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Click here to subscribe*1914-15 Star (2) (No.4896 Sepoy Bhagat Singh, 23/Sikh Pioneers.; No. 1523 Sepoy Abdulla Khan, Chindwin Bn.), British War Medal (3073 Havr. Kadar Bux, 40 Pathans.), Victory Medal (3) (.094 Sepoy Nishan Ali Khan. 5-Lt.Infy.; 3462 Havr Nawab Khan. 53 Sikhs F.F.; 680 K-Dfdr. Bahadar Ali, 29 Mule Cps.), very fine and better (6)
*1914-15 Star (3) (Cpl J.H. Burt. 1st S.A.M.R.; Pte W.C. Paterson 4th Infantry; 3090 L/C. Ahmed. 3/ K.A.R.), British War Medal (Pte W. Julie 1st C.C.), Victory Medal (4) (Lieut. J.C. Broomfield.; 308 Sgt Majolo 1/K A R.; 1154 L/C Nali 2/K A R; Bilingual type), last with naming erased, very fine and better, first sold with copied paperwork 160 Corporal John Burt, served during the Boer War with 1st Regiment, South African Mounted Rifles, fought at Belmont, Modder River and reliefs of Kimberley and Mafeking, served in German South West Africa (G.S.W.A.) from 19.9.1914 and taken P.O.W. at the Battle of Sandfontein in Northern G.S.W.A. released July 1915 Lieutenant John Charles Broomfield, served during the Great War with the Sierra Leone Battalion, West African Frontier Force, commissioned Lieutenant 31.3.1916. (8)
*British War Medal (3) (2757 Pte. W.G. Burge. Newf`d R.; 6246. Pte. E. Campbell. Br. W.I.R.; 6251 Pte. J.E. Egan. 15-Bn. A.I.F.), Victory Medal (3) (226972 Pte. S. Barrett. 102-Can. Inf.; N2-41 Pte. Patrick Obi. Nig. M.T.C.; 71 Pte. Takahambirwa. Rhodesia N. Regt.) Nig. M.T.C. (Nigerian Motor Transport Company). (4)
*A collection of American Medals, including South West Asia Service; Cuban Pacification 1906-1909; Purple Heart; War with Spain 1898; American Defense; Army Occupation 1945; UN Israeli Borders; Berlin Airlift Medal; China Relief Expedition 1900; Asiatic Pacific Campaign; American Campaign 1941-1945 (45)
*A collection of World Medals, including Hungary, 1938 War Medal; Imperial Russian St. George Cross for Victory at Preussisch - Eylau 1807; Imperial Russian Medal issued by the Provisional Government 1917; Franco Prussian War Medal 1870-71; Korean War Campaign Service Medal; Russo Japanese War Medal 1904-5; Gallipoli Star, enamel and silvered brass, reverse stamped `B.B. & Co` (50)
*A collection of French Medals, including, St Helena Medal, bronze; scarce Combattants Cross Vichy 1939-1940; Croix de Guerre 1914-17 with swords; Combattants Cross for Volunteers 1939-1945; Croix de Guerre 1939 with swords; Dahomey 1892; Madagascar 1883-1886; WW1 Medal; Fezzan Medal with bar; Casablanca Medal with bar; Afrique Medal with bar; Tunisie Medal with bar; Madagascar Medal with bar; Italy Campaign 1859 by Barre, together with various Belgium Medals including Africa Colonial Medal; Armed Resistance Medal 1940-45; Under Cross of Fire 1914-1918 (35)
*A large collection of Soviet Union medals, including a Soviet Russian Group comprising, Medal for Battle Merit reverse impressed `1956662`, Medal for Partisan of the Patriotic War, Medal for the Liberation of Warsaw, Medal for Capture of Berlin, mounted for wearing, together with various single awards including, Defence of Kiev, Defence of Odessa, Capture of Vienna, Liberation of Prague, Capture of Budapest, Liberation of Warsaw, badges, cloth badges etc (25)
*A collection of medals including, 1939-1945 (2); France & Germany Star (2); Defence Medal; War Medal (2); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R (Stewart Lawson); a group of three veterans medals comprising Dunkirk Medal, Battle for Britain Medal, with Royal Air Force riband Bar (Cpl. J. Mountain 5387/6), Bomber Command Medal (Cpl. J. Mountain 5387/6) privately engraved, mounted for wearing, various World Independence medals including Australian Occupation of Japan 1946-52 (R.K. Brown); Nigeria Independence; Rhodesia Medal (PR120136 Rfn J.C. Hook); Papua New Guinea Independence (18)
*George II medal for The Battle of Lissa, Surrender of Breslau 1757, bronze, 47mm. In 1756 Frederick the Great, King of Prussia formed an alliance with England marking the beginning of the Seven Years War, a number of these medals were struck, together with three other commemorative medals including Duke of Cumberland medal for Carlisle Taken, The Rebels Repulsed 1745, bronze, 36mm, fine and better (4)
*Four: Private A.G. Alsept, 15th (The King`s) Hussars, 1914 Star (3938 Pte A.G. Allsept [sic]. 15/Hrs.), British War and Victory Medals (3938 Pte. A.G. Alsept. 15-Hrs.), Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R. (Alfred George Alsept), good very fine, contemporarily mounted court style I.S.M. London Gazette 2.12.1938 Alsept, Alfred George, Postman, London Postal Region. 3938 Private Alfred George Alsept, a native of 7 Northlands Street, Camberwell, served on the Western Front (Somme and Ypres) with the 15th Hussars from 10.9.1914, discharged unfit for service 1916, re-joined with the Royal Army Service Corps, August 1918 (T/43860). (4)
