A very pleasing pair of Scottish Provincial silver sugar tongs, by David Gray of Dumfries. The tongs are plain but have lovely proportions, which are noticeably different from English made tongs. The hallmarks are excellent, unicorn, makers mark DG, and fouled anchor. This combination of marks is unusual and is not recorded by either Jackson (pg 597) or by Turner (Directory of Scottish Provincial Silversmiths). The tongs are engraved with script initials EB, which is original.

An Iona sterling Silver Prioress Anna Disc and Shield brooch, made by Alexander Ritchie of Iona, one of the most respected and sought after Scottish silver jewellers of the 20th century. The brooch is a classic Ritchie design in Celtic Arts & Crafts style, a convex shield with Celtic cross, and central knotwork boss. The 4 arms feature a copy of the stone effigy of Prioress Anna Maclean of Iona, the central boss reads "Prioress Anna - Iona". The original stone carving of Prioress Anna is still visible on Iona. The brooch is cast, the pin is in full working order, and the original safety pin chain is still intact and working. The hallmarks are worn, makers mark AR is just visible, as is "IONA" which is legible but worn. A second AR and IONA is present but badly worn. No date letter or townmark is present. We assume this means this was an early Ritchie piece, made before he started using the Chester assay office in 1910. A registration number (to protect the design) is clearly visible, Rd No 664083. Alex Ritc...

A fabulous set of 6 Scottish Provincial dessert spoons in the Fiddle pattern, made by William Ferguson of Elgin, and hallmarked in Edinburgh over 3 different years between 1839 and 1841. The spoons are all engraved with original owners initial W, so clearly a set. The spoons are in excellent condition, with strong tips to the spoon bowls, with no sign of wear or use at all - no dents or scratches, these spoons must have sat in a drawer and not been used. Close examination of the 6 spoons reveals small differences in the size and shape of the bowls, shape of the Fiddle and the shape of the drop, which indicates these spoons were all made by hand. Furthermore, the spoons vary slightly in weight, the lightest is 33 grammes, the heaviest 39 grammes, they average 37 grammes, so a significant variation. The hallmarks on all 6 spoons are also very clear and well struck, they could not be better. They include makers mark WF and ELGIN, alongside Edinburgh hallmarks, 1 is for 1839, 3 for 1840 and 2 for 1841. 2 of the s...

A Scottish Provincial silver toddy ladle in the Celtic Pointed pattern, which was only produced in Scotland and Ireland. The ladle is lovely, long elegant handle with circular bowl, and an original engraved family crest of a crescent. The ladle has 3 hallmarks, makers mark RK in rectanglar punch, Edinburgh 3 tower town mark, and a triple cusped Georgian duty mark. We are not sure if these are official or pseudo hallmarks, the Town mark looks a little suspicious, with irregular punch on top, and it should be accompanied by the thistle and date letter if it was struck in Edinburgh. The duty mark with triple cusp is a well made punch so could be genuine, and the makers mark looks a little crude. It could be Robert Keay of Perth but sent to Edinburgh for assay, but we feel these marks are suspicious, so possibly Robert Keay using pseudo marks or another silversmith altogether. Most Robert Keay silver has his eagle mark, but he did sent some silver to Edinburgh for assay. He is known to have used a triple cusp dut...