About this lot

Description

Aberdeen - A George III silver toddy ladle, by James Erskine (marked to the reverse with the maker's mark and ‘k’ - lower case in trapezoidal punch), the handle of plain and slightly tapering form engraved; 'To William Gordon Dufftown with the best wishes of the BOYS of Pityvaich Christmasday O.S. 1832' together with masonic symbols possibly indicating a marriage engraved between the Gordon crest and motto (Corde et Manu - a dexter and sinister hand holding up a heart), and the Fraser crest (a buck's head erased), the bowl of semi spherical form, 0.60ozt 16cm (6in)
Other Notes: James Erskine was apprenticed to James Smith in 1781 and was admitted as a member of the Hammermen in September 1792, becoming a Goldsmith Burgess in 1796. It is not known when he started his own business, but it seems to be around 1790. It is thought he retired in about 1820 and died in 1824. There is evidence of a marriage between a William Gordon and an Isobel Sime on 26/12/1832 in the parish of Knockando, which is about 12 miles north west of Dufftown. Sime is a Scottish surname that traces back to clan Fraser.

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