Earl of Eglinton - A George II silver spirit or hip flask, London circa 1750 by Alexander Johnston (reg. Jan 1748)

Of ovoid form with a detachable base cup section, the screw cap of cylindrical form with a screw section. The cup section engraved with a linear band. Engraved to one side and the base with a crest of a lady dressed in ancient apparel, holding in her dexter hand an anchor, and in her sinister the head of a savage couped suspended by the hair, below the motto Garde Bien and Earl’s coronet. Maker’s mark only to body.

Length – 12.7 cm / 5 inches

Weight – 192 grams / 6.17 ozt

The crest is for Montgomerie

Probably for Alexander Montgomerie, 10th Earl of Eglinton (1723 – 1769), son of Alexander Seton Montgomerie, 9th Earl of Eglinton (c. 1660 – 1729) and his third wife Susanna Kennedy (1690 – 1780) daughter of Sir Archibald Kennedy, 1st Baronet of Culzean (d.1710).

Another flask with similar shape screw cap but a more broadly rectangular body, marked for London 1727 by Peter Tabart was sold Christie’s 17 June 2015, lot 316 (£1875 incl. prem)

Other maker’s mark only examples include;

A flask of similar form, with an unidentified mark of ID in an oval and given a date of circa 1730 was sold Christie’s 9 Dec 2011, lot 330 (£6875 incl. premium)

A rectangular form example marked for John Luff, sold Christie’s South Kensington, 30 June 2015, lot 270 (£1500 incl. prem)

A rectangular form example FE with fleur-de-lis and crown above (unidentified), sold Christie’s London, The Oakwood Collection, 10 June 2008, lot 68 (£1375 incl. prem)

A rectangular form example marked for Peter Tabart, sold Christie’s South Kensington, 15 June 2004, lot 194 (£1434 incl. prem)

A silver and glass example circa 1725 with mark of George Meale, sold Christie’s 19 Nov 2002, lot 135 (£1434 incl. prem)