A scarce George II Scottish silver dolphin handled sauce boat by William Davie

A scarce George II Scottish silver dolphin handled sauce boat by William Davie, Edinburgh 1743, assay master Edward Lothian, oval with an everted shaped rim chased with shells, flowers and foliage, with a figural dolphin S-scroll handle, the details chased, on three scroll supports with paw feet, engraved CG beneath, 19cm (7 1/2in) long, 249g (8 oz)

See Lyon & Turnbull sale, 16th August 2010, lot 279 for a comparable sauce boat by Robert Gordon, Edinburgh 1752-1753.

This unusual flying scroll handle forms part of a small survival of Scottish silver. Although rare, both dolphin and snake formed handles are known but in only in very small numbers. Of dolphin formed examples it appears as fewer than ten recorded examples exist (including a pair, counted as one), the earliest being by William Davie (or possibly Dempster), Edinburgh 1743-1744. Of the six known examples surviving, they are only produced by three makers, William Davie (or Dempster), Robert Gordon and Ebenezer Oliphant, all of Edinburgh. One thing all these makers have in common is the high quality and fashionable work they produced.

Condition Report:
A light dent, a few nicks and scratches, initialled, chasing still crisp, a little wear to marks, no repairs or faults