Jewellery, Objects of Vertu, Silver and Watches

The Doha Clock: a silver gilt table timepiece by Grant Macdonald, 1985, modelled on the Old Palace in Doha, Qatar, with pierced gallery above a loggia storey with lattice-pierced guard rails, the lower section with a window into which is mounted the movement, with circular enamelled dial by Ebel, the other sides with mishrambya panels, raised on a chamfered square malachite base applied with a button bearing the Qatari royal arms, signed behind the clock window ‘Grant Macdonald, goldsmiths, silversmiths, London, State of Qatar’, London hallmark, height 26cm.
£1,500-2000

This table clock was included in the Exhibition ‘Grant Macdonald - London International Silversmith’, held at Goldsmiiths’ Hall, 25 April - 25 July 2018 and is illustrated on page 84 of the exhibition catalogue.

An esteemed contemporary silversmith, Grant Macdonald MBE (b.1947) began his career aged 14 with a pre-apprentice course at the Central School of Arts and Crafts. Setting up a small workshop in 1969, his career progressed with great success, and in 1976 he was in a position to take over Gerald Benney’s extensive workshops located in Bear Lane.



In 1979, Grant received an enquiry from a palace in the Middle East, which opened up a whole new market, since which time, he has continued to create gold and silver gifts for clients in the Gulf States, particularly Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, the UAE and Saudi Arabic. His sensitivity to modern Arabian culture and tradition is a key feature of his designs and subsequent success.

In 1998, he was commissioned to make the golden orb and cross for the reconstructed Frauenkirche in Dresden and in 2006, he was presented with a Queen’s Award for International Trade, the first silversmiths’ company to have received this honour. The year 2015 saw him awarded a Royal Warrant from HRH The Prince of Wales (now King Charles III). Grant Macdonald’s company continues to produce the highest standard of design and workmanship.

His work can be found in No 10 Downing Street, as part of the Silver Trust Collection, Lichfield Cathedral and over 20 City Livery Companies.

The Old Amiri Palace, Doha, formerly the seat of the Ai Thani family, rulers of the kingdom, is now the National Museum of Qatar.


Literature:
Andrew John, Styles Derek: Designer British Silver, pub. ACC, 2014.
Grant Macdonald, London International Silversmith, pub. Crystal Press Ltd, 2018 to accompany the Exhibition at Goldsmiths’ Hall, 25 April - 25 July 2018.

Movement (numbered 2589) disassembled, case and its base in good condition.