#AuctionHouseArtefact
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threadinburgh.scot
Today's #AuctionHouseArtefact is the WW1 medals of Neil Shaw Mackinnon from Leith. His wartime career was brief but eventful, hallmarked by bravery and a run of luck ending in tragedy; less than 3 weeks after he received his DSC 🎖️ he would disappear with his ship into the Irish Sea.
A thread 🧵▶️
Medals of Neil Shaw Mackinnon. Left to right, George V Distinguished Service Cross; British War Medal; Victory Medal with Oak Leaves for Mention in Dispatches; WW1 Memorial Plaque.
February 16, 2025 at 4:50 PM
threadinburgh.scot
Today's #AuctionHouseArtefact is this 19th century Scottish pottery jug decorated with fishwives and the words "Caller Herrin" and "Caller Ou". We can tell by the distinctive clothing that these are Newhaven Fishwives; elaborately voluminous and gathered striped skirts, capes and lace-lined bonnets.
A glazed pottery jug with lavender decorations and a print showing two fishwives carrying creels, the words "Caller Herrin" below A glazed pottery jug with lavender decorations and a print showing two fishwives standing and seated behind creels, the words "Caller Ou" below
November 22, 2024 at 11:40 AM
threadinburgh.scot
Today's #AuctionHouseArtefact is this advert poster, "Fly BEA to #Edinburgh" showing an artistically licensed John Knox's House* on the High Street.
Dates from 1948-1954, £11 would be about £260-340 nowadays.
Just two and a half hours from Northolt to Turnhouse!

* yes, I know it's not his house.
Old aviation poster, "Fly BEA to Edinburgh. Direct from London (Northolt), Return Fare £11.0.0, Flying Time 2hrs 30mins." A blue poster with black lettering and in a vignette an illustration of John Knox's House in Edinburgh
January 13, 2025 at 8:24 AM
threadinburgh.scot
Today's #AuctionHouseArtefact is this oil painting, "The Last Cartridge" by Edinburgh artist William Gordon ("WG") Burn Murdoch, a fictionalised version of an encounter depicting the artist as hunter in 1892. It's currently up for auction - www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auctio...
"The Last Cartridge", oil painting by W. G. Burn Murdoch. A polar bear confronts a hunter with a rifle in an Arctic landscape. The picture has a heavy, gilt frame and a name plate. "Presented by C. A. Hamilton esq."
December 3, 2024 at 10:47 AM
threadinburgh.scot
Today's #AuctionHouseArtefact is a grim reminder of one of Leith's 20th century heritage: industrial whaling. A photographic album "of the Antarctic whaling expedition of the SOUTHERN VENTURER", a Christian Salvesen's factory whaling ship out of Leith 🚢🐳
www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auctio...
A brown paper photo album with black and white photos showing industrial whaling in the 1950s A brown paper photo album with black and white photos showing industrial whaling in the 1950s
April 5, 2025 at 10:06 AM
threadinburgh.scot
Today's #AuctionHouseArtefact is a winner's medal from the 1888 Leith Cup, presented to J. Fox who played left wing for Harp F.C. The team was founded in 1880 by "a few ardent youths" on Leith Links, their players were Irish Catholic immigrants, a number also playing for Hibs at the same time 🍀⚽🏅
Yellow-metal and enamel Leith Cup winners medal. Shielf-shaped with a decorative football and flowers, the front has an enamelled miniature of a football player in green and white kit with a green cap infront of a football goal. The reverse inscribed LEITH CUP Won By Harps F.C. J FOX, 1888 Yellow-metal and enamel Leith Cup winners medal. Shielf-shaped with a decorative football and flowers, the front has an enamelled miniature of a football player in green and white kit with a green cap infront of a football goal. The reverse inscribed LEITH CUP Won By Harps F.C. J FOX, 1888
May 1, 2026 at 10:41 AM
threadinburgh.scot
Today's #AuctionHouseArtefact is "Cromwell's Bartizan"; the victor of the Battle of Dunbar surveys Edinburgh from a rooftop in the Old Town, 1650. By James Drummond RSA, 1861. It is suggested this is the castle but the original description says otherwise; also, the Castle was then under siege!
"Cromwell's Bartizan, Edinburgh", by James Drummond RSA, 1861. Oliver Cromwell surveys his newly conquered lands from a rooftop in the Old Town of Edinburgh after the Battle of Dunbar. A bartizan is an overhanging projection from a defensive wall. The solider in the background has a matchlock firearm over his shoulder, and the slow match is the fine cord that can be seen above his gloved hand. The auction listing suggests this is Cromwell at the Castle, but it was then under siege and he is lower than surrounding buildings. The original RSA listing confirms he is actually stood on a housetop.
February 13, 2025 at 10:19 AM