Silver inkwell stand

Maker’s mark: G&SCoLD (Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company) Assay Marks: lion passant, leopard's head (London) Date Mark: “l” (1906)   The inkstand is inscribed “3 DECEMBER 1907” and "With all good wishes from" and the engraved signatures of the Lords, Ashbourne, Macnaghten, James of Hereford, Atkinson, Collins and Halsbury.   This was a present to Sir Robert Threshie Reid on his marriage to Violet Elizabeth Hicks-Beach, from six Judicial Members of the House of Lords.   Robert Threshie Reid was educated at Balliol College, Oxford.  His political career began in 1880, when he was elected to the House of Commons as MP for Hereford.  In 1886 he became MP for Dumfries. He remained in the House of Commons until 1905, during which time he was appointed Solicitor General and Attorney General.  He left the House of Commons in 1905 and became Lord Chancellor.  Reid became Baron Loreburn of Dumfries in 1906, and in 1911 he was made Earl Loreburn.