A rare Chinese archaic bronze ritual wine vessel, Zun, late Shang/early Western Zhou dynasty, 12th-10th century B.C., crisply cast in high relief with pairs of kui, dragons, taotie masks and scrolls on a detailed leiwen ground, the lower bowstring band with cruciform aperture which is 'blind' on the opposing side, flanked by scrollwork flanges, bas-relief cast pictographic mark to the underside of the foot, green-grey patina with some occasional malachite green and cuprite encrustation, 35.5cm high, split to baseLiterature:Compare two similar Zun vessels sold by Christie's, New York, 'Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Part II', 13 - 14 September 2012, Lot 1226 and Sotheby's, New York, 'Chinese Art Through the Eye of Sakamoto Goro: Early Chinese Art', 13 September 2016, lot 12.A similar zun with the taotie mask featuring intaglio decoration, in the Arthur M. Sackler collection is illustrated in Robert W. Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Cambridge, 1987, vol. 1, pl. 46; and another in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is published in Shang Ritual Bronzes in the National Palace Museum Collection, Taipei, 1998, pl. 56.
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A rare Chinese archaic bronze ritual food vessel, Yu, late Shang dynasty, 12th century B.C., cast in high relief with a wide diaper pattern band with protruding bosses, the upper border cast with kui dragons, centred by animal masks, olive green patina with malachite, azurite and cuprite encrustation, cast 15 character inscription to the interior, 17cm high, 25.5cm diameter, crack to bodyLiterature:Yu were popular during the Anyang phase of the Shang dynasty, but disappeared in the early Western Zhou, to be replaced by the handled gui. The combination of shape and the diamond and boss decoration of the present yu appears to have been particularly popular in Shaanxi province during the Shang period, as seen in several excavated examples illustrated by R. Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, pp. 504-7, no. 98, figs. 98.3-5 and pp. 510-14, nos. 100 and 101, figs. 100.1-3 and 101.1-2. These excavated vessels exhibit some variations in the shape, the types of bosses and the narrow decorative bands.An almost identical yu from the Karlbeck Collection is illustrated by B. Karlgren, "Marginalia on Some Bronze Albums", BMFEA 31, 1959, pp. 289-331, pl. 12a. Karlgren also illustrates a yu with similar boss and diamond band on the body, and similar taotie band on the foot, but a different band below the rim, in "Bronzes in the Hellström Collection", BMFEA 20, 1948, pl. 57:2, and notes, p. 35, that it is from Anyang.Compare a similar ritual yu vessel sold by Christie's New York, 'The Sze Yuan Tang Archaic Bronzes from the Anthony Hardy Collection', 16 September 2010, Lot 826.
A rare and large Chinese archaic bronze rectangular ritual food vessel, Fangding, late Shang/early Western Zhou dynasty, 12th-11th century B.C., from Luoyang, cast in relief with a band of bats and leiwen above protruding spikes and hooked corner flanges, the rim set with a pair of high looped handles, on four zoomorphic feet, bas-relief cast three character clan mark to the interior, olive-brown and silver-grey patina with malachite, azurite and cuprite encrustation, 25cm high, 19.5cm wide, one leg repairedLiterature:In the Shang and Western Zhou dynasties, fang ding were made for use in ancestral worship or other sacrificial ceremonies, and their ownership appears to have been strictly regulated. Li Xixing, The Shaanxi Bronzes, Xi’an, 1994, p. 35, notes that in the Western Zhou the gentry was allowed to acquire three ding, high officers five, Dukes seven and the Emperor nine. Rectangular (fang) vessels of this monumental size and decorated in such ornate fashion have been generally found in tombs belonging to royalty or high-ranking officials, suggesting a similar ownership also for the present vessel.In Rawson, J, Chinese Bronzes: Art and Ritual, London/Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts of East Anglia / Burrell Collection, Glasgow, BMP, 1987 the author states 'Among inscribed Shang and Zhou examples the most famous are the Zuo Ce Da vessels in the Freer Gallery and the National Palace Museum, Taibei. These early Western Zhou [sic. Fang] ding are almost identical with the Yin Guang fang ding and illustrate continuity in bronze-casting at the time of the Zhou conquest.The inscription on this ding describes a grant of cowries from the king to Yin, the casting of the ding, and notes that the king was attacking the Jing Fang, peoples known from oracle-bone inscriptions to have been in conflict with the Shang. The small neat characters are paralleled on a few other late Shang vessels.'A very similar fangding is in the Freer Sackler Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., accession no. S1987.305 with an inscription to the Grand Protector or Taibao, Duke Shi of Shao.A second example inlaid with black pigment from the Collection of Florence K. Sloane, 1950 is on view at the Hermitage Museum, Norfolk, Virginia, no. 1950.0001.01(50-G-1), which is known to have been excavated in 1929 near the city of Luoyang in North-Eastern China.A third fangding at the Jameel Centre at the Asmolean Museum in Oxford, Accession no. EA1956.834 was presented by Sir Herbert Ingram to the institution in 1956.A fourth vessel of this type known as the 'Cheng Wang fangding' bears a dedication inscription to the late King Cheng who ruled the Zhou from 1055 to 1021 B.C. The inscription on this vessel bears two characters matching those on the 'Fu Yi' bronze You ritual vessel sold by Sotheby's, New York, 'Archaic Bronzes and the Wu Dacheng Jijintu Scroll', 18 March 2014, Lot 9.