*Three: Private J. McCondach, 14th Hussars Later Sergeant, Northumberland Fusiliers, Queen`s South Africa 1899-1902, four clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith (3462. Pte. J. McCondach. 14/Hrs.), British War and Victory Medals (47782 Sjt. J.Mc Condach. North`d Fus.), extremely fine, contemporarily mounted court style, lacquered, sold with copied service papers, together with a Victory Medal (31347 Pte. G. Hubbert. 14-Hrs.) 3462 Private James McCondach born in Aberdeen 1877, enlisted with the 14th Hussars 1895, served in South Africa from 14.12.1899-22.6.1900, transferred to the Reserve 1903, re-engaged 8.7.1911, served during the Great War with Northumberland Fusiliers (47782, Farrier Sergeant). (4)
*A Queen`s South Africa Medal to Pte J.E. Harvey, 19th Hussars who was taken P.O.W. after the Garrison at Helvetia was captured leaving forty men dead and wounded Queen`s South Africa 1899-1902, four clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing`s Nek, Belfast (4464. Pte: J.E. Harvey. 19th/Hrs.), good very fine, sold with copied service papers 4464 Private John Edward Harvey born in Bethnal Green, London 1877, enlisted with 19th Hussars from 22.9.1896 having previously served with 4th Volunteer Essex Regiment, served in South Africa from 18.10.1899 - 4.9.1903. In December 1899 Harvey was stationed Helvetia a post strategically placed running at right angles to the Delagoa Railway from Machadodorp, northward to Lydenburg. Commanded by Major Cotton of the 1/Liverpools, the garrison numbered 245 officers and men including 25 19th Hussars. Owing to the lack of vigilance on Gun Hill at 03.30am on the 29th December in pitch darkness, the Boers carried out a surprise attack on Helvetia. 40 men were killed or wounded including Cotton who was severely wounded, the Garrison had to surrender their position and under heavy shell fire the Boers burnt the contents of the camp, removed the 4.7 gun and withdrew with the prisoners including Private Harvey. Harvey was later released and carried on to serve with the regiment until his discharge in 21.8.1908 having served 12 years with the Colours. (1)
*British War Medal (3) (24680 A.Cpl. H. Stobbs. 13-Hrs. ; 13430 Pte. W. Armstrong. Notts. & Derby. R. ; L-2929 Cpl. B.I. Boyce. 9-Lrs.), Victory Medal (2619 Pte. L. Whattley. S.Notts.Hrs.), good very fine and better 24680 Corporal Henry Stubbs, served during the Great War with 13th Hussars, the regiment fought at Kut al Amara in 1917 and then the establishment of the East Persia Cordon first linking up with Russian forces and then maintaining lines of communication with Baghdad whilst aiding the White Russians against the Bolsheviks 13430 Private William Armstrong, served during the Great War with 1st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters served on the Western Front from 11.12.1914, killed in action during the Battle of Neuve Chapelle 11.3.1915, Armstrong is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France 2619 Private Leo Whatley, served during the Great War with South Nottinghamshire Hussars (Yeomanry), took part in third Battle of Gaza, outflanking the Turks at Beersheba, advancing towards Jerusalem which surrendered before Christmas 1917. (4)
*Six: Private R.W. Lee, Royal Army Medical Corps and St. John Ambulance, The Most Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem, officer`s breast Badge, silver and enamel, British War and Victory Medals (73128 Pte. R.W. Gee. R.A.M.C.), Defence Medal, 1953 Coronation, Service Medal of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, with four 5 year Bar awards (10057 Pte R.W.W. Gee Wigston Magna Divn. No3.Dis. S.J.A.B. 1931.), slight damage to first, last with second Bar left side facing sprung, otherwise very fine and better, contemporarily mounted (6)
*Pair: Captain S.P. Sykes, Royal Army Medical Corps, India General Service 1908-35, G.V.R., one clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (Capt. S.P. Sykes, R.A.M.C.) British War Medal (Capt. S.P. Sykes), good very fine, Victory Medal (2) (47115 Pte. W. Bowes. R.A.M.C. ; 1749 Pte. W.C. James R.A.M.C), good very fine and better Lieutenant-Colonel Stanley Parkinson Sykes (1885-1953) born in Bromley, Kent, educated in Liverpool (Bachelor of Surgery) 1909, commissioned Lieutenant 28.6.1911, Captain 28.1.1915, Major 28.7.1923, advanced Lieutenant-Colonel 1.5.1934, Commanding Officer of 3rd Combined Field Ambulance 1919-20, Malta 1923-28, Citadel Military Hospital Cairo 1931-32, Royal Victoria Hospital 1939, Officer in Command Medical Division 1 General Hospital 1939-40, specialist in Ophthalmology. 1749 Private William James, served during the Great War with 3rd (Welsh) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, served in Egypt from 20.12.1915 wounded at Ali Muntar Ridge during the 1st Battle of Gaza, buried in Kantara Military Cemetery, Egypt. (4)
