Description

A handsome antique sterling bowl in the early 18th century style with lions mask side handles, typical ribbed body decoration and decorative cartouches. The shaped rim was monteith style which was originally used to hold stem glasses, punch ladle and lemon squeezer (the top of an original monteith is also detachable). To the front there is an engraved crest of a standing cat with the motto “Touch Not the Cat Bot a Glove”*. To the front there is a presentation inscription**. Weight of silver 1321 grams, 42.4 troy ounces. Height 20 cms, diameter 25 cms. London 1886. Maker Sibray Hall & Co.

Literature: *The motto “Touch Not the Cat Bot a Glove” means “Beware when the wild cat’s claws are ‘without a glove”. This is the motto of the Mackintosh clan from Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.

**The inscription reads “James D Gillespie MD FRCSE By the Members of the Harveian Society as a mark of their appreciation of his Eminent Services as Secretary and Of the uniform Tact and Courtesy with which he discharged the duties of his office 1887”.

The Harveian Society is a medical society founded so that doctors could meet at regular intervals to discuss and exchange medical information by means of lectures, demonstrations and conferences. The Edinburgh Harveian Society was founded in 1782. The London Harveian Society was founded in 1831.