GERALD BENNEY: a rare pair of silver-gilt and enamelled pitchersLondon 1973, the bases with master enamellers mark AAE in an oval punch, for Alan Alfred Evans, stamped GERALD BENNEY LONDON,Translucent red enamelled hinged domed covers over a fine textured ground, with bodies with bark effect textured sides of broad baluster form, with cream enamelled loop handles, each with an engraved crest to the front with the head of St John the Baptist couped distilling drops of blood within a strap and buckle, initialled by the hinge mount script 'M L', height 25.5cm, weight total 89oz. (2)Footnotes:ProvenanceSold Bonhams 12th October 2004, lot 128.Gerald Benney decided that his home at Beenham House in Berkshire was the place to develop the use of enamels. The first steps were to travel to Zurich to find an enameller who worked for Burch Korrodi. By chance he came across the Norwegian Berger Bergensen who had worked for the House of Bolin as well as Burch. Bergensen was persuaded to come to Beenham House and taught the Benney workforce all he knew about enamelling. Alan Evans and Robert Winter became notable master enamellers for Benney.It took several years to master the craft. He refined and mastered this art, enamelling larger surface areas than Fabergé.ADRIAN GERALD SALLIS BENNEY CBE RDI (1930 – 2008)Gerald Benney was one of the most outstanding goldsmiths of the 20th century, with works being continuously produced for over fifty years, from private commissions to mass production.Born in Hull, Yorkshire in 1930. His mother Aileen was a talented silversmith and his father, Ernest, was Principal of Brighton College of Art. It was at Brighton College of Art between 1946-1948 that he trained as a silversmith under Dunstan Pruden. After two years national service with the Royal Army Service Corps he went to the Royal College of Art under Professor Robert Goodden. In his first year he was awarded a Prince of Wales scholarship.As well as designs in silver, in his early years Benney also used other material to design a range of products including clocks, lamps and prams.Benney found his first workshop at Suffolk House, Whitfield Place, off the Tottenham Court Road in London during his last term at the RCA. It was at the RCA that Benney met fellow silversmiths David Mellor and Robert Welch; between them they were to revolutionise post war silver design. At this time he also met the jeweller, John Donald.Early in his career Benney discovered, by accident, the distinctive surface texturing of silver that was to become his signature. He inadvertently used a hammer with a damaged head while producing a cup, and liked the effect. This surface texturing soon became known as 'Benney Bark Finish'. The finish was widely imitated and dominated contemporary silver design for almost two decades. Its success was, not only, for its new contemporary look but also for the practical reasons, that it almost eliminated tarnish and fingerprints.In 1963, Benney moved to Beenham House near Reading. It was here that he decided to develop the use of enamels. Starting in 1968 he revived the almost-lost art of enamelling, he went on to be one of the world's foremost modern enamellers. In 1969, he moved his London studio to Falcon Wharf, Bankside where he eventually employed 22 people.In 1973 Benney moved his workshop to warehouses in Bear Lane, Southwark. Also in this year Goldsmith's Hall held a major retrospective of his work.In 1974 he received his first Royal Warrant granted by The Queen, followed by another in 1975 by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. In 1980 a fourth Royal Warrant was granted from HRH The Prince of Wales. Becoming the first craftsman to hold four Royal Warrants simultaneously.Benney's work can be seen in many collections worldwide, including those of the Victoria and Albert Museum and The Goldsmiths' Company.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ARAR Goods subject to Artists Resale Right Additional Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
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Attributed to Francois Villemsens (French, fl. mid 19th century): An impressive pair of First Universal 'Great Exhibition' gilt bronze Neptune ewersCirca 1851Each with mythological aquatic figural decoration, the elaborate rocaille cast urn bodies with intertwined sea serpent high scrolling handles and eagle pouring lips, the swept upper bodies cast with the sea gods drawn by twin pairs of hippocampi, trumpeting mermaids and mermen, shells and acanthus leaves, above foliate girdles applied with Neptune masks, dolphins and alternating shells and starfish, each raised on mermen and mermaid tripod supports, above rockwork tripartite platform footed bases, 56.5cm high (2)Footnotes:The model of the offered ewers is almost identical to a vase exhibited by the bronzier François Villemsens at the first Universal Exhibition known as the Great Exhibition, held in London in 1851. In the Art Journal illustrated catalogue the entry notes for his work commented: 'the three vases are from the establishment of M. Villemsens of Paris, worker in bronze, and manufacturer of church ornaments; the latter branch of business especially, being largely carried on by this house. During our visit to Paris towards the close of the past year, we saw in his extensive showrooms a vast variety of objects, exhibiting more or less taste in composition, and ingenuity of workmanship; these were principally executed in bronze and in brass, and were adapted as well for the embellishment of the private dwelling as for purposes of ecclesiastical use and decoration - statues, vases, chandeliers, candelabra, delicate rail-work, etc. The three bronze vases and dishes selected from the contributions of this firm are distinguished by beauty of outline and elaborate ornament, approaching very closely to the best antiques'.Likely descended from a family of goldsmiths in the 18th century, François Villemsens established his workshop in the Marais, first at 18 rue Michel Le Comte, then at 71 rue du Temple. In 1834, he