*A Great War Victory Medal to Lieutenant J.M. Hammond, M.I.D., D.S.O who with both feet practically blown off carried on his duties ordering his stretcher bearers to carry away another wounded man first and later died from his wounds Victory Medal (Lieut. J.M. Hammond), with M.I.D. oakleaves, extremely fine D.S.O. London Gazette 17.4.1917 `For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in evacuating a large number of wounded under the most difficult conditions. He was himself subsequently wounded, and though both his feet were practically blown off he ordered his stretcher bearers to carry away another man first` M.I.D. London Gazette 21.7.1917 Lieutenant John Maximilian Hammond M.I.D., D.S.O., educated in Bournemouth and the Medical School, Bristol, graduated M.B., B.S., 1908, served as house-physician and house surgeon to the West London Hospital, took up a position at a practice in Bournemouth, joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1916, served in Salonika and attached to the 10th Devonshire Regiment, severely wounded 12.2.1917 near Lake Doiran, Macedonia, died 15.3.1917, Hammond is buried in the Sarigol Military Cemetery, Kriston, Greece (1)
*An Imperial Russian bronze medal for the opening of St Isaac, St Petersburg, 1858, 80mm diameter, Alexander I commissioned the French Architect Auguste Montferrand to build St Isaacs it took 40 years to complete and was the foremost Cathedral in Russia; together with another Imperial Russian bronze medal for the commemoration of Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich (1831-1891), 89mm diameter (2)
*Three: Private C. Paynes, Royal Berkshire Regiment, British War and Victory Medals (28620 Pte. C. Payne. R. Berks.R.), with an E.II.R. Hong Kong medal, bronze, good very fine mounted for wearing, the latter probably for a royal visit, Pair: Private W.H. Hughes, Royal Welch Fusiliers, Victory Medal (40360 Pte W.H. Hughes. R.W. Fus.), Special Constabulary Long Service & G.C., G.VI.R. (William H. Hughes), extremely fine, together with 15 world banknotes,Special Constabulary Long Service & G.C., G.VI.R. (Reginald F. Fowles), extremely fine, in named card box of issue and letter from the Gloucestershire Constabulary dated July 1948 addressed to the recipient at 17 Bath Parade, Cheltenham (7)
*A group of five to Air Commodore D.F. Lucking, Royal Air Force Late Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, who during his career was C/O of 56 Squadron during the `Battle of Barking Creek` and later designed numerous patents including anchors for sea planes and means for indicating the height of aircraft particularly when landing British War Medal and Victory Medals (Lieut. D.F. Lucking. R.N.V.R.), Defence and War Medals, 1937 Coronation, second engraved in upright serif capitals, good very fine mounted for wearing, with dress miniature awards, sold with extensive copied research of Lucking`s Career as an Officer and Inventor including detailed diagrams which were patented by Lucking in the 1930s. The roll confirms that Lieutenant D. F. Lucking was only entitled to a British War Medal, it is therefore probable that he acquired a Victory Medal and had it engraved Air Commodore David Frederick Lucking, born 1894, commissioned Lieutenant in the RNVR 10.7.1917; Captain in the R.A.F. 1.4.1918, advanced Squadron Leader 29.5.1929, Group Captain 1.4.1939, Air Commodore 1.12.1941, retired 14.12.1945; Lucking had an extraordinary career on 6th September 1939 a searchlight battery reported an unidentified aircraft approaching from the east over West Mersea on the Essex Coast, this message was relayed to 11 Group headquarters at Bentley Priory and they ordered up six Hurricanes from 56 Squadron, for some unknown reason the squadrons Commanding Officer Group Captain Lucking sent up his entire unit. Unbeknown to the rest of the pilots, two Pilot Officers managed to take up a pair of reserve aircraft and followed in the distance, later these aircrafts were mistaken for ME109s which resulted in the death of one of Pilot Officers, Group Captain Lucking was removed from his post as CO of 56 Squadron. This tragic affair became known throughout Fighter Command as the Battle of Barking Creek. (5)
*Pair: British War and Victory Medals (60605 Cpl. H. Jenkins. R.W. Fus. / 37524 Pte. R. Green. L`Pool), first with card box of issue, extremely fine, together with various unassociated British and Foreign awards including Africa Star, Italy Star, Voluntary Medical Service Medal (Mrs. Mary J. Griffiths), Order of Polania Restituta 1944 knight Badge (19)
