A Scottish unmarked gold Vinaigrette.

A Scottish unmarked 15 carat Gold Vinaigrette, circa 1850, in its original retailer’s case for ‘MacKay, Cunningham & Co. Goldsmiths To the Queen, 47, North Bridge Street, Edinburgh.’ The exterior of the viniagrette engraved with scrollwork and, on the lid, the owner’s initials in script ‘JS‘. The interior of the lid with an inscription: ‘Presented to Mrs. Sommerville of Dalmore on the 50th Anniversary of her Marriage by Alexander Allandale of Polton and his Children 27th July 1853.’
Mrs. Sommerville was the wife of William Sommerville, who established a paper milling business at Auchindinny in 1835 on the river Esk. Alexander Allendale of Lasswade, Polton, was also a prosperous papermill owner, in Midlothian.
The partnership of James MacKay and David Cunningham had been established at ‘sometime before 1824’ at 40 South Bridge in Edinburgh. The firm is noteworthy for high quality jewellery pieces using Scottish agtes and 15 carat gold.