The Indian Mutiny medal awarded to Corporal W. G. Morey, who was wounded in action while serving with the Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry; a civilian who rose from a humble draper’s assistant in Tasmania to become a well known adventurer, sportsman, and one of India’s finest exponents of the hazardous sport of ‘Pig-Sticking’ Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Corpl. Wm. Morey, Bengal Yeo. Cavy.) together with contemporary dress miniature, fitted with ribbon brooch buckle, named on the edge ‘Sergt. W. G. Morey B.Y. Cavy.’, nearly extremely fine and scarce (2) £800-£1,000 --- William George Morey was born circa 1837 at Chichester, Sussex, the 8th of 10 sons and 3 daughters to James Morey, a shoemaker, later a relieving officer and his wife Martha (née Bullbeck). After the death of his mother on 8 March 1854, James, with a large portion of the older members of his family, emigrated to Australia. The Hobart Colonial Times, dated 10 October 1854, lists among the new arrivals on the City of Hobart from Melbourne, James Morey senior, sons Charles and Josiah together with their wives, daughter Amelia, and two younger sons William and Walter. James opened a drapery store, assisted by William, but it went into liquidation shortly afterwards. With the family situation tenuous William, seeking adventure, travelled to Melbourne where he boarded the American owned ship Rowena and sailed to Calcutta arriving in October 1855, aged just 17. Papers Past in the New Zealand Archives has an article from the Grey River Argus titled “Incidents of the Indian Mutiny”, dated 14 April 1888, by a certain ‘J.P.’ who relates the following: ‘Previous to my becoming a Govern[ment]-employee I held a situation in a Calcutta house, and among others in the same store was a young man named Fred (sic) Morey. Born and bred in London he had served some time as a draper’s assistant but the spirit of adventure and the desire of seeing foreign countries was too strong within him to allow him to remain as such. As soon as the mutiny broke out he threw up his situation and went up country, where he joined the irregular cavalry. During the period he and I were together I had conceived a friendship for him and he stated when leaving he would correspond with me. Soon after his departure I resigned my situation and went up country and heard no more of him. Some days after the arrival of the Lucknow-wounded Mr Carter, a Calcutta merchant, he told me that Morey was among the wounded in Fort William, and was desirous of seeing me, having called upon him and expressed that wish. I went and saw him more than once and happy to say he afterwards recovered and accepted a situation in the same house that employed him before becoming a sabreur.’ It is unclear if this article was written in 1888 or earlier which may account for the inconsistencies of the text but it is clearly referring to William Morey. The Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry was a melange of incongruous men with little or nothing known of each participant other than their name on a medal roll. Raised as early as 23 July 1857, it consisted of strays, adventurers, merchants, planters, teachers, clerks, seafarers, Eurasians ‘of good character’ and ‘homeless’ British or H.E.I.C. army officers who were without a regiment. The only criteria was the ability to ride a horse which understandably confounded the mariners amongst their number. Interestingly the corps members elected their own Lieutenants. They wore a practical ostentatious uniform of corduroy breeches with knee high boots, loose blue flannel blouses and grey felt helmets enveloped in a huge white pugree, their personal arms comprising a heavy sabre, a light carbine and a formidable revolver. The B.Y.C. joined the operational Sarun Field Force at Chatra on the Nepal border in January 1858, serving under Colonel (later Brigadier, C.B.) Rowcroft. The medal roll shows Morey listed as a Corporal serving in the 2nd Troop. The mutineers gave the B.Y.C. the soubriquet “Shaitan-i-Pultan”, the “Devil’s” or “Satan’s Regiment”, due to the ferocity of their charges. With a lack of mounted units the B.Y.C. protected the flanks of various British columns, sharing the trials of climate, exposure, disease and terrain. The BYC fought in 17 actions during the campaign but perhaps their greatest triumph came at Almorah on 5 March 1858, when they made three successive and successful charges to protect the flanks of the column, while Pearl’s Naval Brigade led the forward assault. They were to perform further good services and charges at Tilga (17 April), Deamureagunj (26 November), Toolsipore (23 December), and Kandi Koti (4 January 1859). The Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry was disbanded in the spring of May 1859. Quite when Morey was wounded is unknown as he does not appear in any official casualty figures. After the mutiny Morey returned to Calcutta and according to ‘J.P.’ returned to his job in a Calcutta trading house. The directories of 1861 and 1863 show Morey working in the Indian silk industry as an assistant in R. Watson & Co’s silk filatures at Surdah and Motehar, and concerns at Rajshahi, West Bengal, later becoming Manager of the Radnagore Silk and Indigo concerns at Panchkoorah, Midnapore in 1873. In 1875 the Bengal Directory shows him as the manager of the Fureedpore silk concern. Morey was to become a leading expert in the silk trade comparing the quality of Indian silk to that produced