Sugar bowl, made of silver mined at Wanlockhead, parish of Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire

Maker’s mark: “R&WS”  (R & W Sorley) Assay marks: tree, lion rampant (Glasgow) Date mark: “K” (1907) Other mark: Britannia   This bowl is inscribed “Scotch silver from Wanlockhead, Lanarkshire. R & W Sorley, Silversmiths to H M the King. Glasgow.”  It has a monogram of the initials “NH”.   Wanlockhead, Scotland's highest village at 467m (1531ft), owes its existence to the lead, silver, gold and other minerals found in the surrounding countryside.  The Romans were the first to exploit these deposits, and by 1680 a permanent settlement had been established.  Over the years the Wanlockhead and Leadhills area has produced most of the lead and silver mined in Scotland.  It has also produced some of the world's purest gold, at 22.8 carats.  This was used in the regalia of the kings and queens of Scotland, including the Scottish crown, and more recently, in the mace for the Scottish Parliament.