ONLY two Scottish 17th century lace-back spoons are recorded by the National Museum of Scotland so this example offered by Dreweatts at Donnington Priory was quite a rarity.
Moreover it appears to be the only piece of silver attributable
to the Edinburgh goldsmith Andro Gilmour.
The maker's mark is mis-struck and partially rubbed but it can
be discerned as AG in a double circle. Ian Pickford,
editor of the most recent Jackson's Guide, who wrote the
catalogue footnote, found only two goldsmiths with these initials
recorded in Edinburgh in the last quarter of the 17th century, and
the date letter of 1692 and the assay master John Borthwick ruled
out the other candidate.
The 7¾in (19.5cm) spoon, a transitional form between the trefid
and the dog nose with a ribbed rat-tail, was estimated at
£1500-2500 for the sale on December 7, but sold at £9500.
The buyers premium was 22%.
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