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[Robert Falcon Scott (1868-1912)] A Edward VII silver bowl presented to Captain Scott by the members of the wardroom of the Discovery on the occasion of his marriage on 2 September 1908

MARK OF GOLDSMITHS AND SILVERSMITHS COMPANY, LONDON, 1906

細節

[Robert Falcon Scott (1868-1912)]

A Edward VII silver bowl presented to Captain Scott by the members of the wardroom of the Discovery on the occasion of his marriage on 2 September 1908
Mark of Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company, London, 1906
Circular and on spreading foot, the body moulded mid-rib and with two harp-shaped handles, the body engraved with presentation inscription 'To/Captain Robert Falcon Scott. C.V.O., R.N./ON THE OCCASION OF HIS MARRIAGE/September 2, 1908./WITH THE GOODWILL OF ALL WHO WERE PRIVILEGED TO SERVE UNDER HIM/IN THE WARD ROOM OF THE "DISCOVERY",/1901-1904.' and seal of the National Antarctic Expedition 1901, marked on side and stamped beneath the base, 'GOLDSMITHS & SILVERSMITHS COMPANY 112 REGENT STREET, W'
15¾in. (40cm.)
44.26 troy oz. (1376.7gr.)

來源

Presented to Captain Scott on the occasion of his marriage, 2 September 1908 and thence by descent to his son, Sir Peter Scott.

注意事項

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拍品專文

The wedding present from the officers of the Discovery to Scott was organised by Wilson and Skelton. Two letters from Wilson to Skelton in the SPRI tell the story. Writing from Scotland, where he was employed by the Grouse Disease Enquiry, just over a week ahead of the wedding: 'My Dear Skelton, Scott's wedding is coming off so soon that there is no time to lose. I feel very useless here and can only make suggestions which may or may not be useful... The thing is for someone to get to a decent silversmith's shop and see what they have -- if the present is to be ready for the wedding there won't be time to make it. Is anyone in town -- or can you go there, or Charles?... That place in Regent Street always has a big selection of really nice things for wedding presents... You say you are in touch with Charles [Royds]. Mulock. Michael [Barne]. Armitage. Muggins [Hodgson]. Therefore I make myself responsible for Koettlitz, Ferrar, Bernacchi and myself, and enclose a cheque for six pounds because I think the subscription will be very likely to be a little over a pound for each of us... As for inscriptions I think only that it should be to the point and as short and simple as can be managed. I feel I must commit myself in this as I can do so little else to help and enclose a suggestion.' Wilson then adds a paragraph on Shackleton, then on the Nimrod expedition and in bad odour with Scott and Wilson over the issue of his expedition's base in McMurdo Sound, an area to which Scott felt he had reserved all rights: 'Now, as regards Shackleton I believe we have no real rights to cut out his name before we know both sides of the case and what I propose is this -- I will make myself responsible for his subscription, and will either write myself or get my wife to write to Mrs Shackleton on the question. Scott need not know whether he has subscribed or not -- if we do not give a list of names with the present. I feel it would be a blot on the present -- as well as a lasting blot on Shackleton -- to give a present from the Ward Room without giving him a chance: and we are really prejudicing the case. As you know I am as little in sympathy with what he has done as anyone -- but I think we must be strictly fair in a thing of this kind and give him the benefit of any doubt there may still be.

If we word the present from "All in the Wardroom" it will not make any difference to Scott whether Shackleton has been offered the chance to subscribe or not, so long as he never knows -- and if we take care that no list of names goes with it -- and there is no need of any list of names -- he need never know. But I would like you to use the pound which I am sending for him. If he doesn't see it never mind. I also think it would be a bit hard on Mrs Shackleton to feel that no-one had mentioned the matter to her -- hence our wish to write. The only necessity is to keep the list of subscribers to ourselves -- I am really thinking more of Mrs Shackles than of Shackles himself, and I believe you will agree with us in this. Let me know.

As for mentioning Miss K. Bruce on the present I think better not. Have a card illuminated to go with the present and include her name there...' (SPRI, MS342/33/6 D)

A letter from Wilson to Skelton after the wedding tells us of the outcome: 'I am very much indebted to you for having taken all the trouble over that present. ...I was most fascinated by Mrs R.F.Scott, she seems to me a most attractive person - and looked decidedly clever in the face - I never thanked you for your formal receipt -- I felt very much flattered when I saw my suggestion for an inscription taken -- I don't think it could have been much simpler anyhow...' (SPRI MS 342/33/5)

Scott married Kathleen Bruce, the sculptor, in the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace. The headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror read 'Famous Explorer Married'. The bride 'wore a dress of white satin trimmed with Limerick lace and a bodice of chiffon with a wreath of natural myrtle and a tulle veil.' She was given away by her brother Lieut. William Bruce and Scott's best man was Captain Henry Campbell 'so tall and handsome that when Kathleen saw him she whispered to Con, 'Could I marry him instead?'' (L.Young, A Great Task of Happiness, The Life of Kathleen Scott, London, 1996, p.100).