A rare Mariano Fortuny honey coloured silk velvet mantle, c.1900, decorated with a gilt hand blocked stripe to hem, frontedges and sleeves, squares of ornate printed pattern to lower half of garment, front and back and shoulders, lined with pale green silk and a hand sewn circular label attached to the back: Mariano Fortuny, VeniseChristies catalogue for December 2009, sold for £1,875. Condition of mantel lining before repair: documented photographically
A rare Chinese archaic bronze tripod ritual food vessel, Ding, early Western Zhou dynasty, 11th century B.C., cast in relief with taotie masks and leiwen, on three bird-shaped flattened profile legs, bas-relief cast four character pictographic mark to the interior, olive-brown patina with patches of malachite, azurite and cuprite encrustation, 23cm high, 19cm wide, old repairsLiterature:see Liu Yang, Ancient Ritual Bronzes from the Shanghai Museum, p.80-81 for a similar ding vessel with bird-shaped flattened legs. In the book the author observes that 'Bronze versions of the flat-legged ding began to be cast early in the Shang dynasty (c.1600-1300 BCE). 'Early in the Western Zhou dynasty (c.1046-977 BCE), legs taking the form of a bird became more popular.' 'It is interesting to note that there seems to be correspondence between the form of these legs and of plaque-shaped jade pendants depicting a bird, current during the Shang and early western Zhou dynasties.'Compare a larger but similar shape ritual bronze ding vessel dated to the Shang dynasty in the Asian Art Museum Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture, San Francisco, from the Avery Brundage Collection, accession no. B60B1006.
A rare Rene Lalique 'Margaret' pattern topaz glass twin handled vase, designed 1929, Marcilhac, no.1030, the large heavy satin finished rectangular vase with canted corners, flanked by two squared handles, moulded in relief with finches and berries picked out with white staining, etched mark to base R.LALIQUE FRANCE, height 22.7cmSee Felix Marcilhac, Rene Lalique - Catalogue Raisonee des Oeuvres de Verre, Paris 1989, page 445 no.1030 and Patricia Bayer and Mark Waller, The Art of Rene Lalique 1988, p.144, for similar examples of this vase.
A rare Chinese archaic bronze 'rhinoceros' ritual wine vessel, Zun, early Western Han dynasty, 3rd-1st century B.C. with a hinged cover to its back, of olive green patina encrusted with malachite, azurite and cuprite deposits, 11.8cm high, 21cm longLiterature:A similar shape rhinoceros bronze vessel (zun) dating from the early Western Han dynasty is on display in the Museum of Chinese History, Beijing.It was discovered by a farmer plowing his field in Maoling, Xingping County, Shaanxi Province, in 1963. The large rhinoceros-shaped wine vessel, found in a large pottery jar, was probably hidden by its owner during a period of unrest, but never retrieved. The body of the rhinoceros vessel in Beijing is inlaid with a swirling pattern in gold and silver wire, of which some remains.
