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Lot 113
An ivory handled walking cane, and an engraved brass inkwell, Reputedly once the property of Oscar Wilde, the ivory handled cane with an inset amethyst cabochon and gilt metal collar below the letters 'O W, C33' being Wilde's initials and his cell location: Block C, floor three, cell three, at Reading Gaol, 91cm high; together with a Seccessionist style brass inkwell marked 'c.33 - 16th October 1898' (the 16th October 1854 being the date of Wilde's birthday) of pierced foliate form decorated with vine scrolls and berries around a central lidded inkwell and pen tray, 20cm wide, 10cm high (2), Provenance. A private English collector, now deceased. . Note: Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years imprisonment at Reading for homosexuality, then a crime under gross indecency laws. During his jail term, first at Wandsworth prison and then at Reading, Wilde underwent a transformation. The flamboyant playwright was released a broken man, humiliated and bankrupt on May 19th 1897. That Wilde felt reduced from a highly-acclaimed celebrity to a mere 'code' is recalled by his eponymous poem and last work, the 'Ballad of Reading Gaol', written in 1898, which was first published under the pseudonym of 'Cell Number C33' . He also wrote a number of letters signing them simply, 'Prisoner C33'. The 'Ballad of Reading Gaol' rails against the injustice of the death penalty and the hanging of a fellow inmate, Charles Thomas Wooldridge. Without money and ruined in health, Wilde settled in Paris and died three years later. He was buried in the Cimetière de Bagneux but later his remains moved to the Père Lachaise Cemetery in the city. Wilde's tomb in Père Lachaise was designed by sculptor Sir Jacob Epstein and has as its epitaph a verse from 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol'.
Lot 260
A 19th century Syrian ivory, mother of pearl and specimen wood inlaid 'envelope' games table, the square top with triangular leaves enclosing a baize inset above shaped aprons, on square section cabriole legs, the whole typically decorated with star and geometric figures, 60.5cm wide, 80cm high, 60.5cm deep
Lot 258
By Faberge - a silver parcel gilt and lilac enamel decorated photograph frame, workmaster Johan Victor Aarne, St Petersburg circa 1896-1908, the central oval aperture (4cm x 3cm) within an applied laurel wreath, the wire easel stand applied to an ivory backing panel, inscribed to top M.G. ihrer lieben D.M.G., 7.5cm x 7.5cm. Contains the sepia enamelled portrait of a Naval Officer
Lot 706
'Tomotada', an early 19th century ivory buffalo netsuke, the beast reclining with a boy holding its halter seated at its shoulder, its eyes inlaid, the himotoshi generous, signed, 7cm (3in). Provenance: The second Lady Mallowan, by descent, late of 22 Cresswell Place, the London mews home of Agatha Christie
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