*A group of five to Major J.E. Healy, Royal Engineers, 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Defence and War Medals, all engraved `270867 Capt. J.H. Healy, R.E.`, Army Long Service & G.C., G.VI.R., with `Regular Army` bar suspension (1866362 W.O.Cl.2. J.H. Healy. R.E.), very fine and better, mounted for wearing, with related dress miniatures, and a letter dated 4.5.1959 from Major A.T. Jones, MBE., T.D. County of Middlesex Army Cadet Force addressed to the recipient, detailing the final of the National Army Cadet Force Rugby Championship which Healy was unable to referee, the letter states that a medal was enclosed as a memento of the previous game, the silver medal is also included in the lot together with a gilt metal `Household Brigade` medal for `Prince of Wales Rugby Cup 1958-59 Referee` and a E.II.R silver and enamel Royal Engineers sweetheart brooch Major J.H. Healy served during the Second World War with the Royal Engineers, and promoted Captain, 5.9.1945 advanced Major (Electrical and Mechanical Officer) 21.8.1953 (5)
*Three: Gunner G.S. Skingley, Royal Artillery, 1914-15 Star (78435 Gnr. G.S. Skingley, R.F.A.), British War and Victory Medals (78435 Gnr. G.S. Skingley. R.A.), good very fine, mounted for wearing, together with a related silver watch chain and two silver and enamel `Grand Order of Oddfellows` fobs, one engraved `Presented to Bro G. Skingley` (approx. 50gms) plus a British War Medal (185662 Gnr. W.T. Laplain. R.A.), good very fine (5)
*Prussia, Iron Cross, 1914, 2nd Class breast Badge, silver with iron centre, Honour Cross 1914-18, with swords, Saxony-Meiningen War Medal 1914-18, Saxony-Coburg-Gotha, King Karl Eduard Medal, silvered, extremely fine, mounted German style for wearing, plus another Honour Cross 1914-18, with swords, reverse with makers mark `R.S.L.` (5)
*Various Medals including, Khedives Star, 1882, British War Medal (J.57953 E.G. Harrison. Boy 1 R.N.), Victory Medal (3) (676 Pte. W.W. Fenton. R.A.M.C./ M2-076260 Pte. R. Harrison. A.S.C./ 37584 Pte. H.N. Poultney. R. War.R.), very fine and better, together with various badges, buttons and medal ribands (-)
*Spain, Kingdom. Queen Isabella II, Royal Medal of Merit, gold, engraved in large serif capitals `Mr John Walker`, 35mm diameter , approx. 56.5g, light scratches otherwise extremely fine, together with a fitted ebonised frame and black and white photographs of the recipient in later life sitting in his chair with family members This award would have been handed out by Queen Isabella II for non-specific services rendered, examples have been given to Captains of English ships who had rescued Spanish sailors from shipwreck, however this is not a lifesaving award per se it was awarded for all kinds of service for example this award was given to the Dr Walker for services rendered as Personal Physician to the Queen. (1)
*Medals and photographs relating to Sapper F.W. Thomas I.S.M., Royal Engineers, comprising British War and Victory Medals (797 Spr. F.W. Thomas. R.E.), Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R. (Francis William Thomas), extremely fine, with named box of issue and silver medal inscribed to the recipient for Services Rendered by the town of Crickhowell, a Suez Canal Zone pass dated 24.3.1918, several black and white portrait photographs of the recipient as a child, a soldier and with family, a black and white postcard written by the recipient to his son , titled `Trumpeter `Cheshire Darkie` Cheshire Field Coy R.E.s Mascot` dated 8.3.1918, and a huge archive of snap shot black photographs taken by the recipient during service in Egypt mostly captioned in ink on the reverse, many topographical, colleagues and friends, Turkish prisoners of war, executions of Armenians and enemy bi-planes (-)
*A Victorian bronze commemorative medal for the visit of George I, King of Hellenes to the City of London, 16th June 1880, by G.G. Adams, 75mm diameter; bronze medal for the opening of Blackfriars Bridge and Holborn Viaduct 1869, by G.G. Adams, 75mm diameter; bronze medal for the opening of the Guildhall`s new Council Chamber, London, 1884, by J.S & A.B. Wyon, 75mm diameter; bronze medal for the Centenary Concert6, Crystal Palace 1859 by W.J. Taylor, edge impressed `W.H. Jones. Performer.`, 51mm diameter; two bronze medals for the opening of the New City of London School, 1882, by J.S. & A.B. Wyon, 77mm diameter (6)
*A Third Reich War Merit Cross, 2nd Class with swords, bronze; War Merit medal, bronze; Eastern Front medal by Ernst L. Muller, Pforzheim; Cross of Honour of the German Mother, 3rd Class, enamel damaged; Krim Shield, backed on green felt; 1937 Hitler Youth Leader`s Sports Honour badge, silver plated alloy, lacking pin, reverse marked `234440`, `RZM`, `M 1/34`, Wound badge, black hollow type, three Kriegsmarine cloth badges (11)
*A collection of Third Reich medals, including Iron Cross breast Badge, Second Class; Cross of Honour of the German Mother, 3rd Class, enamel; Eastern Front medal; War Merit Cross, 2nd Class with swords, bronze; War Merit medal, bronze; West Wall medal (2); WW1 Prussian Iron Cross, Second Class breast Badge (-)
*A WW1 Royal Naval Air Service Chief Petty Officer`s cloth cap badge, WW2 Royal Air Force officer`s cloth badge and brevet badge, and Post WW2 RAF officer`s cloth badge, together with various items including 1914-15 Star (6599 Pte A. Hartley, A.Cyc.Corps.), Victory Medal (1705 Pnr. A.J. Wootton. R.E.) 1705 Pioneer A.J. Wootton, served during the Great War with the 54th (East Anglian) Division Signal Company, Royal Engineers, died in Gallipoli 25.8.1915 most probably after the failed attack on Anfarta from Sulva on 21st August, Wootton is buried in the Azmak Cemetery, Sulva, Turkey. (9)
