and two pronged silver fork, in later shagreen covered spoon box
Dimensions
knife 16.2cm long, fork 14.9cm long
Footnote
Provenance:
Ex Earl of kintore, Aberdeenshire
Notes: Although rarely encountered Kilmaurs was a centre of cutlery and steel production in the late 17h century. a 'family' of makers various named Biggart or Biggar seem to have been the makers of most of the high quality examples. Seen with makers marks DB or AB, relating to a possible father and son of David and alexander Biggart. While little is currently known or recorded about the industry or the maker's an important Hanger marked with the DB punch and a town mark in full of KILMARES, interesting it shows to a very high quality the work in tortoiseshell which was so rare in Scotland. This Hanger has proved instrumental in the attribution of the other small group of cutlery for Kilmaurs and the addition of the town mark to the hilt has proven the location as to date no other examples are recorded.
Only a very small number of pieces are recorded of any type for Kilmaurs mainly taking the shaped of steel blade knives and forks, - this example appears unique within the survival as it has silver prongs rather than steel to the fork. All are of a recognisable pattern although must date over a period of 30 years or more, from circa 1680 - 1710.
For another example see Bonham's Knightsbridge 'Antique Arms and Armour' 28th July 2010, lot 428