Vintage collection on Ebay

**OC Richard** · 16th October 18, 03:06 AM

Amazing collection of vintage silver accoutrements: sporran, brooch, buckles, buttons, sgian, dirk.

I wonder where the date "1873" was arrived at. The hallmarks evidently don't give the date?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Authentic-1...p2056016.l4276

I've looked through hundreds of Victorian photos of men in Highland Dress and the impression one gets is that small modern sporrans like that didn't appear until the early 20th century. They seem to first appear as deerskin Day Dress sporrans, and are more or less updated reproductions of 18th century sporrans. In Evening Dress the long hair sporrans held on a bit longer.

So seeing a white Evening sporran with the 18th century style cantle from 1873 seems to be an outlier (if the date is correct). If I was given photos of that sporran and asked for a date, without a datable hallmark or other provenance, I would put that sporran at c1920.

The fact that they call it a "sputton" and a "broach" makes me question how much they know.

**Tarheel** · 16th October 18, 03:17 AM

I remember when these items appeared on the TV program, "Antique Roadshow". I was amazed at the price then and still find it high. As we say in Oxford, "They sure are proud of their stuff."

It is strange that they have not removed either blade from their sheaves. A bit of penetrating oil (and patience) would fix that issue. Thanks for bringing this to the Rabble's attention.

**OC Richard** · 16th October 18, 03:30 AM

Thanks!

They say it was appraised on Antiques Roadshow Season 18 Knoxville Tennessee.

I've been navigating the PBS site and it looks like that episode is split into three different videos? Not sure which on this item appears on.

**CelticSire** · 16th October 18, 11:33 AM

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/sea...73--201305A40/

**plaid preacher** · 16th October 18, 12:46 PM

The buttons are interesting. I wish I could make e-bay zoom in. They look to have different designs on them.

**BertMcG** · 16th October 18, 05:24 PM

The Silver Makers' Mark on the buckle in the video from the link in the listing certainly looks like the mark of Edinburgh silver smith William Marshall from that time period, doesn't mean that the sporran is necessarily from the same time period though

William Marshall subsequently William Marshall & Son	1802..1821	Buckle, decanter label, flatware, napkin ring, tea service
1822..1866
1872..1895

**CollinMacD** · 17th October 18, 08:57 AM

Nice collection, to much for my bankbook. I rather make antiques buying new and enjoying now. As some have stated so many forgeries out there hard to tell real from fake, especially to a novice. Too much of a risk for that much money.

As far as how the experts determine value, value is only what a person is will to pay for that item. You could say its work a million dollars, but if you only are able to sell it for a dollar the true value is a dollar.