*A collection of Regimental cap badges, mainly Great War period, including, Isle of Wight Rifles (The Needles Battery), 48th Highlanders 15th Canadian Battalion, The Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) Sergeant badge, London Scottish, Manchester Regiment, several other line regiments, a Great War silver war badge (62471), shoulder titles, pips, buttons, together with various pressed bronze and copper medallions (presumably specimens) including The Gloucestershire Photography Society, and Royal Comers Championship Rifle Association medal for 1892-95 (one carton)
Medals - A World War I/World War II group of ten awarded to Bertram Kent Parsons and comprising: Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19, British War Medal, Victory Medal (inscribed Captain B.K. Parsons), 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Pacific Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, 1939-45 War Medal and George VI Air Efficiency Award (inscribed Acting Wing Commander B.K. Parsons A.A.F.), As will be noted only two of these medals are named however it is known that Parsons served with the 8th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment during World War I where he reached the rank of Captain and with the Auxiliary Air Force during World War II rising through the ranks from Captain to Wing Commander Ribbons are somewhat ragged - would advise viewing in person - General condition consistent with age **
Medals - Boer War/World War I group of four awarded to James Felix and comprising: The Queen’s South Africa Medal (1899-1902) to 7472 PTE J Sexton Liverpool Regt, with three clasps - Natal, Orange Free State and Cape Colony also The British War Medal and Victory Medal to 476015 A.C.S. MJR. J.F. Sexton P.P.C.L.I. also a named Memorial Plaque, a hand written note and a W.W.I period silver cased half hunter trench wristwatch by Waltham, monogram ‘J.S.’ Generally good but would advise viewing in person - General condition consistent with age **
Fritz Piquet & Bachmann of Geneva - Continental full hunter keyless pocket watch with gilt winder and ring, case decoration depicting the figure of St. George slaying a dragon and with an armorial design, the white enamel dial having gold hands, gilt foliate sprays and inset red and blue ‘stones ‘interspersing the Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds dial, the inside of the top cover with an engraved presentation inscription to ‘Charles Sligo de Pothonier from Hettie…1888’, the bottom cover engraved ‘Chronometer Echappement a ancre spiral Brequet en palladium 20 rubis’, the partially gilded and jewelled signed visible movement numbered 9525, case diameter 52mm. The Geneva based company of Fritz Piquet & Bachmann specialised in finely adjusted watches and supplied ebauches to many major watchmakers which included Patek Philippe. They won first prize in the 1888 Geneva Observatory Timing Contest and a gold medal in Melbourne in 1881 Very good condition - Movement currently functions - General condition consistent with age **
"AN IMPORTANT IMPERIAL RUSSIAN ICON TRIPTYCH, FABERGÉ & SIGNED N. EMELIANOV, CIRCA 1912 The central reserve displaying a finely painted image of The Serafimo-Ponetaevskaya Sign Mother of God, characteristically painted with a gem and pearl encrusted veil. The Christ Child as well as the head of the Virgin, encircled with ornate silver repousse haloes, the Virgin’s halo embellished with cabochons. Both hallmarked St. Petersburg, and with Cyrillic maker`s mark FABERGÉ beneath the Imperial Warrant and workmaster`s initials TR for Phillip Theodor Ringe. Below the Virgin are inscribed the standard troparion (left) and kontakion (right) celebrating icons of the “Sign”. And further still lower right the icon is signed in Cyrillic “Painted by N. Emelianov”. Above the Virgin on either side are painted two full length images identified by inscriptions as Angels of the Lord. To the Virgin’s right (viewers left) a vertical panel divided into six sections each depicting a church feast day or other related event. From top to bottom they are; The Birth of the Mother of God, The Entrance of the Mother of God Into the Temple, The Translation of the Relics of Saint Alexander Nevsky from Vladimir to St. Petersburg, Saints Peter and Paul, The Appearance of the Wonderworking Icon of Kazan, and The Translation of the Relics of Saint Theodore Stratelates. To the Virgin’s left (viewers right) a similar vertical panel divided into five sections depicting the following iconographical subjects; The Resurrection, The Transfiguration, The Apostle and Evangelist Saint Matthew, The Dormition, and The Assembly of the Archangel Michael. Further out, the left wing depicts a finely