A scarce 19th Century Napoleonic era carved ivory pipe tamper / tobacco stopper in the form of the Hartlepool Monkey. The tamer featuring a carved figurine depicting the monkey in military style human clothing set to a silver base with monogram to underside. Measures approx; 9cm long. As illustrated in 300 Years Of Tobacco Stoppers - Fine Works Of Art In Miniature by A. Leslie (privately published in 2012) The Hartlepool MonkeyA story is told that during the Napoleonic wars, a French ship sank in a storm off Hartlepool with none of the crew surviving. The local fishermen, like the rest of the country, were concerned about a possible French invasion and infiltration of spies. The ship had a pet monkey as a mascot who was smartly dressed in human clothes and when found alive was assumed by the suspicious fishermen, never having seen a Frenchman or, for that matter, a monkey, to be a French spy. Not responding to their questioning, the unfortunate animal went through a form of trial, was found guilty, and hanged from the mast of a fishing boat.A more plausible record recalls the sinking of a ship with the loss of all hands in 1772 off the village of Boddam near Peterhead. The villagers could only claim salvage of the wreck if there were no survivors so when the ship's monkey appeared alive, he had to be done away with and was duly hanged.Research at Aberdeen University by Fiona-Jane Brown, suggests that the Boddam story travelled down the East coast, was eventually picked up by a Geordie comic singer in the mid-nineteenth century and found root in Hartlepool, where it is still commemorated to this day despite the grave reservations as to its veracity.The clothing worn by the monkey in the stopper illustrated in Plate 76, that includes a curious mixture of tartan trews, tasseled bonnet and a Continental tail coat with a bow tie, dates not from the period of the alleged incident but to the middle of the nineteenth century, the date the story acquired notoriety. An explanation for this ensemble is that during a visit by Queen Victoria to Brittany in 1855, on her way to the Paris Exhibition, her son had worn a kilt, making highland dress and tartan fashionable locally for a brief period thereafter, from which the carver modelled his creation. This would imply that this finely carved stopper is of French origin.
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A collection of porcelain figures dating from the 18th Century to include a Derby figure of Andromache Weeping Over The Ashes of Hector, decorated in coloured enamels, and picked out in gilt, on canted rectangular base, small Meissen manner figurine depicting a young boy playing a musical instrument, A Derby figure of John Milton, c1780, holding in his left hand a text from Paradise Lost, the pillar below moulded in relief with related scene, on cut cornered gilt base and another. Tallest measures approx; 26cm tall. Some minor age related wear present, firing faults to base of Andromache.
Karin Jonzen (1914-1998) - Walking Torso - A 20th Century British bronze torso figurine. The female form torso having a green verdigris finish and raised on black square composite base. Label to underside for The Phoenix Gallery Lavenham Suffolk and notated in pen with artists name otherwise unsigned. Measures approx; 22cm tall.
Demetre Chiparus (1887-1947) - A large bronze Art Deco figurine depicting an Egyptian dancer standing on tiptoe in an exotic dancing costume, arms spread wide and leading leg outstretched. Raised on a black marble globe plinth with engraved signature and cast Bronze Garantie. Measures approx 44cm x 22cm. No signs of visible major damage
Luke Nuliayok - A large Inuit art hand carved soapstone Gjoa Haven figurine depicting a transformation owl spirit drum dancer. The highly unusual piece with owl carved head, drum and beater having carved Shamanic heads to shoulders. Measures approx; 26cm x 26cm x 18cm. Some damage to foot however most pieces present.
A collection of Ancient Roman terracotta pottery figurine fragments comprising a large mostly complete figurine of an animal with tail across paw along with a group of small partial figurine Deity / Goddess fragments. Largest measures approx; 17cm.From a private Museum collection of the late Mr Brian William Hooper
An 19th Century Chinese / Japanese gilded bronze temple figurine in the form of a standing Buddha. The central figure holding Buddhist object and palm outstretched raised on Lotus pedestal over a three step base. The figure set to an ornate pierced leaf back panel set with clouds and central chakra wheel. Measures approx; 11.5cm tall.
A 19th Century Chinese Oriental hand carved and gilt decorated figurine of Buddha. The figure modelled with pointed headdress and central Urna to face seated in the Lotus position raised on Lotus pedestal base. The figure mounted to an ebonised plinth square base. Figure measures approx; 11cm tall.
Davidee Saumik - A large Inuit art hand carved polished shiny black stone figurine depicting a male figure skinning a seal. The figure with carved facial features and hair with arms around the seal and raised kneeling on naturalistic base. Signed by artist Davidee Saumik & signed in Syllabics E9-876. Measures approx; 22cm x 13cm x 6cm.
Peter Anauta - A large Inuit hand carved polished shiny black stone figurine depicting a male figure wrestling / holding a seal. The figure with gently carved facial features with arms around the seal and raised on plinth. Signed by artist Peter Anauta E9-1353. Measures approx; 31cm x 14cm x 14cm.
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