Tennants Auctioneers
Lot 2087
A Pair of George V Silver Two-light Wall-Sconces, by Charles and Richard Comyns, London, 1925, in the late 17th century style, each with foliage and putto cast back-plates and with two scroll branches, each terminating in a spool-shaped nozzle with plain wax pan, engraved with a coat-of-arms, 22.5cm high, 57oz 15dwt, 1,796gr (2) The arms are those of the Gresley baronets of Drakelowe hall, almost certainly for Sir Robert Gresley, 11th Baronet. Provenance: Almost certainly made for Sir Robert Gresley, 11th Baronet (1866-1936) for Drakelowe Hall. Probably sold by him as part of the sale of the contents of Drakelowe Hall at Christie's in 1933 and purchased by Sir Nigel Gresley. By descent to his grandson Tim Godrey who gifted them to The Gresley Society Trust. Sold to Benefit The Gresley Society Trust. Sir Nigel Gresley Sir Nigel Gresley (1876-1941) is widely regarded as one of Britain's most successful engineers of locomotives and rolling stock in the steam age, having served as the Chief Mechanical Engineer for London and North Eastern Railways. He was born in Edinburgh and raised in Derbyshire, from a cadet branch of the Gresley family of Drakelowe Hall. Having studied at Marlborough College Gresley was to have a swift rise as a railway engineer. Perhaps his most famous creations were the A1 class Flying Scotman and A4 class Mallard. His streamlined express trains in the late 1930s were also the UK's first high speed trains. Sir Nigel was appointed CBE in 1920 and Knighted in 1936. The Gresley Society Trust The Gresley Society is a charitable trust (registered charity number 1081581) formed in 1963. The Trust's purpose is to study, celebrate and educate the public in the life and works of the railway engineer Sir Nigel Gresley in the field of science and engineering. The Trust owns the world's oldest extent and working locomotive, Great Northern Railway, N2 No 1744 built in 1921 which acts as the Society's flagship. Proceeds from the sale of these items will be used to support projects and artefacts, such as this locomotive, related to Sir Nigel and his achievements.. Each fully marked on bottom of back-plate. Further part marked on end of one branch, on wax-pan and on nozzle. There marks are generally clear. There is some surface scratching and wear, consistent with age and use. The wear is noticeable as a softening to the high points. Holes have been drilled into each branch, presumably at the instruction of Sir Nigel, to allow for electrification of each branch. The holes are drilled through the bottom of each nozzle and the nozzles have been fixed to the wax-pans with glue.