A rare George I Britannia standard silver bullet shaped teapot by Pierre Platel, (in 1703, Paul de Lamerie became apprentice to Pierre Platel), engraved with the shield recorded for Fellowes of Shotesham Park nr Norwich and of Kinston House nr Dorchester, Dorset, with wooden handle and knop and spout with hinged cover, London, 1714, height 10.2cm, gross 12.5 oz.
A rare Chief Cypher Officer 21st Army medal group to Lt. Col. Henry Colley, comprising 1939-45 star, France & Germany star, Defence medal, War medal and Orange Nassau order. Henry Colley was involved with D-day cypher comms between the British and Dutch forces and was at one stage Liaison Officer to Prince Bernhard. He was one of the first British officers to arrive at Belsen. He was twice mentioned in despatches and much of his work is covered by the OSA SO book for 1944. He landed at Vers-sur-Mere on 9th June on a reconnaisance mission but found himself behind enemy lines and escaped from a patrol. Sold with related paperwork, photographs, badges, spurs etc. for further information.
A rare and large Chinese archaic bronze ritual drinking vessel, Hu, Warring States period 5th-3rd century B.C., carved in relief with three registers of ancestral figure scenes of sacrifice, worship and hunting, taotie mask ring handles, brown patina with areas of malachite and cuprite encrustation, approx. 50cm high, repairsLiterature:see Jessica Rawson, Chinese Bronzes: Art and Ritual, British Museum Press, 1987, Fig. 28e with an illustration of a smaller bronze Hu vessel in the Palace Museum Beijing decorated with similar figure scenes.A bronze fanghu (square wine vessel) decorated in the same style but with an inlay technique around the decoration is in the Rietberg Museum, accession no. RCH9A and is illustrated in the Museum Rietberg Zurich Museum Guide, Zurich, 2000, p. 75, fig. 59.A fanghu of this type and style with pictorial decoration in flat relief restricted to three horizontal registers, now without any of the background inlay material remaining, in the National Palace Museum, is illustrated in Catalogue of the Special Exhibition of Shang and Chou Dynasty Bronze Wine Vessels, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1989, p. 217, plate 77. A third, smaller fanghu decorated in the same technique with silhouetted figures and animals in flat relief shown in various hunting scenes, also now lacking the inlay material which filled the background, in the Freer Gallery of Art, is illustrated by Lawton in Chinese Art of the Warring States Period, Change and Continuity 480-222 B.C., Washington D.C., 1982, p. 33, no. 5The decoration is similar to scenes carved on to later Eastern Han dynasty stone tomb reliefs such as The Wu Family Ancestral Shrine found on the north of Wuzhai Mountain in Zhifang Township, Jiaxiang County of Shandong Province, China.
A rare Chinese archaic white and yellow jade ornament, probably Eastern Zhou dynasty, of domed elliptical form, the centre incised with elongated scrolls and the border carved in relief with C and S-scrolls and 'feathered' scrolls, the underside with raised stud, the white stone altered to yellow in places with large brown and russet striations, 11.5cm together with an archaic white and grey mottled jade 'bird' ornament or finial, possibly Shang dynasty, 9cm (2)Literature:see the book published for 'An Exhibition Organised by The Arts Council of Great Britain and The Oriental Ceramic Society, 1st May-22nd June 1975, Victoria & Albert Museum, Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages' for Eastern Zhou dynasty ornaments with similar relief carved scrolls filled with 'feathers'. Plate 91 illustrates a jade yuan ring in the Art Institute of Chicago, Sonnenschein Collection, and plate 147 an ear ornament from the collection of Dr & Mrs Cheng Te-K'un with similar C and S-scroll decoration and dated to the Eastern Zhou dynasty.
A rare Chinese archaic bronze ritual wine vessel, Fangzun, Shang dynasty, Anyang, 13th-11th century B.C., cast in high relief to each side, the central register with a large taotie mask filled with leiwen, the hooked corner flanges with projecting rams masks with large scrolling horns, the lower register with kui dragons amid leiwen, the neck with scroll-filled lappets, olive-brown patina with malachite, cuprite and occasional azurite encrustation, 33.5cm high, losses and repairsCompare a larger and more elaborate ritual bronze Fangzun sold by Christie's, New York, 'Important Chinese Art from the Fujita Museum', 15 March 2017, New York, Lot 523.
