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posted 01-22-2015 03:13 PM            

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Does anybody know if Lionel Alfred Crichton's collection went to auction when he died? If so, was there a catalogue from this sale?
From what I understand, it would have been in the 1930's

I have a spoon that was owned by him in the 1920's and would find it fascinating to have the old catalogue (if it even exists) that possibly has my spoon in it! I know it's a wild goose chase, but thought I would ask...

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posted 01-24-2015 05:54 AM            

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Not a helpful reply I'm afraid - I've never seen any references to a Crichton sale let alone a catalogue for the sale. To put this in context, I see occasional references to the sale of the Breadalbane collection but have never come across a catalogue for it. The one catalogue for a pre WW2 sale of early spoons still coming up for sale occasionally is that for the 1935 sale of the Ellis collection, probably because it was a source document for early marks and extra copies were printed to recognise the likely demand. All I can really say is keep looking and hoping. Good luck with the hunt!

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posted 01-24-2015 09:40 PM            

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Thank you! I'll keep looking, you never know what you'll find out there...

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posted 05-28-2015 03:41 AM            

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I ought to have remembered and mentioned a book that might be of interest: Old Silver Spoons of England by Norman Gask, originally published in 1926 but copied and reprinted in 1973. It uses many photos and descriptions of spoons owned by Lionel Crichton, taken from his case book. If your spoon is 17th century or earlier, it might just feature.

There is a copy of the reprint lurking on my shelves if you should want me to check whether any of the illustrations and descriptions match your spoon.

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posted 05-28-2015 11:21 AM            

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Thank you for that information!
It's funny you mention that book, as indeed that's how I found out that my spoon was one of his! If I remember correctly, it's on page 100 or thereabout.
I didn't know this when I bought the spoon, it was later that I noticed it in the book.
Quite a pleasant surprise it was!

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posted 05-28-2015 06:09 PM            

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Yes. Always nice to discover a bit of provenance.

Another thought that may not help you in your search. Lionel Crichton died in 1938 at the age of 72. His business, Crichton Brothers, continued trading and only closed down in 1950. I imagine his collection could simply have been treated as stock and sold off over the years from the firm's shop.

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posted 05-29-2015 09:53 AM            

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I wasn't aware of that, but indeed possible that his spoons remained with the business. Interesting indeed!

I'm not sure if you know Gary Bottomley from Reign Beau, but that's who I got my spoon from, and it's still on his website.

In the book, it's the Jeremy Johnson seal top spoon from 1642. Look at them and see if you agree, I'm as sure as ever that's my spoon!

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posted 05-29-2015 11:41 AM            

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Yes, I know Gary and have bought the occasional spoon from him.

The photograph in my copy of the book is a bit murky but I think you must be right about yours being the Crichton spoon. The matching initials could possibly be explained as being on two separate spoons from a dispersed set but the positioning of the leopard's head punch seems to me to be the clincher pointing to a single spoon.

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posted 05-29-2015 12:29 PM            

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I agree with you that the other possibility is another from the same set. But as you noticed, the Leopard's Head is to the side.
I initially bought the 1973 reprint, but after finding my spoon and my new increased interest, I looked around and finally found the original 1926 edition and bought it.

In the 1926 edition (which is exactly the same) the B&W plates are much, much clearer than the 1973 reprint, and to my delight, I could also see that long scratch in the centre of the bowl in the picture. That is what gave me the certainty I have now.

It was an added bonus to the deal!

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posted 05-29-2015 01:47 PM            

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Maybe I should get a copy of the original edition too! I've put-up with the murky photos of the reprint mainly because I find various more recent works better for general reference purposes, in particular the massive three volumes of How from the 1950s. However, you never know, I might also have the luck one day to acquire one of the Crichton spoons and need to check it out against a better photo...

Incidentally, I've done a bit more browsing which may or may not help in trying to trace the spoon's history since it featured in the book.

Crichton's only son was killed in WW 1. However, his son-in-law, Victor Albert Watson (1897-1974) was a partner in the firm and the Watsons seem to have been the main heirs. Crichton had also collected American silver and in 1954 they sold his collection of American silver to the Flynt collection in Deerfield.

I haven't turned up any reference to their selling his English collection which makes me think it may indeed have been treated as stock of the business.

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posted 05-29-2015 02:01 PM            

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I am grateful for your help in this!

I am fascinated in finding out anything I can about this spoon and this has been very fun and interesting so far!

I recommend the 1926 edition mainly for the better pictures, however, my copy although complete and original is delicate. I have to turn the pages with care as they could very well pull out.

I've kept both copies and will use the newer one for simply reading and the old one for picture comparison.

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