Edwardian Silver Argyle, 1908

This fabulous antique silver argyle was made by Moss Morris during the Edwardian period and is engraved "Callow of Mount St. W"(est) to the base - the original Mayfair retailers in London.

Argyle's are clever pots for delivering warm gravy (or sauce) to the table. They are so called because their use was first promoted by the 5th Duke of Argyle. The story goes, that John Campbell, the fifth Duke of Argyll, and his wife Elizabeth Gunning, Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon, disliked the cold gravy that arrived at their table from the kitchens of Inverary Castle. So through several adaptations, where hot water lay next to the gravy in a variety of ingenious methods to maintain its temperature prior to use, the Argyle was born. They were very difficult to manufacture and so were expensive to buy - few therefore were made and even less survive.

This argyle (or argyll) has a hinged flap adjacent to the handle behind which is an aperture for pouring the hot water down a pipe and in to the false bottom of the pot. Both the pipe and base radiate heat to maintain the temperature of the gravy which is served from the main compartment via a long thin spout. The handle is wicker-covered to protect the user from the heat. This argyle has an elegant baluster form with gadroon mounts to the base and rim of the lift-off cover; the latter also having a wrythen finial. It is in excellent condition throughout.