Lot 513
A RARE GEORGE I CASKET
ARCHIBALD URE (ATTRIBUTED), EDINBURGH 1729
Scottish Silver & Applied Arts | 530
Auction: 15 August 2018 at 11:00 BST
Estimate: £6,000 - £8,000
Description
with makers mark lacking, Assay Master Archibald Ure, of canted rectangular form with stepped foot rim, the hinged domed cover engraved to centre with Barons coronet above initials KH
Dimensions
31.5cm wide 74.7oz
Footnote
Notes:
This previously unrecorded Scottish toilet box / casket appears to have only one comparable which survives. That example forms part fo the highly important Kier Toilet Service by Colin Mckenzie of Edinburgh made in 1703. Its design is very similar and the sizes and weight closely match. See 'Silver Made in Scotland', Dalgleish and Fothringham item 4.10 page 62 for further detail on this service.
No other box of this period and size is known to survive.
Although apparently lacking a makers mark it seems highly likely that Archibald Ure's mark is seen to this both representing him as maker and Assay Master. The role of Assay Master did not preclude the holder making silver and running a workshop and in some cases items are found with the makers mark struck twice to denote this. It seems in the example however that was not deemed necessary and it was only struck once to denote both 'positions'.
This previously unrecorded Scottish toilet box / casket appears to have only one comparable which survives. That example forms part fo the highly important Kier Toilet Service by Colin Mckenzie of Edinburgh made in 1703. Its design is very similar and the sizes and weight closely match. See 'Silver Made in Scotland', Dalgleish and Fothringham item 4.10 page 62 for further detail on this service.
No other box of this period and size is known to survive.
Although apparently lacking a makers mark it seems highly likely that Archibald Ure's mark is seen to this both representing him as maker and Assay Master. The role of Assay Master did not preclude the holder making silver and running a workshop and in some cases items are found with the makers mark struck twice to denote this. It seems in the example however that was not deemed necessary and it was only struck once to denote both 'positions'.
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