A LARGE GEORGE III SALVER
WILLIAM & PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, EDINBURGH 1802
£2,400
Scottish Silver & Applied Arts
Auction: 16 August 2017 at 12:00 BST
Description
of circular outline with reeded rim and engraved arched inner border, the centre engraved with armorial, raised on four bracket feet
Dimensions
Diameter: 46cm, weight: 84.5oz
Footnote
Heraldry: They may be blazoned as follows:
Arms: Gules a chevron ermine between three antique crowns or
Crest: A Roman fasces erect proper
Motto: Leges juraque serva [Observe the laws and ordinances]
Note: The family of Grant of Kilgraston, in the County of Perthshire are lineally descended from the Grants of Grant, the Chiefs of the ancient clan of Grant. The Kilgraston Grants were originally designated 'of Glenlochy', but this estate was alienated from the family by Patrick Grant of Glenlochy in the County of Inverness-shire. The family bore as their crest: 'A mountain in flames proper' and used this motto: 'Ferti citi flammas'. It was Patrick's eldest son, John Grant (died 28th March 1793) who served as the Chief Justice of the Island of Jamaica from 1783 to 1790, who later purchased the estate of Kilgraston. The crest and motto as engraved on this salver were granted to John Grant (now designated 'of Kilgraston') by the Lord Lyon King of Arms in substitution of his family's original crest and motto by Letters Patent dated 21st December 1790. As will be noted, the new crest and its accompanying motto reflected John's career as a lawyer. So, with this evidence alone (together with the presumed date of manufacture) we may conclusively say that this salver was certainly in the possession of John Grant of Kilgraston between the granting of his new crest and motto in 1790 and his death three years later in 1793. John married Margaret Macleod, the sister of Sir Alexander Macleod, Lord Bannatyne, a Lord of Session. As there were no children from John and Margaret's marriage, the Kilgraston estate was inherited by his brother, Francis Grant.