THE PAIR of HOOK-END BASTING SPOONS :

Christopher Skinner, Dublin, c1764 (date mark rubbed out or mistruck);
having slender egg-shaped bowls with single drop heels verso,
the hook-end terminals crested to the upper surface;

Marks : Skinner, p. 637, Jackson's Revised, 1758, found on spoons;
Hibernia mark rubbed on one, all others crisp;
date mark lacking on one, obliterated on the other

12" Long / 8.4 oz.

THE HOOK-END SOUP LADLE :

John Laughlin Jr., & Peter David,
Dublin, Lacking Date Letter, but Mid-18th Century;
of heavy gauge silver, the deep round bowl having a single drop heel,
the broad hook-end terminal crested en suite to the upper surface

Marks : John Laughlin, marked next to bowl; David Peter marked twice on shaft;
harp mark partially rubbed;
'Laughlin was a kinsman of the Earl of Ivcaugh, and made many pieces for the family'.

Mark p. 639, Jackson's Revised, 1768, with the upper part of the mark unclear (as is this example).
Peter, p. 638, Jackson's Revised, 1763, on table spoons

14.5" Long / 8.2 oz.

Condition : Both with minor expected wear; the soup lable with several dark spots to the interior

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#7266

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The Crest of the Family of Ferguson of Pitfour in the County of Aberdeenshire :

The crest as engraved upon this Pair of George III Irish Silver Basting Spoons
by Christopher Skinner hallmarked Dublin circa 1764
and upon the George III Irish Silver Soup Ladle
by John Laughlin, Senior and for David Peter hallmarked Dublin (no date letter)
is that of the family of Ferguson of Pitfour in the County of Aberdeenshire.

It may be blazoned as follows:
Crest: A crescent or rising from a cloud proper

Given the presumed dates of manufacture of the pair of basting spoons and the soup ladle
there is every likelihood that these were in the possession of t
he Scots Territorial House of Ferguson of Pitfour.
The main candidate for their ownership is James Ferguson of Pitfour,
the 2nd Laird (born 1700 died 25th June 1777).
He was a leading jurist who became a Senator of the College of Justice in Edinburgh,
taking the judicial title of Lord Pitfour in 1764,
a date that meshes in well with these spoons and ladle.
James was the son of James Ferguson of Pitfour,

the 1st Laird who acquired the estate of Pitfour in 1700.

James, the 2nd Laird married The Honourable Anne Murray

(born 20th September 1708 died 2nd January 1793) on the 3rd February 1733.
Anne was the 3rd daughter of Alexander Murray,
the 4th Lord Elibank and his wife, Elizabeth Stirling.

Here it should be noted as a point of interest that James and Anne's second son,
Major Patrick Ferguson (born 4th June 1744 died 7th October 1780)

was an officer in the British Army officer in the British Army

who was an early advocate of the use of light infantry and the designer of the Ferguson rifle.

He served during the American War of Independence under the command of General Cornwallis

and was killed at the Battle of King's Mountain in the Province of South Carolina on the 7th October 1780.

He was aged 36 at the time of his death.

Heraldry by John Tunesi of Liongam

MSc, FSA Scot, Hon FHS, QG

Hook End (or hook-handle) basting spoons are peculiar to Ireland, and date mostly from the mid-18^th century. 

Their unique characteristic of these spoons is the broad over-scrolled terminal

bearing a rather stylish large crest.

 These serving utensils are mentioned in text as hanging from vessels,

and being “good for drawing poultry”(removing poultry insides).

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