Stirling - a pair of very rare Scottish provincial tablespoons
Auction: 13 August 2014 at 14:00 BST
Description
Patrick Murray, marked PM three times, of Old English pattern (converted from Hanoverian) with engraved crest and motto to terminal (2)
Dimensions
20cm long, combined weight 4.2oz
Footnote
Notes: Although silversmiths are recorded in Stirling from as early as 1501 (or indeed 1260 if considering the mint master and coinage workers) it is often considered a town by collector too modern to form an interest, most work surviving by a small handful of makers in the Victorian era.
However, Patrick Murray is recorded working in the Burgh between 1732 and 1746. To date his mark has only been tentatively ascribed on the applied silver foot rim of a Jacobite wine glass, where it is clearly struck and identical to those struck to this spoon.
The plain wine glass closely follows the shape of some of the fabled 'Amen' glasses of Jacobite supporters and was broken at the base of the stem, in this case reputably by Prince Charles Edward Stuart. This tradition of breaking glasses after a toast to the King is well recorded (although in this case by the King more unusual); it was to signify the glass could not be used for a less noble toast thereafter. It was later mounted (although very soon after) with a silver domed foot engraved to the lobed joint with the stem 'God Blis King James The eight' in an obvious and overt Jacobite support.
The glass under discussion came from the Bruce of Cowcadden collection and was sold in 1924 by Sotheby's in the same sale as their engraved Amen glass.
While the evidence is only circumstantial it is interesting to note that no example of this maker's mark can be traced with a town mark, therefore offering another explanation for location, and that Patrick Murray was a well recorded Jacobite (an obvious choice to fix and engraved such a Jacobite motto in silver) as he was hung in 1746 for his support of the cause.