Lot 73
A Britannia standard Queen Anne sugar caster
Jacobite, Stuart, and Scottish Applied Arts | 429
Auction: 13 May 2015 at 12:00 BST
Description
London 1704, makers mark partially struck, of large baluster form with reeded girdle and engraved armorial within rococo cartouche, raised on a short stem and domed spreading foot, the bayonet fitted domed cover with pierced and engraved scroll and cast finial
Dimensions
22cm high, 17.5oz
Footnote
Notes:
The armorial to the caster relates to the Coutts family, likely that of John Coutts of Edinburgh. Son of Patrick Coutts a tradesman of Montrose and latterly Edinburgh. John Coutts became a successful merchant in Edinburgh and was Lord Provost from 1742 - 1744.
Although a careful and successful business man involved in the finance and merchant banking world John was known for his lavish spending and banqueting at home during his time as Lord Provost, he was also a patron of the fine arts. His Jacobite or Hanoverian leanings were precarious as he had both family in Montrose with Jacobite sympathies but because of his position in Edinburgh a close tie with the Hanoverian ministers was safest. The family therefore seem to have carefully walked both edges of the divisive line.
The family would later help create the Coutts banking company in London and rise to become bankers to the Royal family. By 1758 in these new high standings Alexander Coutts became H.M. Heritable Usher for Scotland and held position as White Rod.