Victorian Sgian Dubh by Ferguson & McBean, Inverness

This sgian dubh has a roe deer stag antler handle with a simple silver cap on top.  The lower mount is engraved with a scrolling border. The steel blade has a scalloped back edge and single fuller. The leather covered wooden scabbard has twin shield-shaped mounts finely engraved with Celtic interlace decoration with one vacant cartouche (could be engraved) to the upper mount. The reverse has been marked ‘F&M’, a ‘camel’ [for Inverness], and ‘INVS’

In 1880, William Ferguson ended his partnership with his older brother James and entered into a new one with his brother-in-law, James MacBean, setting up Ferguson & MacBean. Their work was predominantly Scottish and Highland inspired pieces, some of which can be seen today in the collections of the National Museums Scotland and Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.  A detailed biography can be found in in Highland Gold & Silversmiths by G.P. Moss and A.D. Roe.

A fine silver mounted sgian dubh by Ferguson & McBean, previously exhibited by National Museums Scotland, is discussed in The Sgian Dubh: A Collection by Malcolm Ferris-Lay page 16.

Condition:

Some patination to the silver.

Dimensions:

Blade length 8.4cm

Overall length 20.1cm

Maximum width 4.8cm