painted full length image of Saint Nicholas whose head is encircled by a silver repousse halo stamped with the workmasters initials TR and who stands beneath an image identified by the Slavonic inscription as the Not-By-Hand-Made Image of Our Lord. Below Saint Nicholas is a reserve divided into four sections depicting various subjects. Clockwise from upper left they are; The Transferring of the Vladimir Mother of God Icon, Saint George, Saints Konstantin and Helen, and the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas. The right wing depicts a finely painted full length image of Saint Seraphim of Sarov whose head is also encircled by a silver repousse halo stamped with the workmaster initials TR and who stands beneath an image of The Old Testament Trinity. Below Saint Seraphim a reserve divided into two sections depicts the following subjects; The Discovery of the True and Life-Giving Cross and an image of The Kazan Mother of God. Each shaped panel separately painted and set into the ornately carved one piece frame displaying an eight-sided cross finial atop the left and right wings and the central section surmounted by a similar cross flanked by a pair of six-winged Seraphim. The wide lower margin with two medallions carved in high relief and depicting Saint George (left) and The Archangel Michael (right). The verso of carved frame lined with brass edging around the border and the entire back covered in kid leather and stamped in Cyrillic ?.??????? beneath the Imperial Warrant and with St. Petersburg address. Height 23.3 inches (59.4cm).Width 16.4 inches (41.5cm).Provenance:Colonel Dmitrii Nikolaivich Loman, circa 1912, presumably a gift from Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. With Bowater Gallery, London, where acquired by Mrs. Harold Leather of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, accompanied by original receipt of purchase dated August 10, 1970. Thence by descent to her son, Sir Edwin Leather (1919-2005) former Governor of Bermuda, and acquired by the present owner from the estate of Sir Edwin Leather.The Mother of God of the Sign icon known as the Serafimo-Ponetaevskaya was imbued with particular significance for Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna. As the last icon of this iconographic type to be declared miracle-working in Russia (1885), it became for the Imperial couple a symbol of Holy Rus reborn and triumphant in the modern age, and a direct link to the miraculous powers and protection of Saint Serafim of Sarov, to whom the Empress Alexandra was especially drawn. When the couple attended the celebrations marking the canonization of the Nizhnii Novgorod saint in 1903, the Ponetaevskaya icon was one of three venerated for their connection to Serafim’s life and work. The Empress was given a copy to mark the occasion and this icon accompanied her until her final days and death in Ekaterinburg in 1918. The Ponetaevskaya icon was particularly associated with Tsarskoe Selo, which in 1901 became the official Imperial residence and from 1909 was the site of the Fedorovsky Gorodok, an elaborate complex intended to recreate the spirit and culture of an idealized Russian past in a modernized idiom. It is with Colonel Dmitrii Loman, the driving force behind the construction and conception of the Fedorovsky Gorodok and a trusted member of the Imperial family’s inner circle, that the offered lot is associated.The icon’s name derives from the Serafimo-Ponetaevskaya convent, established in 1864 in memory of Saint Serafim (1754/9 - 1833), whose hermitage was located at nearby Sarov. The convent was famous for its icon painting workshops, and in 1879, a novice named Klavdia Voiloshnikovna made a copy of an icon of the Sign that had been acquired from the artist Pavel Sorokin who oversaw the painting studio. In addition to the canonical features of Sign icons - the half-length figure of the Mother of God with her hands raised in prayer and the Christ Child encircled by a nimbus within Her womb - the icon that Voiloshnikovna copied had several distinctive features. The Mother of God’s eyes are lifted to heaven and a pearl and gem encrusted veil sheathes her head and shoulders, imparting to her face a teardrop-shaped contour. The faces are rendered in the painterly style popular in the nineteenth century and have a certain sentimental sweetness. On May 14, 1885 the icon performed the first of many miracles and by the end of the year was officially proclaimed miracle-working by the Holy Synod.In 1909 an exact copy of the icon arrived at Tsarskoe Selo as a gift from the Abbess of the Ponetaevskaya convent. That same year, Tsar Nicholas II approved construction of a temporary church to serve the devotional needs of His Majesty’s Own Regiment, who were permanently stationed there. Dedicated to Saint Serafim of Sarov, the church was an experiment in resurrecting an idealized Russian past. It was appointed with an iconostasis designed by Prince