A very rare private die serving slice made in Glasgow in 1844 by Robert Gray & Sons.
A very rare private die serving slice made in Glasgow in 1844 by Robert Gray & Sons.
374661
Private Die silver is where a family commissioned a silversmith to produce pieces which are cast, the design incorporating raised impressions of their family heraldic bearings. The Slice is cast and is of a very good weight being modelled in Robert Gray's variation of King's pattern which is double struck. The shaped blade is beautifully chased with dolphins and entwined sea monsters, as well as raying Rococo shells and foliate scrolls on a matted ground. This has been executed to the higest standard. The raised cast Crest is shown at the top of the stem, of an eagle over a stork, which was the Graham family of Renfrew, located six miles from Glasgow, Scotland. It was the grandest, and wealthiest, families who had private die silver, which were in essence special commissions and, therefore, unique. Examples by any silversmith do not appear often, however they are rare by Robert Gray, often referred to as the Paul Storr of the North. This piece is in quite excellent, crisp, condition and we would not think it has had very little use over the years.
Length: 12.6 inches, 31.5 cm.
Width, at the widest part of the blade: 2.6 inches, 6.5 cm.
Weight: 10oz.
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