John Pine (1690-1756) - Engraving on velum - A rare copy of one of two original "King John's Magna Carta, of the Liberties of England in the Cottonian Library", embellished by pine with the coats of arms of King John's Barons around the edge of the text, dated 1733, 27ins 18.5ins, framed and glazed (some damage)
Three vintage 1920s/30s bags. A rare J.A.C (England) 1920s, seed pearl trim (minor damage to frame), 3d floral embroidery. Examples held in the V and A museum. A 1930s large, leather, clutch with snake trim and suede lining. Great condition, made in Australia. A 1930s snake skin clutch, interior shows wear but exterior is great.
A superb and rare collection of 87 editions of VOGUE Magazine from 1976-1982 as follows: Vogue 1976 - 8 editions - including the DIAMOND JUBILEE special edition 1915-1976 Vogue 1977 - 16 editions FULL YEAR SET: Vogue 1978 - 15 editions Vogue 1979 - 16 editions FULL YEAR SET Vogue 1980 - 15 editions Vogue 1981 - 10 editions Vogue 1982 - 7 editions
British Coins, Victoria, penny, 1860, toothed border, A over A in VICTORIA, young head l., signature on cape, colon dots after G: of D: G: to a tooth, rev. N over N of ONE sideways, Britannia std. r. with shield and trident, LCW below shield (S.3954; M. BP1860 JA; F.- ; P.-), certified and graded by NGC as Mint State 64 Red Brown, rare
British Coins, Elizabeth II, trial farthing, type of 1954-56, struck in aluminium, normal bust r., rev. wren, SAMPLE FARTHING (Peck -; cf. S.4159), virtually mint state, exceedingly rare A most interesting and rare item, the word SAMPLE is where the date would be. This is the only one we have seen.
British Coins, Scotland, Mary and Henry Darnley, fourth period, ryal, 1566, crowned shield of arms, thistle either side, rev. tortoise climbing crowned palm tree dividing date, legend on scroll, crown above (S.5425; Stewart p.151), toned, nearly extremely fine, rare thus A most attractive example.
†Foreign Coins, Spain, Catalonia, Unió Catalanista, a silver striking of the gold pattern 100-pesetas, 1900, Barcelona mint, by the Catalan sculptor Venanci Vallmitjana i Barbany (1826-1919), St. George slaying the dragon, rev. VINDICAMUS HÆREDITATEM PATRUM NOSTRORUM, the throne of an independent Catalonia, 33mm. (cf. Cal.87), good extremely fine, very rare The Catalan Union prepared a set of so-called pattern coins, each with the same St. George obverse (St. George is the patron saint of Catalonia), but with different reverses, comprising gold 100- and 20 pesetas, silver 1- and 5 pesetas and copper 5- and 10 centimos.
Commemorative Medals, British, Archbishop William Sancroft (1617-1693) and the Seven Bishops, struck silver medal, 1688, the unsigned variety, by George Bower, bust of Sancroft r., in clerical robes and cap, date in Roman numerals, MDCLXXXVIII, rev. medallic portraits and the names of the Bishop of London and the six imprisoned bishops, plain edge, 50mm. (MI.623/39; Eimer 288 var.; Fearon, Sancroft, Fig 15), choice extremely fine, with mint bloom, especially on reverse, very rare *ex A H Baldwin, FPL 1995, 586 ex Arthur Holder (1919-2016) Collection The Bishops committed to the Tower of London were Henry Compton [London] shown in centre, and from top right and around, Francis Turner [Ely], Thomas Ken [Bath], John Trelawney [Bristol], Thomas White [Peterborough], John Lake [Chichester] and William Lloyd [St. Asaph].
