Motto "A tout pourvoir"

[ainslie]

I have a small ceramic dish with a heraldic device, handed down through the family, but of unknown origin.  The motto on a folded band at the foot reads "A TOUT POURVOIR".  The arms are on an oval plaque and I will try to add them in a later post but I always have problems in posting photos.

As a first shot, does anyone know whose motto this could be?  The part of the family where we think this came from lived in Fife, but they were not entitled to arms, as far as we know.

Ainslie

[JJen]

This could be of interest -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Oliphant

http://www.scotclans.com/scottish-clans/clan-oliphant/

JJ

[ainslie]

Thanks for that.  I do not know of any family link with Oliphant, but who knows?
I hope to post a photo later, showing the rather strange arms which may tell you more.

A

[Ruskie]

Maybe not related to your family at all  - one of your ancestors could have picked it up at a house sale.  It might be useful if you could get it dated. Is there any maker's mark on the back of the dis?

[ainslie]

Sadly there  are no clues as to the maker.  The dish is saucer-like with no ridge for the cup to rest in, and there is a matching small bowl with the same markings.
I WAS still struggling to reduce the photo enough to post here, lacking the techie skills.  I zseem to have won at last.

A

[KGarrad]

This looks like the Oliphant arms impaled with those of another? Usually a wife's arms.

The Olipant arms are Gules three crescents Argent - i.e. a red shield with 2 white/silver crescents.
The arms are also surmounted by the unicorn's head crest.

Because the arms aren't on a shield, but in a oval, I would suggest they may be those of a female who married into the Oliphant line?



The impaled arms (on the right) would be: Argent a bend cotised sable three cinquefoils of the field. But I'm not finding that anywhere?

[ainslie]

Thanks for those thoughts.  I will see if I can dig anything out about links with Oliphant, and will take a note of the impaled arms for later digging.  The terms are helpful as I would have used something less refined!

A

[Ruskie]

Very nice Ainslie. The execution of the lion in particular leads me to believe that this might be quite old - it has a 'primitive' look to it.

I think if you look at the materials, glaze and method of manufacture you may get further clues.

There may be some on here who know about such things if you would like to post more images (perhaps include a ruler or measure to give an indication of dimensions) - presumably photos from above and base.

[Flattybasher9]

There is this one :-

Herr Brunwart von Augheim, a pale sable three cinquefoils argent.

Regards

Malky