Glasgow 1824 by Robert Gray and Sons
A rare George IV Scottish sterling silver dog collar

Circular band form with moulded rims, the front with a cast and applied scene of two greyhounds chasing a hare, engraved to the side with a presentation inscription reading “Won by Captain Dunlop’s brown & white bitch Fly beating nine others at Mauchline December 3^rd 1823” and also “ Given by the Kyle Coursing Club”. Fully marked.

Diameter – 14 cm / 5.5 inches

Weight – 143 grams / 4.6 ozt

Mauchline is a town and civil parish in East Ayrshire, Scotland, some 30 miles from Glasgow. Kyle is a former comital district of Scotland which stretched across parts of modern-day East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire.

The presentation of silver prize dog collars in Scotland is known from surviving examples, however the survival of these prizes appears much rarer than one would expect. This becomes far clearer when the number of clubs across Scotland is taken into account and the number of prize meets per year. A pair of 1830 by George Paton (probably) mounted as wine coasters, are held by the National Museum of Scotland (H.MEQ 1040) The earliest pair recorded are 1813, presented by the Midlothian Coursing club (in a private collection).

A pair of silver dog collars and chains Edinburgh 1817 by Robert Gray sold Lyon and Turnbull, 15 March 2012, lot 811 (£12,500 incl. premium)