exhibited a facsimile of the armour of Francis I, which was hailed by the Archives du Commerce et de l'Industrie (Paris, 1834, p. 157). By 1835, he entered the Réunion des Fabricants de Bronze, heir to the former corporation of foundrymen, and regularly participated in the Expositions des Produits de l'Industrie Française. Winning a silver medal at the Exhibition of 1839, Villemsens joined the 'Bronze of Art and Furnishings' category alongside Thomire & Cie and Victor Paillard before winning a further silver medal at the last Exposition des Produits de l'Industrie Française in 1849. With these successes he approached the Universal Exhibition in London in 1851 where he won a new medal by submitting the vases mentioned above, including the Neptune vase. The success led him to New York where he participated in the Universal Exhibition of 1853 and appeared in the official catalogue of the New York exhibition of the industry of all nations, p. 154, at No. 15 as 'Bronze candelabras, groups, lamps, etc. Villemsens & Co, manu. 71 rue de Temple, Paris'... He was again a medallist at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1855 and by 1863 Villemsens had offered to finance the award of a carving prize that would be awarded each year by the Réunion des Fabricants de Bronze. After participating in the Universal Exhibition of 1867 where he presented a cast door from the Baptistery of Florence, he finally retired from business.From the second quarter of the 19th century onwards sculptors, bronziers and goldsmiths particularly appreciated the shape of the ewer to express ornamentation in all its manifestations, giving a free rein to exuberance and eclecticism. Renaissance art was one of their main sources of inspiration, and in particular Mannerism, utilising mythological themes and motifs as illustrated by the present lot. The sculptor Adolphe-Victor Geoffroy-Dechaume and the goldsmith Charles Wagner, who were contemporaries of Villemsens, similarly produced a ewer on the theme of Ondine in 1844, which is reproduced in the Maciet Albums. Characteristically the decoration to this piece does not leave a single part of the vessel plain. Although renowned for the execution of religious ornaments, Villemsens did not limit himself to this field and contributed to renewing the genre of decorative bronzes for a secular and wealthy clientele during the mid 19th century. For a comparable identical pair of vases see Sotheby's Paris, Robert de Balkany, Rue de Varenne, Paris – Evening sale, 20th September, lot 51Related LiteratureD. Alcouffe, A. Dion-Tenenbaum and P. Ennès, Un âge d'or des arts décoratifs 1814-1848, Paris, 1991, op. cit., p. 311, fig. 162a.E. Voirot, Création le multiple : la Réunion des fabricants de bronze (1839-1870), phD thesis, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre - La Défense, 2014This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * TP* VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.TP Lot will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
An Aubusson tapestryFrench, 18th centuryThe main field depicting figures on horseback in elaborate costume, one blowing a hunting bugle and two elegantly dressed females with plumed hats, a pergola and landscaped garden to the middle distance on the right, a peacock elevated to the right-hand edge and a bucolic landscape to the distance on the left, later reduced, 406cm x 203cmThis lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * TP* VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.TP Lot will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A collection of 20th century British and world banknotes, including Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Iraq, Bolivia and Oman.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A Henry I hammered silver penny, probably Norwich Mint (part lacking), and a Henry II hammered silver Tealby-type penny, probably Thetford Mint.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A large collection of USA commemorative coins, including a group of year-type specimen sets, some in hard case formats, some in envelope formats, together with a Franklin Mint limited edition John F. Kennedy 50th Anniversary Edition six half-dollar set 1960-2010, No. 0363/5000, framed, and a group of various other commemorative coins.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A 19th century Costa Rica counterstamped emergency coin, the host coin being a Columbia fifty centavos 1880.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
An Elizabeth II Royal Mint Ladies of Freedom gold proof two-coin set, comprising Britannia ten pounds and Liberty five dollars, cased with certificate, No. 1626.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A large collection of Elizabeth II Royal Mint deluxe-format silver proof collectors' coins, including one pound four-coin sets 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997, a two pounds two-coin set 1997-1998, a Guernsey two pounds coin 1991 and a Thirteenth Commonwealth Games two pounds coin 1986, all cased, the majority with certificates.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A George III shilling 1787, together with a collection of Victorian and later silver coinage, a small collection of pre-1947 silver nickel coinage, a white metal First World War Jutland memorial medallion and an engraved copper disk, detailed with lines of biblical script.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A group of European silver and commemorative coinage, the majority German, including a four-coin set commemorating the Munich Olympics 1972, cased, together with a small group of British and American pre-1947 coinage.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A small group of various silver commemorative coins and medals, mostly related to Royalty, including a Silver Jubilee Post Office Official Commemorative stamp and ingot collection, cased.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A Victoria Canada fifty cents 1900, together with a Japanese one sen, a group of British silver and silver nickel threepences and three Royal Mint specimen coin sets, all cased.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A George III Provincial Drayton & Shropshire Bank five guineas note, signed 'Davies' and dated '1797', and a Drayton & Shropshire Bank one guinea note, both later framed and glazed.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