Mikhail Putyatin (see fig. #3 & #4) and filled with icons painted by noted iconographer Nikolai Emelianov executed in the 17th century style. The Ponetaevskaya icon occupied a place of honor in the church, along with relics associated with Saint Serafim.At the same time Nicholas and Alexander gave permission and funds to build a permanent cathedral on the grounds of the Alexander Palace at Tsarkoe Selo, where their family might worship surrounded by their most devoted troops as well as their favorite sacred images. Consecrated in 1912, the cathedral contained two churches. In the upper church dedicated to the Feodorovskaya Mother of God icon, a five-tiered iconostasis was installed, filled with new icons painted by Emelianov in the same 17th century style and lavishly adorned with silver basma. On the lower level, space was carved out for a crypt church and it was here that the temporary church’s altar, icons, relics and fixtures were transferred. To the Ponetaevskaya icon was added a copy of the Umilenie Mother of God that had been Saint Serafim’s personal icon, together with an icon of the saint himself. A second Ponetaevskaya icon hung nearby in the empress’s own private chapel, donated by the empress’s sister, Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna in 1912 and adorned with a sumptuous silver oklad and costly embroidered veil (Fig.1).The offered triptych of the Ponetaevskaya Mother of God with Saints Nicholas and Serafim can be securely traced to Dmitrii Loman (1868-1918), a Colonel in His Majesty’s Own Regiment, whose energy and organizational talents made him an indispensable and sympathetic aide to the Imperial couple and was by all accounts very close to the Empress, who was the Godmother of Loman’s son, Yuri. A contemporary photograph dated to 1914 shows the icon hanging in the upper corner of Loman’s office located in the refectory at Tsarskoe Selo (Fig.2). Colonel Loman served in countless capacities that reflected the Emperor and Empress’ trust. In addition to being churchwarden of the cathedral, during WWI he served as the Empress’ representative on the Tsarskoe Selo Military Hospital Train No. 143 and similar trains under the protection of the grand duchesses. He was also on friendly terms with Grigorii Rasputin (Fig.3) who was a frequent visitor and was one of the few people actually present at his burial. Loman’s great passion was the preservation of early Russian art, music, and popular culture, and his collections of liturgical and folk art were intended to serve as inspiration for the revival of a single national style in all facets of contemporary life. In 1915, he was instrumental in creating the Society for the Renaissance of Artistic Rus, a group that included the leading artists and architects working in a neo-Russian style. The society’s goals included the study and preservation of Russian antiquities, the revival of pre-Petrine aesthetic traditions adapted to contemporary conditions, publishing textbooks on Russian art for schools, and restoring the purity of the Russian language. The complex of buildings that grew up around the Feodorovsky Cathedral, the Feodorovsky Gorodok, was to be a prototype for the realization of these goals on a national scale.In every sense the offered triptych is a microcosm and memento of the Feodorovsky Cathedral whose construction and decoration Loman oversaw. The painting is the work of the Palekh- trained Moscow-based court iconographer and restorer Nikolai Sergeevich Emelianov. Having proved his ability to interpret the spirit of 17th century icons in a modern idiom with the iconostasis for the temporary church, Emelianov was among a select group of iconographers (including Mikhail Dikarev) commissioned to provide icons for the cathedral’s upper church (Fig.4). Emelianov also prepared the drawings for the mosaic icons that marked the multiple entrances to the cathedral. In addition to the iconostasis, in 1910-11 Emelianov painted 102 icons for the cathedral itself, including “an icon of the Mother of God of the Sign with attendant angels,” of which the present icon may have been the model for the Loman triptych. Icons by Emelianov from the Feodorovsky Cathedral and other late Imperial churches are preserved in the State Museum of the History of Religion and, like the present icon, are generally signed in the lower right corner. So pleased were the royal family with his work, that Emelianov was awarded a silver medal on a Vladimir ribbon for his icons in the Feodorovsky Cathedral together with the Emperor’s “personal thanks.”The elegantly elongated figures of the two attendant saints - the tsar’s name saint Nicholas and Saint Serafim himself - and the miniature painting of the marginal scenes of festivals and saints are subtly adapted to the distinctly modern features of the Ponetaevskaya Mother of God. An exceptionally rich visual rhythm is created by the variations in scale and size of the scenes that flank that