Created for the ‘Edinburgh International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art’, 6th May to 30th October 1886, the Grand Hall exhibition 631.

Designed by J. D. Marshall for William Marshall & Co, Goldsmiths, Silversmiths, Jeweller & Watchmakers of 134 Princes Street, Edinburgh.

William Marshall & Sons were founded in the early 19th century and at London’s Great Exhibition in 1851 exhibited a remarkably complete and fine Highland Dress Regalia ‘with chased silver mountings studded with carbuncles and cairngorms, iz., goat-sin purse, broad sword, dirk, powder horn, skeen dhu, plaid brooch, sword belt, body belt, show buckles, pistol, Athol bonnet’.

Following this success, they took a large display at the Edinburgh International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art in 1886. Opened by Queen Victoria’s Grandson Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, it ran for almost 6 months, occupied some 30 acres and welcomed over 2,770,000 visitors. Among the visitors was Queen Victoria, who brought a Royal Party from the Palace of Holyrood House, visiting the exhibition on 19th August 1886. The Scotsman Newspaper on 20th August reported on her visit “She ... inspected the exhibits of Mr. W. Marshall & Co., Princes Street, taking particular notice of several handsome dirks and some pretty Celtic jewellery” of which the dirk under discussion was no doubt one.

Marshall was awarded two gold medals for ‘National Jewelry and reproduction of Scott antique enamel work[i]’ and ‘excellence in workmanship in watches, and were chosen to create the casket to be presented to the Queen. As recorded by the Dundee Courier, the casket was inscribed “Her most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, presented with an address by the Executive Council on the occasion of Her Majesty’s visit to the International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art, Edinburgh, 18th August 1886.” There follows a detailed description of the casket.

By at least 1891 Marshall’s are recorded holding the Royal Warrant to Queen Victoria as ‘Goldsmiths, Silversmiths and Jewellers’. The firm became part of Hamilton & Inches in 1952.

Provenance:

Private Edinburgh Family collection

By direct descent till circa 2000 / 2005

Private North American Collection

Literature:

‘Hamilton & Inches, 125 years of Excellence’, Hamilton & Inches 87 George Street Edinburgh 1991, item PC43