A George II Scottish sterling silver small salver, Edinburgh 1740 by William Aytoun (b.1691-d.1754)

of shaped circular form with a moulded ‘bath border’ rim and a shaped cavetto edge. Raised on four paw feet. The field with contemporaneous flat chased decoration of C scrolls, rocaille shells, foliate scrolls, and flower heads, all against a matted ground. Fully marked underneath and with engraved scratch weight 10=8.

Diameter – 22.2 cm / 8.75 inches

Weight – 314 grams / 10.1 ozt

Dougal Ged born in Fife in 1701, Dougal was apprenticed to William Aytoun (1691-1754) in 1718. He became a Freeman in 1734 and between 1738 and 1745 he was in partnership with his famous cousin, Ebenezer Oliphant. Ged was part of a dispute between the Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh and the Assayer Archibald Ure in 1740, that lasted for four years until the impasse was halted by the appointment of Hugh Gordon as Assayer in 1744. During the dispute, Dougal Ged and Edward Lothian were appointed Assayers, with Ged’s time being between 1740 and 1741. William Aytoun a leading Edinburgh silversmith of the second quarter of the 18^th century was apprenticed to William Ged, uncle to Dougal Ged.