Scottish Silversmith Robert Allison Celtic Jewelry
The history of the Scottish jewelry brand “PA” made of sterling silver with Celtic motifs began in Glasgow in 1941 and lasted for four decades. The founder of the brand was silversmith Robert Allison, who was trained in the English city of Birmingham. Initially, he opened his workshop in the suburbs of Glasgow – a small town of Gorbals.
According to art historians, the works by another Scottish master Alexander Ritchie (1856-1941) greatly influenced Robert Allison. A graduate of the Glasgow School of Art, Alexander Ritchie created jewelry with traditional Celtic motifs on the island of Iona under the brand “Iona Celtic Art”.
Driven by his love for the history of his native Scotland, the talented silversmith Robert Allison created jewelry and novelties with traditional British, Scottish and Celtic motifs. Among them were the Viking ship, shield and sword, knots, triple spirals, crown, thistle, etc. When creating jewelry by hand, the master used sterling silver and natural stones – agate, cornelius, topaz, citrine, amethyst, and others.
Traditionally, Scottish silver marks has their own characteristics. According to them, in addition to the author’s marking – “RA” in an oval cartouche for Robert Allison, you can accurately determine the city and date of manufacture of the product. For example, a tree for Glasgow, thistle and Edinburgh Castle for Edinburgh, the date letter F in a four-petal cartouche for 1954, the thistle motif and the lion for Scotland.
Scottish Silversmith Robert Allison Celtic Jewelry
In early 1954, Robert’s son, James, joined the family business and contributed to the expansion of the company and its success. As a result, another company called Robert Allison & Sons appeared in the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh, which ceased operations in 1982. Today, made by the Scottish master jewelry is highly collectible.
