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| Scottish Georgian Silver Forks (Table & Preserve) - Kay Family Crest, Griffin Key
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Reference: S11542
Period: George III
Year: 1812, 1814
Silversmith: James McKay
Place: Edinburgh
Price: $ 350.00
Weight: 124 grams
Dimensions: 20.2 cm & 15.6 cm
Condition: Very good, some light wear to back of tines from use.
Description: A Scottish Georgian silver Fiddle pattern tablefork, made by James McKay in Edinburgh in 1812, accompanied by a smaller Fiddle pattern preserve fork made in Edinburgh 1814. Both forks are by the same maker, and both have the same engraved family crest of a Griffin with a key in it's beak, so clearly they originate from the same set. The smaller fork is quite a bit smaller than the tablefork, hence our belief it is a preserve fork rather than a dessert fork. The engraved crests on both forks is crisp and clear, but careful comparison shows some small differences in engraving, so we believe different engravers were involved. The crest is described as "A Griffin's head erased, holding in it's beak a key" - this is the crest of the Kay family, Fairbairn's book of Crests (1905) refers to the Kay's of Sunderland, Durham and North Shields, Northumberland. It is interesting to note the silversmith is McKay, so the purchasers supported a branch of the family. Both forks are clearly hallmarked, makers mark JMc, Edinburgh castle, Scottish thistle, date letters g and i, and cusped Georgian duty mark. Careful examination shows that different punches were used, the 1814 thistle has clearly visible spines or spikes, that are missing on the 1816 thistle.
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Scottish Georgian Silver Forks (Table & Preserve)
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Scottish Georgian Silver Forks
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Scottish silver fork tines
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James McKay Edinburgh silver hallmarks
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Kay Family Crest, Griffin Key
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Georgian Silver Forks (Table & Preserve) - Kay Family Crest
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