in Italy. In 1871 William married Frances Sophia daughter of Thomas Tweedie, a deputy magistrate in Bengal, who had inherited large indigo estates from his father. He continued working in West Bengal until 1900 before retiring to Ootacamund (Ooty) in the Nilgiri Hills, living in a house called Sydenham. Here he was to become a well loved member of the Nilgiri and Bangalore community. He died on 7 May 1905, on Ootacamund racetrack riding a horse belonging to his son-in-law Captain Gordon-Price when, between the 3rd furlong and half mile posts, he fell from his horse. He was 68 years of age. One might say that he ‘died in harness’ but racing and hunting were indeed his passions. In 1871 the South Australian Chronicle records that Morey sold 31 horses in Colombo for £906, so it is clear he was trading in Indian and Australian horses, if not breeding them, for many years. He was described as genial and fond of the society of men, and his accounts of the Nilgiri racing and hunting scene for the South India Observer were jovial and racy. He was a wonderful rider and just a year before his death he won a race with his country-bred ‘Kunigal’. However, it was the sport of ‘Pig-Sticking’ that he loved most. Ferocious and dangerous, it was not for the faint hearted. Pig-Sticking in Bengal by Raoul, 1893, devotes his book to the best known exponents of this art including William Morey. Raoul gives dozens of pages to the hunts that relate to Morey ‘whose blood is always up when he sees pigs’. It tells a rollicking yarn of the shikari and hunter against a formidable foe. Raoul also provides us with a full length photograph of Morey. The danger is emphasised in an article from The Queenslander, 6 September 1890, which relates: ‘Mr Morey, a well known planter and sportsman in Bengal, was out hunting lately, on horseback, with his daughter, when a wild boar suddenly sprang from the jungle, and making for Mr Morey, threw over both horse and rider with a severe crash. The brute was on the point of tearing his victim with his formidable tusks, when Miss Morey sprang to the ground and placed herself between him and her father, who had been stunne...
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Prince Albert, Duke of York (King George VI) & Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) Wedding cake and ephemera Remnants of royal wedding cake from the marriage of Prince Albert, Duke of York [later King George VI] and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon [later Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother] on 26th April 1923, housed in the original box (7 x 10.5cm) with the couple's AE cipher, Buckingham Palace, 26th April 1923, lacking lower edge of lid; Two carriage tickets to admit Colonel and Mrs Colin Neish to the marriage of His Royal Highness the Duke of York, K.C., with The Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon at Westminster Abbey, along with a card giving carriage directions and a printed note of the dress code for the wedding, all contained in the original addressed envelope;Bowes-Lyon, Cecilia, Countess of Strathmore. A collection of over 30 letters from Cecilia Bowes-Lyon, mother of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, addressed to Mrs (Alice) Neish, on various personal matters, several mentioning Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, including: 24th January 1923: [on the engagement of the Duke of York and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon] "...She is now very happy & after a long period of uncertainty, (as she has ?? for over 3 years) but love prevailed & they are both radiant."; 9th August 1926: [Baby Elizabeth - the future Queen Elizabeth II - comes to visit aged 3 months] "Your lovely little book arrived safely this morning, & I shall give it to Elizabeth as soon as she arrives on Wednesday. They are all, I hope, arriving in a body, Elizabeth & the Duke, the baby, 2 horses, a Valet, maid, detective & Chauffeur!!...";
Scotland including North, Charles McIntyre Leabhar Comunn nain Fior Ghaël. The Book of the Club of True Highlanders. A record of the dress, arms, customs, arts and sciences of the Highlanders. London, [1881]. 2 volumes, folio, bound in gilt embossed tartan with tartan swatches to endpapers;Martin, M. A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland. London: A. Bell, 1716. Second edition, 8vo, folding map (some tape repairs to reverse), folding plate, contemporary panelled calf, bookplate;Sherlock, William. A Preservative against Popery... London: William Rogers, 1688. Fifth edition, small 4to, with the ownership inscription 'T. Carlyle 1833' [presumably Thomas Carlyle], 17th century panelled black morocco gilt, bookplate, small hole to F2 slightly affecting text, some marginal dampstaining, joints split
A 9ct gold filed curb link chain, a decorative cross marked '9ct', a 9ct gold figaro link chain, a cross marked '9ct apex', a 9ct gold filed link chain, a 9ct gold padlock, a 9ct three colour gold Russian wedding ring, a 9ct gold dress ring and an unmarked cameo ring, tests as 9ct gold, 24.8g gross
Raphael Nannini (Continental, 19th/20th century), a bronze and ivory figurine of a lady in an off the shoulder evening dress, leaning forward with her hands on her lap, raised on a green onyx base, signed in the casting and numbered '128', 29.5cm highIvory submission reference 6MXDG39S.Condition:Ok, other than some tiny splatters of decorator's paint and the ivory with tiny hairline scratches.