Commemorative Medals, British, William and Mary, William’s Return to Holland, white metal medal, 1691, by Jan Smeltzing, laur. and dr. bust of William r., rev. MATURARE HUC REDIIT, partial zodiac, the sun in Leo, 49mm. (MI.4/159), better than very fine and extremely rare *ex Revd. William Lewis Gantz [1873-1940, of Stanstead Abbots, Herts] collection, Glendinings, 23-27 June, 1941, lot 1933, part ex Baldwin’s vault
Commemorative Medals, British, Victoria, Golden Jubilee, 1887, heavy silver medal, by Allan Wyon, crowned bust r., rev. GLORIOUS REIGN OF FIFTY YEARS COMPLETED, the Queen enthroned in Gothic setting, attended by Britannia, Neptune, Science, Clio (the muse of History), and cherub, 64mm., wt. 160.94gms. (BHM.3290, recorded in copper only; Eimer 1734 [AR & Æ]), nearly extremely fine and extremely rare
Commemorative Medals, Foreign, Colombia, Bogota, Simón Bolivar, Emancipation of Slavery and Statue Inaugurated, silver medal, 1846, by Tenerani and C. Voigt, SIMONI BOLIVAR LIBERATORI, statue of Bolivar on plinth, rev. SERVITVTIS ABROGATIO, Bolivar stands, document in hand, before a negro family, the mother with suckling child, the father kneeling and holding Bolivar’s leg, 48.5mm. (Fonrobert 8106), scuffed and bruised, very fine and extremely rare
Commemorative Medals, Foreign, Danish West Indies, Frederick VI, Abolition of Slavery, silver medal, 1834, by F.C. Krohn, FREDERICUS VI REX DANIÆ, laureate bust of Frederick VI of Denmark r., below, in two lines: INCOLAE LIBERICOLORATI INSVLAR. DAN. IN. IND. OCC…, rev. AEQVITAS AVGVSTI, standing figure of Dania, as Justice, foot on prow, a lion resting beside her, 62mm. (Bergsøe 115; BDM III, 224; Roehrs 1766 [DNW auction, 13 July, 2011]), nearly extremely fine, very rare *ex Stack’s ‘Americana’ sale, 16-17 January, 2007 (lot 6848) The reverse legend and image were taken from Roman coinage. The free-coloured of the Danish West Indies thanked the King with a proposal that he have a medal struck commemorating his approval of the Royal Ordinance of 18 April 18 1834. Five medals were struck in gold, which were graciously accepted by the King from the free-coloured for ‘We Ourselves’ as he officially referred to himself, his sons the crown princes, and Governor-General Peter von Scholten. Medals were also struck in lesser metals and distributed to the leading free-coloured.
Commemorative Medals, Foreign, Danish West Indies, Frederick VI, Abolition of Slavery, silver medal, 1834, by F.C. Krohn, FREDERICUS VI REX DANIÆ, laureate bust of Frederick VI of Denmark r., below, in two lines: INCOLAE LIBERICOLORATI INSVLAR. DAN. IN. IND. OCC…, rev. AEQVITAS AVGVSTI, standing figure of Dania, as Justice, foot on prow, a lion resting beside her, 62mm. (Bergsøe 115; BDM III, 224; Roehrs 1766 [DNW auction, 13 July, 2011]), scuffed, attempted piercing on reverse above Dania’s head, very fine, rare *ex Stack’s ‘Americana’ sale, 16-17 January, 2007 (lot 6849) See footnote to previous lot.
Commemorative Medals, Foreign, France, Henri IV (1553-1589-1610), cast bronze medal, undated, by the medallist AD, HENRICVS. IIII. R. CHRISTIANMO, armoured bust three quarters r., head turned to facing, wearing ruff collar and Badge of Order on ribband, rev. * SIÆTE. FIDEL. SINO. THE. MVORTE, well-dressed couple stand holding hands, he wears his sword, his left arm in sling, she with bouquet, 65.5mm. (BMC [Jones] -; Maz. 787), good very fine and very rare *ex Joseph Lepczyk Auction 48, uncertain date (lot 46)
Commemorative Medals, Foreign, Italy, Bologna, Cardinal Luigi Capponi (1582–1659), laying the first stone for the new chapels at the Church of Santa Maria Lacrimosa degli Alemanni, bronze medal, unsigned, 1619, * ET LAPIS I TE VOCABITVR DOMVS DEI, half-length bust of the Cardinal l., blessing the stone, rev. legend around, PAVLI V …, and in 10 lines in centre, IN MARIAM VIRGINEM …., 92mm. (cf. M. Hall, II, Baldwin Auction, 29 June 2010, lot 1087), a contemporary cast from a pierced original, very fine, well patinated and very rare Luigi Capponi (1582–1659) was elevated to Cardinal in 1608 and in 1619 was Cardinal-Deacon of Sant’Angelo in Pescheria in Rome. The chapels of the Saints Teresa and Joseph were built between 1619-1625 and in 1621 Capponi was appointed Archbishop Emeritus of Ravenna. Today only the bell tower of the Alemanni church remains.
