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R.L. Christie of Edinburgh, Scotland, was a jeweller, watchmaker, silversmith, and retailer that ran from 1821 to 2007 (185–186 years). With respect to silver, it stands as the longest running business involved in silver merchandising.[1][2]
History[edit]
R.L. Christie was founded in 1821 in Edinburgh by John MacKenzie (1789–1833), originally as jewellers and hardware merchants.[i]
Selected owners, managers, and artisans[edit]
- John MacKenzie's daughter, Mary MacKenzie (1821–1875), who, on August 2, 1847, married Robert Livingston Christie (1825–1862),[3][4][5] and, together, rebranded the firm as R.L. Christie Watchmaker & Jewellers
- The firm was in the hands of Joseph Esplin Cargill (1854–1933) and Grace Mary Christie during the earlier part of the 20th century.[3]
- Peter Cribbes (1828–1875), Watchmaker, Goldsmith, Jeweller, and Silversmith, who, on September 26, 1864, married Mary MacKenzie, former wife of Robert Livingstone Christie.[6]
- Later under George Richardson Cumming (1919–2004)
- 1994–2006: Jewellers Rachel Lillian Skop (born 1944) and Samuel Skop (1938–2011) took over the shop in 1994 after the previous owner retired.[7][8]
- Current: Colin T. Fraser, FSA Scot (Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland) owner. He currently is a consulant for Lyon & Turnbull
The firm closed in 2007.
Addresses[edit]
- Founded in 1824 on Nicolson Square by the Christie sisters, the shop was later moved to Kirkgate, Leith. The sisters eventually settled on the current premises in the early 1900s.
- 17–20 State Street,Edinburgh
Incorporations[edit]
- Incorporated in Scotland October 4, 1993
- Dissolved May 1, 2009
Marks[edit]
The silvermaker's marks for R.L. Christie were the initials, "R.L.C.," although, Culme does not show "R.L.C." as Christie's mark.
- Mc (1825–1826) – mark of John MacKenzie
- R.L.C. (1862–1863) – registered October 1897[9]
Selected works[edit]
The ceremonial mace of the General Council of the University of Edinburgh was sourced, designed, and crafted in Edinburgh by R.L. Christie, Jewellers, Bank Street. Alistair Buchanan, of R.L. Christie, designed it in 1988. The wood was turned by J & J Hardie Antiques on Newhaven Road in Newhaven district. The Silversmith and Gilder was Alastair Campbell of Victoria Street and the Engraver was P. O'Brien.[10]
Selected publications[edit]
- Gifts to Treasure (catalog), Edinburgh: R.L. Christie (1977); OCLC 319980988
- "Messrs R.L. Christie, Edinburgh," National Register of Archives for Scotland; OCLC 655661498
References[edit]
General references[edit]
- Post-Office Annual Directory for 1833–1834 (28th publication), The Letter-Carriers of the General Post-Office, Edinburgh (publisher), Ballantyne & Co. (printer)
- Post-Office Edinburgh & Leigh Directory for 1863–64 (58th annual publication), The Letter-Carriers of the General Post-Office, Edinburgh (publisher), Ballantyne & Co. (printer)
- Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Scotland, Isaac Slater (publisher) (1882); OCLC 230708223
Secondary sources[edit]
- ^ The Directory of Gold & Silversmiths: Jewellers & Allied Traders 1838-1914 (2 vols), by John Culme, Antique Collectors' Club (1987); OCLC 577232605
Vol. 1: "The Biographies"
Vol. 2: "The Marks"
- ^ Edinburgh Year Book, "R. L. Christie, Jeweller & Watchmaker" (article), Scott Hamilton (publisher), 1955, p. 38; OCLC 633721173, ISSN 0422-5759
- ^ a b Clockmakers & Watchmakers of Scotland, 1453–1900, by Donald Whyte (1926–2010), Mayfield Books (2005); OCLC 61175909; ISBN 0954052587; ISBN 9780954052584
- ^ "Deaths" (obituary of Robert Livingstone Christie, Esq.), Fife Herald (Cupar) No. 2147, March 4, 1862, p. 3 (of 4), col. 5 (of 7) (accessible via British Newspaper Archive, subscription required)
- ^ "Mr Robert Livingston Christie" (obituary), Paisley Herald and Renfrewshire Advertiser, March 1, 1862
- ^ Post-Office Edinburgh & Leith Directory 1875–76 (70th annual publication), The Letter-Carriers of the General Post-Office, Edinburgh (publisher), Murray and Gibb (printer); OCLC 505057903, 316371156
- ^ City Jeweller to Close After Two Centuries, The Scotsman, June 15, 2006
- ^ "Obituaries: Sam Skop," by Cyril Ruttenberg, The Edinburgh Star, No. 27, September 2011 (Tishrei 5772), p. 44
- ^ English Goldsmiths and Their Marks (2nd ed., revised & enlarged), by Sir Charles James Jackson, Macmillan & Co. (1921), p. 505 (J. McKenzie), p. 507 (R.L. Christie);OCLC 250665090, 776832499, 796987923, 7391044370
- ^ "The General Council of the University of Edinburgh Mace," (retrieved April 24, 2019)
Primary sources[edit]
- ^ "A Trusted Name, Established in Edinburgh in 1821," R.L. Christie website (at www
.rlchristie .com) (retrieved April 24, 2019)