Condiment Ladle.

[paulh]

I have a small (5") silver condiment ladle. With the Makers mark I.D with a pellet between the I & D. I suspect that it might be Scottish provincial, but it is defying all attempts at identification. Any suggestions anyone?





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[Granmaa]

Hi Paul,

Not my field, but it might be James Douglas of Dundee. Scotprov will be able to confirm this.

Miles
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[nigel le sueur]

l think you will find that it is James Douglas of Dundee 1796-1820

Nigel
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[paulh]

Thanks to both of you for the information. Jackson’s shows James Douglas without the pellet between the letters. Is there another reference with a different mark?

Another possibility was Jean Pierre Du Port of Guernsey, but although the mark looks right, I cannot find any reference to him making anything but Christening mugs.

Thank you for your endeavours.

Paul.
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[Granmaa]

Scotprov's book A Directory of Scottish Provincial Silversmiths & their Marks pictures a mark of Douglas without the pellet, it is not the same mark as yours but at least shows that he had many differing marks.

Miles
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[dognose]

Hi,
Sorry to swim against the tide on this one, but my money's Jean Pierre du Port, the mark to me is identical.
Richard Turner's CD displays three of Douglas's mark, none of them like the spoon example, Mayne's Channel Islands book show's the exact mark.
As to whether du Port made spoons, Mayne notes that after a fire at his premises an auction of "hardware, silver watches, gilt metal, silver, rings, gold pins etc." was held, so surely he would have made something as popular as spoons.
Trev.
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[paulh]

Thanks Trev,

I think things are favouring the Du Port option. I read the same account and I would go with the mark being the same, even in the absence of firm evidence about spoon making as yet. However, the quest continues.....

Paul
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[nigel le sueur]

Well l must admit l find this intresting, it does not tend to be my area but the reason l agree with Miles is there is a reference to lD lD for James Douglas for Dundee and he was a maker of flatware, but l would not be 100% sure

Nigel
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[Scotprov]

Sorry about delay, just found out my hotel has WiFi, so going through my emails and found this.
The 'D' is not like any of Douglas' that I have seen with that bump on the inside of the back. Further, he does not seem to have used the pellet between the letters, at all.
Another thing is that the shape of the spoon 'feels' wrong for Scottish.
Haven't got my Channel Islands book, so could not make a comment there, but that would appear to the favourite.
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[paulh]

Thanks for your ideas. I agree with the “feel of the thing” theory. First impressions do not say “Scottish” Although the mark in Mayne’s Channel Islands book is close enough to accept as the same, I still cannot find any reference to Jean Pierre du Port making or marking anything in flatware.

Thanks to everyone for their contributions.

Paul.
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