Accession Number

992.017.002

Description

A silver-plated dish in the shape of a ridged calm shell, 17 scallops on the edge, on the top flat surface by the circular holder, "Dolaura" engraved in a fancy font, the underside bearing the maker's mark.

Narrative

Butter dishes like this one were called 'scallops' in contemporary sources. This one was used by the Dunsmuir's aboard their yacht Dolaura.

 In 1920, the yacht was sold to Arthur Meeker and renamed the VICTORIA; from 1922 to 1924 the yacht belonged to James Shewan and renamed the PATRICIA; from 1926 to 1928 the yacht belonged to Russell A. Alger and was renamed the LAURENTIAN; from 1929 to 1936  the yacht belonged to George W. Childs Drexel and was renamed the ALCEDO.

From 1937 to 1939 the yacht belonged to John C. Sword of Britain and was renamed the VALENA; at the outbreak of WW2, the yacht was requisitioned by the Admiralty, named HMS VALENA and used to hunt enemy submarines until 1945.

VALENA was returned to Mr. Sword and then sold to Pontos Cia de Nav (J. Lavanos), Panama and used for passenger service in the Mediterranean. The yacht was scrapped at La Spezia, Italy on December 30, 1951.  

An aerial photograph of the HMS Valena can be seen here: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205017805

History of Use

This butter dish was used aboard the TSSY DOLAURA, the private yacht built in 1908 for Hon. James Dunsmuir by the Fleming and Ferguson shipyard of Paisely, Scotland. It was named by combining the names of Dola and Laura Dunsmuir. Before the yacht was sold by Mr. Dunsmuir, various objects bearing the name "Dolaura" were removed and handed down through the family. This dish was given to The Castle Society by the neice of the late Kay Dunsmuir, wife of Robin James Dunsmuir, who was son of Robert (aka Robin) William Dunsmuir, son of Hon. James and Laura Dunsmuir. 

Date

1908

Dimensions

6 cm x 8.2 cm x 15.7 cm

Material

Metal, silver

Technique

Cast; Plated

Inscription

Dolaura