Topic: Caithness ring for show.

[keith]

Assay mark for Birmingham, date latter for 1976, other marks are CG 30, first I've seen, doesn't really suit me but Linda likes it 

[chopin-liszt]

  Is there anything in the hallmark to indicate the silver artist's name?
The setting looks quite complex and intersting.

In the '70s in Edinburgh, there was a big surgence of silver artists working, making and selling exclusive designs, many of whom are now well known and collectable in their own rights. The main shop selling this sort of thing was an exclusive sort of place you had to ring the doorbell to be allowed in, Ian Clarkson's, in the road leading down to the Grassmarket from the top of the Mound.
It looks to be quite consistent with the sort of stuff he sold in the '70s. (my mother bought a lot)
I've just checked, the shop is still there. Just called Clarkson's now.
Many of the artists did get their own hallmark.

[keith]

Afraid not Sue just the lion mark for silver the anchor for Brum , a date letter and CG 30, looked on the Scotlish glass site there are a couple similar.

[chopin-liszt]

It was quite expensive to register a personal hall mark, not all of the artists did.
It just looks very similar to the quite large and complex designs that were the height of fashion at that time, in Scotland. It might be worth tracking down the designer.
It isn't beyond any stretch of the imagination to think that Caithness would have tried to find a local artist who could produce a fashionable/exclusive design for their jewellery.

[KevinH]

The ring design is, I believe, the same as shown in the Scotland's Glass site at this page and described as "filigree band".

Keith, is that the same page you looked at?

That page shows that the ring was made in at least 1972, 1973 and 1977 so a 1976 example fits well.

Also, within the general Ysartglass site, the page on Paul Ysart and Caithnees Jewellery gives some details of designer and makers. And since there is a known example for 1972, it is probably reasonable to think that the "filigree band" ring was designed by Colin Terris and made by Lucia Polanski, but perhaps later rings were made elsewhere.

With a date of 1976, it is possible that the millefiori element was made by Peter Holmes. But I am not sure of that.

[keith]

Thanks again Sue, yes Kevin that's the page I saw, will have to keep a look out for more of the same 

[chopin-liszt]

  Well, Colin Terris would be certainly be a name to attach to the design if that is the case. I don't know enough to know the silversmith's name I'm afraid, but knowing it helps.
I really think this sort of thing needs to be looked at as a whole, and the silver work credited properly as well as the glass, in the context of the expensive and unique jewellery fashions in Scotland, in the '70s.

[keith]

Probably the only piece of glass that won't be on the shelf, instead it will be used as intended, not by me that is 

[chopin-liszt]

Just don't let Linda twig that such rings can be easily be converted into practical knuckledusters.

[keith]