central image and create a continuous horizontal band along the lower edge. The three panels are set within a carved wooden framework that echoes the elongated gables of the iconostasis designed by Vladimir Pokrovsky for the upper church (Fig 5.). The carved relief roundels on the lower margin reference the mosaic icons of Saint George and Saint Michael that Emelianov designed to mark the north and south entrances into the cathedral (St. George appropriately designated the officers’ entrance). Reflected in the cabochon-studded haloes is the rich intricacy of 17th century devotional icons that established the aesthetic ideal espoused by enthusiasts like Prince Shirinsky-Shikhmatov and Loman himself. The fact that they were made in the workshops of the Imperial silversmith Fabergé reflect the status and importance of the person who commissioned the offered triptych. The carving borrows some of the stylized folk motifs from the furnishings designed for the cathedral by Nikolai Bartram and executed in the workshops of the Moscow Zemstvo at Sergiev Posad. Here too a balance is sought between the lushly ornamented upper half in the neo-Russian style and the neoclassical simplicity of the lower section, so typical of Fabergé’s work in burl and Karelian birch.Clearly, the triptych is a testament to Loman’s deeply held conviction - one he shared with the Imperial couple - that a renaissance of Old Russian values in contemporary life was a goal within reach. In the absence of a presentation plaque or other documentation we can only speculate as to its origins. It would certainly have been a fitting gift of appreciation and remembrance from the Empress for whom Loman had proved so indispensable. It is displayed in Loman’s office near an assortment of personal photographs depicting Tsar Nicholas II and the Empress of the type known to have been given by the royal couple to those whom they held in high esteem. However, perhaps the best clue as to who might have commissioned this icon rests in the fact that it was decorated by the firm of Fabergé. For it is well known that when the Tsar and Tsarina wanted to favor someone special with an extraordinary gift they would call upon the workshop of Fabergé to fulfill such requests. When all known facts are taken into consideration, Imperial silversmith Fabergé, court iconographer Emelianov, and the triptych being situated in the office of dutiful royal confidant and administrator Dmitrii Loman, it is fair to presume that the offered lot was indeed a gift from Nicholas and Alexandra to Loman most likely upon the completion of the cathedral in the fall of 1913 which Loman oversaw, including the task of primary fundraiser. After decades of decay and destruction, in 2009 a concerted restoration of the Feodorovsky Cathedral at Tsarskoe Selo was undertaken and the iconostasis reconstructed on the basis of several surviving icons by Emelianov. Loman’s son Yuri (1906-1988) survived the times or terror, successfully adjusted to communist rule and towards the end of his life penned a biography, “Memories of the Empress’ Godson”. The Society for the Renaissance of Artistic Rus of which Loman was instrumental, ceased its activities in October 1917. Loman perished (was shot) during the terror of 1918 and by 1928 the old icons from the Feodorovsky Cathedral had been dispersed, some made their way to the Russian Museum, while others, including some painted by Emelianov went to the State Museum of the History of Religion. Others, like the offered lot, thankfully found safe haven elsewhere and after decades of silently preaching in places far removed from the splendor of Tsarskoe Selo, are now being enjoyed by a new generation of enthusiasts who have come to appreciate the true geniuses of those artisans who created a unique Russian style that has now risen from the ash heap of history to reign again in splendor."
A UNIQUE TSAR ALEXANDER III RELATED RUSSIAN ICON, 1888. The offered icon is related to the survival of the Tsars family after the train derailment on which he and his family were passengers, near the Borki station in present day Ukraine on their return trip home to St. Petersburg from a visit to the Crimea. At top center, Christ is depicted watching over the gathering of saints below him. On the right the names saints of the Imperial family are depicted, Alexander Nevsky, Maria Magdalena, Nicholas, George, Xenia, Mikhail and Olga. On the left a gathering of eight additional saints whose feast day is celebrated on October 17th, the same day of the train accident, Sts. Cosmas and Damian, the Prophet Hosea, Andrew of Crete, Longinus, the Prophet Lazarus, and Leontius. The lower margin inscribed, "In Memory of the Miraculous Survival of the Family of Tsar Alexander III on 17 October 1888". 10.75 inches x 9 inches (27 x 23 cm). Together with an original bronze table medal commemorating this event, as issued in 1888.
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