A RARE 19th century silver urn made by a man who fought on the side of Bonnie Prince Charlie is expected to fetch up to £20,000 when it goes under the hammer.
The urn, which was made by Alexander Johnstone in Dundee in 1740, is the only one of its kind – all the other 15 coffee urns of this type and period are known to have been made in Edinburgh.
Johnstone, who served his apprenticeship with a leading Edinburgh urn-maker, was an active Jacobite and a member of Bonnie Prince Charlie's Life Guards. He was on the winning side at the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745 but was captured at the Battle of Culloden.
The urn, which was recently discovered on the west coast of America, will be sold at the Bonhams Annual Scottish Sale in Edinburgh on August 29.
Other highlights of the Scottish sale, the first part of which will be on August 20, is a painting by Scottish Colourist Samuel John Peploe which is expected to fetch up to £300,000.
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