INVERNESS - A SCOTTISH PROVINCIAL JUG
DONALD FRASER
Auction: Day 2: Thursday 21 August - Lots 297 - end
Description
marked DF. INS, *, of baluster form, heavily chased foliate fronds throughout, the C-scroll handle with foliate and floral decoration, the hinged lid with cast vine leaves and grape finial, raised on a slightly domed foot with floral and foliate decoration
Dimensions
29cm high, 37.9oz
Footnote
Work by Donald Fraser is not uncommon and the vast majority is flatware. This ewer appears not only to be the largest piece of silver tied to his hand but one of, if not the, largest items of early 19th century Inverness silver. No other comparable item of this size can be found, dwarfing the more commonplace larger pieces such as communion cups.
Fraser is recorded making various quaichs (including one National Museum Scotland 1961-99), a goblet (previously David Morris Collection Christie’s 3rd July 1984 lot 158, now within the collection of Inverness Art Gallery & Museum IAGM 1984.062.003) and unusually an egg cup, sold in these rooms A Private Collection, 7th December 2005 lot 358 illustrated (now National Museum Scotland MEQ 2005.526).
Donald Fraser was trained in Inverness by Charles Jamieson and after his apprenticeship appears to have continued to work as a journeyman for him, setting up on his own in 1804.
He appears to have had good success as a goldsmith and jeweller stocking his shop with “a very superior assortment of the most fashionable silver plate and jewellery are now made use of in the highest cures and which he can with confidence recommend being of the very best finish”.
His success is further demonstrated by the five known apprentices he took between 1809 and 1820, a large number for an Inverness goldsmith of the time. It appears Fraser worked until circa 1829 when records of him cease.