A group of cufflinks and dress studs, including: two diamond and onyx dress studs; two imitation pearl dress studs; a pearl and mother-of-pearl dress stud; a pair of rose quartz cabochon cufflinks (cracks to one cabochon); a pair of closed-back foiled amethyst cufflinks; a pair of bezel set amethyst cufflinks; a pair of purple paste cufflinks; a pair of 9ct gold cornelian cufflinks, Birmingham hallmarks; a 15ct gold diamond set scarf clip, Birmingham hallmarks; a set of three orange garnet dress studs; a set of three lapis lazuli dress studs; a stickpin with twisted wire finial; and a small quantity of silver and gilt metal cufflinks (a lot)Provenance: The Barry Lock collection
Shreeve Crump & Low. An Art Deco platinum and sapphire dress set, comprising: a pair of calibré sapphire nine stone square-shaped panels with chain-link connections, and three matching dress studs, all signed SC&L Co, width of cufflink panels 1.1cm, circa 1930, maker's stamped fitted case, recess for dress buttonsCondition Report: Incomplete set as the dress buttons are missing, otherwise in a good condition overall.
A group of jewellery, including: a turquoise pippin drop; two 22ct gold wedding rings, Birmingham hallmarks; a 9ct gold dress stud, Birmingham hallmarks; an early 20th century gold belcher chain with later imitation pearls on metal wire; an early 20th century gold hollow bangle, broken; an early 20th century 9ct gold trace chain; a Chinese character pendant and chain; etc. (a lot)Condition Report: 22ct wedding rings 5.89g total (2)Gross weight remaining items excluding turquoise drop 38.87g.
A pair of cufflinks and a dress set, comprising: a pair of early Victorian agate cufflinks, with figure of eight connections, circa 1840, oval panels 1.6 x 1.3cm; and an American 14ct gold and thulite cufflink and dress stud set, by Larter & Sons, the thulite cabochons to ribbon and laurel borders, maker's mark, circa 1910, oval panels 1.5 x 1.2cmProvenance: The Barry Lock collectionCondition Report: Dress set stamped 14k. Gross weight 13.42g. The backs to one of the dress studs is slightly bent.Victorian cufflinks gross weight 6.83g.
A sapphire and diamond dress set, comprising a pair of cufflinks and three dress studs, circular panels with bloomed finish, with a sapphire and rose-cut diamond cluster, the cufflinks with hollow torpedo fittings and chain link connections, French import mark, Paris, cufflink panels, circa 1900, 1.3cm diameterProvenance: The Barry Lock collectionCondition Report: Gross weight 12.65g.
A group of cufflinks and dress studs, comprising: a pair of floral design ruby and diamond set cufflinks, with chain link connectors; a set of the three emerald-set dress studs in Hunt & Roskell case; a set of three 15ct gold amethyst dress studs; and a set of three old-cut diamond and enamel dress studs (a lot)Provenance: The Barry Lock collection
A late 19th century gold and turquoise dress set, comprising a pair of cufflinks, three shirt studs and a collar stud, each set with a cabochon turquoise to raised quatrefoil border, in fitted case, cufflink panels approximately 1.6 x 1.3cmProvenance: The Barry Lock collectionCondition Report: Gross weight 18.73g.Minor surface marks/scratches.Wear and scuffs to the case.Cufflink chain links are worn.A minor ding to one of the cufflinks.
A large and impressive painted Sculpture Group possibly bronze, of a lady in 1920's style costume, wearing a headdress, with black and gilt dress and two gilded borzoi hounds at her feet, the base with design of continuous horizontal gilded motifs, and painted fruiting vine in relief, 6ft 7in H x 3ft 4in W
Collection of late 19th/early 20th Century accessories and clothes to include: a child's dress with handmade lace overlay, a tulle and handmade lace wedding veil and a crepe shawl with fringe. (3) (B.P. 21% + VAT) The veil has a repair and some brown staining. 189x198cm approx. No tears or holes noted.
Three modern ladies evening dresses to include: NW Nightway size 12 blue dress with spaghetti straps and diamante flower to the waist belt, bright pink Monsoon pleated dress with beaded detail and lace neckline (size 16) and an Alyce Designs size 12 sequin and beaded strapless ball gown. (3)(B.P. 21% + VAT)
Mabe pearl and diamond dress ring, central cream mabe pearl, measuring 13.8mm in diameter, with a surround of four diamond set details, estimated total diamond weight 0.16 carats, mount stamped 18 ct yellow gold, ring size M½Condition Report: Gross weight 6.9 gramsSurface scratches to the band consistent with signs of wear
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228188 item(s)/page