Deveron Jewellers

Description

A rare, unusual, cased pair of Arts & Crafts Sterling Silver Spoons made by John Maitland Talbot in Edinburgh and dating from c1905.
John Maitland Talbot (1861-1909)was a Scottish jeweller, registered at Glasgow and Edinburgh Assay Offices. He led a workshop for the Lynedoch School of Artistic Handicraft in Edinburgh in the early 1890’s and was known to work for Phoebe Anna Traquair (1852-1936), an Irish artist who was a leading member of the Scottish Arts and Crafts movement.
The spoons are hallmarked with the maker's mark "J.M.T", for John Maitland Talbot, the Scottish "thistle" sterling silver mark, the Edinburgh "castle" town mark and date letter "z" for 1905/06.
The first spoon representing the City of Edinburgh Coat of Arms, the terminal depicting the "castle triple-towered" and the stem engraved with the motto of the City’s arms "NISI DOMINUS FRUSTRA", taken from the Latin version of Psalm 1271 and translated as ‘it is vain without the Lord’.
The terminal of the other spoon depicting the crucifixion of St Andrew on a ‘saltire’, or X-shaped cross (St Andrew’s cross) which became his symbol. The stem engraved "S ANDRO FOR SCOTLAND XXX".
A very nice, unusual pair of sterling silver spoons, complete with their original velvet lined, fitted, presentation case.
They are in excellent condition.
The spoons measure 7 3/4" inches (197mm) in length. The combined weight is 110.1g/3.88oz/3.53ozt

Specialists in Antique Pocket Watches & Vintage Wristwatches, Jewellery, Silver (including Scottish Provincial),Good Quality Antiques & Works of Art.

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