A VICTORIAN SPIRIT KETTLE Y
JAMES MACKAY, EDINBURGH 1844
Auction: Day 2: Thursday 21 August - Lots 297 - end
Description
the spherical body with chased baskets of fruit and foliate and flower head decoration, engraved inscription to body 'TO ROBERT ALLAN ESQr AS A TOKEN OF REGARD FROM AGNES REID 12th October 1845', the chased hinged lid with a foliate flame finial, ivory insulators to the swing-handle, raised on a bold tripod spirit burner base with S-scroll supports joined by foliate swags, with burner, presented in a fitted wooden case, retailed by MacKay, Cunningham and Co.
Dimensions
37cm high (handle extended), 57.2oz
Provenance
Family descent - direct descendants of Robert Allan
Please note that this lot and the following have the same provenance and are being sold by the same vendor
Footnote
Robert Allan FRSE (1806-1863)
Born to Thomas Allan (1777-1833), Robert and his father made their mark on Scottish geology and mineralogy.
Both bankers by trade, their passion for sourcing and identifying specimens introduced the pair to international scientists and collectors. Their personal collection was bought by Robert Greg who, on his death, donated it to the Natural History Museum in London, and it is now known as the Allan-Greg Collection. The publication entitled A manual of minerology is also a lasting legacy of the collection.
Robert died on 6th June 1863 at his home at 4 Hillside Crescent near Calton Hill in Edinburgh, but the family home had been Lauriston Castle in the north of the city. His father Thomas Allan had acquired the house in 1823. The castle has a long history of interesting proprietors.
Lauriston Castle
The original medieval castle was almost completely destroyed by the mid-16th century and so a tower house was rebuilt around 1590 by Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston, father of the mathematician John Napier, for his first son by his second marriage, also named Archibald.
It was in 1827 when Thomas Allan acquired the property and he commissioned William Burn (1789–1870) to extend the house in the Scottish Baronial fashion. Sir Walter Scott visited the house and remarked how tastefully and sympathetic the décor was.
The castle was sold in 1902 to William Robert Reid, proprietor of Morison & Co., an Edinburgh cabinet maker, and was then left to the City of Edinburgh.
Spirit Kettle
Apprenticed to Alexander Gardner, a well-respected silversmith and freeman of the city of Edinburgh, James McKay would go on to partner with David Cunningham to form the retail outlet, McKay & Cunningham based in Edinburgh which was ultimately granted a royal warrant. Their legacy is still apparent today, as James Hamilton of Hamilton & Inches was originally apprenticed to the company.
This spirit kettle would have been an incredibly generous gift and it is interesting to see the presentation inscription engraved to this piece.
Sold with non-transferable CITES self-certification number: C4QUTXHL
Please be aware that this lot contains material which may be subject to import/export restrictions, especially outside the EU, due to CITES regulations. Please note it is the buyer's sole responsibility to obtain any relevant export or import licence. For more information visit http://www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/imports-exports/cites/