Three Harrington & Byrne commemorative coin and stamp covers, a Royal Mint silver proof crown 1981 and a small collection of British silver, silver nickel and nickel coinage.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A Bradford Exchange facsimile Victoria Cross commemorative gold and silver coin and medal set with two-colour 9ct gold and 24ct gold double crown.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A Westminster Collection five-ounce silver gilt and silver bullion coin-bar, detailed with a Silver Eagle dollar 1986, slabbed and cased with certificate.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A Franklin Mint Republic of Panama silver twenty balboas 1974, cased with certificate, a Bermuda twenty-five dollars 1975 and a Republic of Panama proof nine-coin set 1975, cased with certificate.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
An Egyptian Ptolemy VI bronze coin, detailed with the head of Isis, an Indo-Scythian King Azes II silver coin and a Persian silver dirham.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A collection of early English hammered long and short cross coinage, including a King John penny, Beneit on London Mint, a Henry III penny, Rauf on London, and a Richard I penny, Fulke on London.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A collection of Victorian half-crowns, including Young Head, Jubilee Head and Old Head, and a small group of Edward VII and George V half-crowns.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A Netherlands Holland Willem VI one-and-a-half groat, five Hungaria hammered dinars and two other European hammered coins.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
An Elizabeth II Royal Mint silver proof crown-size seven-coin set commemorating the 80th Birthday of the Queen Mother 1980, cased.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A small collection of later period English hammered silver coinage, including a James I shilling, mintmark coronet, a James I sixpence 1603, mintmark escallop, an Edward VI shilling, mintmark tun, and a Charles I forgery half-crown.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A George III cartwheel penny smuggler's coin 1797, hinged with recessed interior, together with a Victoria Jubilee head crown 1887, a George VI Maundy penny 1947 and a twopence 1952.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
An Anne half-crown 1712, edge detailed 'Undecimo', and a small group of other coins, including two Victoria crowns, 1887 and 1889.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
An Elizabeth II Solomon Islands silver proof large format six-coin set, comprising six one-ounce silver coins commemorating the Queen's 90th Birthday, cased with certificate.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
An Elizabeth II Pobjoy Mint Silver Jubilee 1977 part coin set, cased, five Turks and Caicos Islands twenty crowns coins and four other similar coins.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
Two Australia Perth Mint quarter-ounce gold proof coins, both commemorating Elizabeth II 65th Anniversary of the Coronation 1953-2018, both cased with certificates.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A small group of Elizabeth I hammered silver coinage, comprising a milled issue sixpence 1562, a hammered shilling, mintmark cross and crosslets, a sixpence 1569, mintmark coronet, a threepence 1574, mintmark Eglantine, a twopence, mintmark crescent, and a facsimile copy of a crown.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A Jamaica gold proof two hundred and fifty dollars commemorating the Tenth Anniversary of the Investiture of Prince Charles 1969-1979, cased with certificate.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A Japanese gold one yen 1871, reverse with sunburst crest, superimposed over the sacred mirror, surrounded by military banners, chrysanthemum and paulownia crest.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
An Elizabeth II Royal Mint proof sovereign 1997, No. 1888, in a deluxe case with certificate, sealed within a blister pack.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A small collection of cased Royal Mint proof coins, including an All Change 25th Anniversary of Decimal Currency in Britain seven-coin set, cased with certificate.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A set of nine Elizabeth II Jubilee Mint two-ounce silver the Queen's Beasts commemorative five pounds coins, all cased with certificates.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A rare early Victorian Provincial Arundel Bank five pounds note, dated '7th October 1839' and numbered '6099' (cut, soiled overall, creased).Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A large collection of USA United States Mint deluxe-cased silver proof dollar and half-dollar commemorative coin sets, including Bill of Rights 1993 two-coin set, Robert F. Kennedy 1998 two-coin set and Korean War Memorial coins 1991, all cased, and one part-set.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
A German Saxony Christian II and George I joint reign half-thaler 1605, and a shipwreck-found silver eight reales, with envelope detailed 'Isla de Muerto Shipwreck'.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
An Elizabeth II Royal Mint Millennium silver proof thirteen-coin set, including the four-coin Maundy set, cased with certificate, No. 03649.Buyer’s Premium 29.4% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price. Lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com will attract an additional premium of 6% (including VAT @ 20%) of the hammer price.
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150138 item(s)/page