Commemorative Medals, Foreign, Sport: Italy/Austria, International Football Match, Vienna, bronze medal, 1935, by D. Manetti, three footballers, one kicking the ball in full stride, rev. fasces above details, AVSTRIA-ITALIA VIENNA 24 MARZO 1935 XIII, and around, FEDERAZIONE ITALIANA GIVOCO CALCIO, 49.5mm., extremely fine, very rare The game was a Central European International Cup (Dr. Gerö Cup) match and was won by Italy 2-0. It is believed this is a participant’s medal. Manetti’s name is found on other sporting medals, including the Olympic-related Equestrian Meeting in Rome Medal, 1950.
Commemorative Medals, Foreign, Sarawak, Charles Vyner Brooke (1874-1963; 1917-1946), the Rajah of Sarawak Fund, silver medal, undated (1932), head of Brooke r., rev. arms, Birmingham hallmark and maker’s mark of The Mint, Birmingham, stamped in lower field, 38mm., wt. 22.89gms. (cf. R.J. Ford 317-18), matt surface, virtually mint state, very rare Charles Vyner Brooke, GCMG, was the third and last White Rajah of Sarawak. The Rajah of Sarawak Fund still operates today, providing financial support for students from Sarawak undertaking tertiary education in the United Kingdom.
Military Orders and Medals, Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry, The rare China 1900 ‘Conspicuous Gallantry’ Medal Group of three, awarded to Able Seaman William Parsonage, H.M.S. Aurora, for rescuing a wounded officer under fire, being wounded himself in so doing, comprising: Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, V.R., 2nd issue, scroll suspension (William Parsonage, Able Seaman, R.N. China 1900), officially engraved naming; China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (W. Parsonage, A.B., H.M.S. Aurora); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (185123 William Parsonage, P.O. 1 Cl., H.M.S. Queen), 258 medals issued with Relief of Pekin clasp to this ship, medal presented by the King on 8 March 1902, the first with old repair to suspension claw, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly fine (3) Sold with copied record of service and other research. One of only 50 2nd Type Queen Victoria Conspicuous Gallantry Medals issued and only 8 Conspicuous Gallantry Medals were awarded for services in China 1900. Conspicuous Gallantry Medal London Gazette 14th May 1901: ‘In connection with recent operations in China.’ ‘I desire to bring specially to Their Lordships’ favourable notice the conduct of the following Officers and men: ‘William Parsonage, A.B. H.M.S. Aurora, on the same occasion assisted to carry Lieutenant G.B. Powell, wounded to the rear, over ground swept by rifle fire, and was wounded in so doing’ Signed E.H. Seymour, Vice Admiral Parsonage’s service record notes ‘Awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for services with the Naval Brigade in China 1900 and on reaching the rating of P.O. 1 Cl. an annuity of £10 per annum to accompany the award.’ Parsonage was mentioned in the report of the Naval Commander-in-Chief on the China Station, on the affairs at Tientsin between 10th and 26th June 1900, in the following terms: ‘I desire to bring specially to Their Lordships’ favourable notice the conduct of the following officers and men:- William Parsonage, A.B., of H.M.S. ‘Aurora’, on the same occasion assisted to carry Lieutenant G. B. Powell, wounded, to the rear, over open ground swept by rifle fire, and was wounded in so doing.’ (Signed) E. H. Seymour, Vice Admiral. In the same report Vice Admiral Seymour describes the action of 19 June at Langfang when Parsonage was wounded whilst rescuing Lieutenant Powell: ‘Two Chinese field guns were placed near the railway embankment opposite the British Concession and opened fire. Commander Beatty, with three companies of seamen, crossed the river and manoeuvred to within 200 or 300 yards in the hope of capturing them in a rush; some Russians moved out at the same time to co-operate. While our men were waiting for the Russians to come up, a large force of Chinese appeared to the right behind a mud wall and poured in a heavy fire, wounding Commander Beatty, Lieutenants Powell (‘Aurora’) and Stirling (‘Barfleur’), Mr. Donaldson, midshipman (‘Barfleur’) (the latter died on 3rd July of his wounds), and 11 men. The force then retired.’ William Parsonage was born in Plymouth, Devon, on 25 February 1879, and joined the Royal Navy on 8 August 1895 as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. Impregnable, his occupation being given as ‘Hawker’. He joined H.M.S. Aurora as an Ordinary Seaman on 16 February 1899, being advanced to Able Seaman the following December, and was paid off from the ship on 28 July 1900. He was advanced to Leading Seaman in January 1902, to Petty Officer 2nd Class in April 1903 and was discharged to the Royal Fleet Reserve in June 1905. However, in order to obtain 1st Class Petty Officer Status, and thereby claim the annuity to go with his C.G.M. award, he re-joined the Navy in September 1905 and became P.O. 1st Class in July 1909. He received his L.S. & G.C. award in May 1912 and saw service with the Grand Fleet during the Great War, thereby gaining entitlement to a 1914-15 Star trio. He joined the Royal Fleet Reserve at Devonport in May 1919 and was finally discharged on 16 June 1922.
Military Orders and Medals, Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry, A very rare Boys’ Brigade Cross For Heroism, 2nd Type, awarded to Pte Charles Clark of the 7th Company The London Boys Brigade (Pte. Charles Clark 7th London Coy. 12th Feb 1931), heavily toned but very fine detail Extract Derby Daily telegraph dated 17th March 1931: Brigade Boy’s Heroism – Girl Rescued From Canal. The Boys’ Brigade Cross for heroism has just been awarded to Private Charles Clark, of the 7th London Company, for rescuing a girl from drowning in the Grand Union Canal, Harlesden, a few weeks ago. In this case a youth was practising a dance step with a girl on the brink of the canal when the girl overbalanced and fell in. The youth dived in, and after repeated attempts to save the girl sank and was drowned. Clark was walking near-by with other boys when he heard cries for help, and, running to the towing-path, saw the girl in the water. It was a pitch dark winter’s night, and the water at this point is in a filthy condition, but Clark stripped and dived in. He succeeded in reaching the girl, but had a severe struggle with her until she became unconscious. Then he eventually managed to swim with her to the bank. The girl who was rescued was Miss Kathleen Garland, her boyfriend who tried to save her but was drowned was Arthur Watson and Charles Clark was 14 years old when he performed the rescue for which he was awarded the Boy’s Brigade Cross For Heroism. The Cross was instituted in September 1902 and the first awards were made in 1904. The cross was only awarded 194 times up to the end of 1985, including five posthumous awards. The second type award, as this is, was instituted in 1926 when the Boys’ Life Brigade amalgamated with the Boys’ Brigade, the second type has the addition of a Geneva cross behind the anchor in the centre of the obverse.
Military Orders and Medals, World Orders and Decorations, Montenegro, a rare Ottoman Montenegrin War Medal 1861-1862, obv. inscription ‘Relying on the Assistance of Almighty God, Abdulaziz Khan, Sovereign of the Ottoman Empire’, rev. mountains of Montenegro, a canon and the Turkish flag, the word ‘Karadg’ (Montenegro) and the date 1279 (AD 1863), lacking original suspender, loop suspension affixed with solder, toned, very fine The medal was instituted in 1863 by Sultan Abdul Aziz and was awarded to Ottoman Forces under the command of Omar Pasha (Ottoman governor of Bosnia-Herzegovina) who were involved in the war, which was caused by the desire of Prince Nicholas I of Montenegro for independence and territorial expansion. The Montenegrin forces had an initial victory near Novo Selo but soon the numerical superiority of the Turkish forces turned the tide of the war and led to the intervention of western powers. Following the Convention of Scutari, Montenegro gained its autonomy but failed to achieve border expansion.
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209236 item(s)/page