Lot 540
A FINE MID EIGHTEENTH CENTURY EBONY AND MOTHER OF PEARL BALUSTER SNUFF MULL
CIRCA 1740
Scottish Silver & Applied Arts
Auction: 15 August 2018 at 11:00 BST
Description
of conventional baluster shape with alternating staves of mother of pearl and ebony, with silver mounted rim and foot, intricately pierced and engraved thumb piece, the hinged cover similarly formed with central oval applied cartouche and an engraved crest of an eagle and motto above
Dimensions
5.6cm high
Footnote
The crest as engraved dating to circa 1740 is that of Agnew of Lochnaw.
It may be blazoned as follows:
Crest: An eagle issuant and reguardant proper
Motto: Consilio non impetu [By counsel not by force]
This snuff mull was undoubtedly in the possession of the Nova Scotia baronetcy family of Agnew of Lochnaw in the County of Wigtownshire in south west Scotland. Given its presumed date the leading candidate for its ownership was Sir Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw, the 5th Baronet (born 21st December 1687 died 21st August 1771). Sir Andrew served as Lieutenant General in the British Army and Governor of Tinmouth Castle in 1750. He married Eleanor Agnew of Lochryan (died 29th May 1785), the daughter and eventual sole heir of Thomas Agnew of Lochryan in Agnew’s home county of Wigtownshire on the 12th May 1714. Andrew and Eleanor had several children and on his death in 1771, his fifth son Stair succeeded as the 6th Baronet of Lochnaw.
The Agnews of Lochnaw together with several other Wigtownshire branches of the family all stemmed from Andrew Agnew, Constable of Lochnaw who was appointed to the office of Sheriff of Wigton in 1451.
Provenance:
Sir John Noble of Ardkinglas collection
Bonham's Edinburgh, 'Jewellery, Silver, European Ceramics & Glass', 13th December 2012 lot 358