Essay

The Breadalbane family were one of the wealthiest in Scotland with estates of 234,166 acres in co. Perth and 204,192 in co. Argyll, a total of 438,358 acres which brought in an annual income in 1883 of £55,700. During the 18th century they acquired fine silver notably a fine pair of Beer Jugs  made by Charles Kandler in 1733 and which are illustrated in Michael Clayton, The Collectors Dictionary of the Silver and Gold of Great Britain and North America, p.168, plate 333. These were puchased by Alastair when at Asprey and sold to a foreign collector. We subsequently bought them back as part of that whole collection in 1999 trading as AlastaIr Dickenson Fine Silver selling them on to another collector in England.

Sir Gavin was created Baron Breadalbane of Kenmorein 1873 and the first Marquess in 1885 although he had already inherited the title of 7th Earl on the death of his father in 1871. He set about forming one of the greatest collections of silver in Scotland unusually having his name inscribed under each piece. Although the dishes date from the 18th century it seems likely that Sir Gavin had his own crest put on them along with "Breadalbane" towards the end of the 19th century.

Canongate silver is not common; a few spoons appear on the market from time to time but very little silver of any size becomes available making these dishes very rare. The overall condition is excellent and with the Breadalbane provenance they should be of interest to anyone collecting Scottish silver