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Click here to subscribeA rare emerald 'poison' ring, possibly Spain, circa 1700, set with a table-cut emerald, to a high-carat gold mount with foliate shoulders and a fluted band, one shoulder hollow, the interior of the band with a concealed compartment with a hinged cover, size O1/2, later French assay mark for 18ct gold
A rare enamel and diamond ring, 17th century, set with a table-cut diamond within a rectangular gold setting, the mount and shoulders applied with black enamel, suspending a heart-shaped pendant applied with black enamel, with the number 3 in reserve, size HAccording to Diana Scarisbrick, (Rings: Jewelry of Power, Love and Loyalty, London, 2007, p. 88) the number '3' as a motif in jewellery is thought to be a German rebus implying a lover's fidelity, as in Saxon German the word 'drei', meaning 'three', was pronounced similarly to the word 'treu', meaning 'faithful'.
A fine and rare gem-set giardinetti ring, circa 1750, designed as a spray of flowers, set with emeralds, sapphires and rubies, and rose-cut diamonds, to a partially openwork gold band of scrolling design, size NCf.: Diana Scarisbrick, Rings: Jewelry of Power, Love and Loyalty, London, 2007, pgs. 252-256, for comparable examples of these highly attractive Rococo-style rings
A rare sapphire and diamond ring, millegrain-set with an elongated cushion-shaped sapphire weighing 5.94 carats, to a double border and shoulders set with circular-cut diamonds, mounted in platinum, size MAccompanied by SSEF report no. 125072, stating that the sapphire is of Kashmir origin, with no indications of heat treatment, dated 6th October 2022
Van Cleef & Arpels, a rare pair of Art Deco diamond hair clips, 1930s, each of rectangular form with one end cut diagonally, set with circular-cut and baguette diamonds, mounted in platinum and white gold, length 4cm each, one signed Van Cleef & Arpels, both numbered 41589, French assay marks and maker's marks, original fitted case stamped Van Cleef & Arpels Finely made and in very good condition. Estimated total diamond weight approximately 6.00 carats, estimated to be approximately F-G colour, mixed clarity grades, mostly VS, some SI1/SI2, overall impression bright, white and well-matched. Clip fittings with good tension, teeth grips and slight curvature design mean comfortable and secure when worn, either in the hair or as clip brooches. When combined by inserting one clip into the other, a single clip with a double clasp is created, for securing a plait or a ponytail, or a scarf. When assembled in this way, the clips can be a little stiff and difficult to detach. French maker's marks are indistinct, possibly DB & Cie. Light scratches to surfaces consistent with wear. Combined gross weight 22.8 grams.
REUBEN WATTS (NEW ZEALAND, 18691940) a rare set of six hand hammered Arts and Crafts period silver and enamel teaspoons, the trefoil ends enamelled with peacock blue and turquoise around a red centre, stamped with a partly obscured Reuben Watts stamp and Sterling to the back, 12.5cm Provenance:- It is believed that these spoons were a gift from Ruben Watts to his brother Reginald Watts on the occasion of his wedding to his first wife, and thence by family decent to the current vendor.Reuben Watts is considered a pioneer of the Arts and Crafts movement in New Zealand. Having trained in the Arts and Crafts style in Birmingham, he arrived in New Zealand in 1899. Working for the commercial jewellers Littlejohn before moving to Auckland in 1906 where he worked for A. Kohn. Watts went on to became an independent jeweller exhibiting at the Auckland Arts and Crafts Club in 1912. Between 1930 and 1939 he taught at Elam School of Art. References: Karlin, Elyse Zorn. 1993. Jewellery & Metalwork in the Arts & Crafts Tradition. Atglen: Schiffer. Shepherd, Winsome. 1995. Gold & Silversmithing in Nineteenth & Twentieth Century New Zealand. Wellington: Museum of New Zealand.
Omega, a 1967 Omega automatic Seamaster 300, rare model, 1/4 arabic, bold arrow baton dial, 38mm, straight lug, black inlay bezel on leather strap, dial original, watch number 50/660, calibre 552, condition - hands, glass, inlay, crown renewed, new Omega strap fitted, box and papers and a copy of the Watch Repair/Service Receipt for £1162.13 from Omega (Omega Boutique Plymouth, Drakes Circus), dated 06/02/2023 which offers a 24 month guarantee (it does not detail the work carried out).Condition reports are offered as a guide only and we highly recommend that you inspect any lot to satisfy yourself as to its condition. Plymouth Auction Rooms do not guarantee the working order or accuracy of any watches sold. Please refer to clause 15 on our terms of business.
Omega, a stainless steel Omega Geneva automatic date, silver baton dial, original Omega Fixo-Flex expanding bracelet (rare), spare links, 32mm, box and original guarantee, 11/11/72, movement number 33534421, ref ST166041, 565 calibre, condition - good original condition, running order.Condition reports are offered as a guide only and we highly recommend that you inspect any lot to satisfy yourself as to its condition. Plymouth Auction Rooms do not guarantee the working order or accuracy of any watches sold. Please refer to clause 15 on our terms of business.
WW2 Enola Gay Navigator Dutch van Kirk signed stunning 6 x 4 colour photo of Enola Gay on the runway. Rare autograph. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
Nineteen large DM Medal Special Signed Covers. The unbelievably rare set of 19 special signed large RAF Museum Awards Series Covers and Album. This series of eighteen flown covers illustrates the principal honours, decorations and campaign medals which have been awarded to members of the Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force and Royal Air Force Regiment, the Royal Naval Air Service and the Fleet Air Arm. Each cover which measures a large 32cm x 23cm carries the signatures of seven airmen, whose gallantry or leadership in the service of their country, has been recognised by the award shown. A further special cover has been added to the series to mark the relationship between the RAF and the Luftwaffe. The collection comes housed in a luxury album, and all the covers are laid out in protective sleeves with the inlay cards and signatories photographs shown opposite. This stunning collection bears some of the rarest World War Two autographs you could hope to own, including MRAF Sir Arthur Harris, Sqn Ldr Neville Duke, Leonard Trent VC, Bill Reid VC, Leonard Cheshire VC, Rod Learoyd VC, AVM Don Bennett, AVM Johnnie Johnson, Dambuster David Shannon, Group Captain John Cunningham, Eric Winkle Brown, Peter Twiss, ACM Sir Christopher Foxley-Norris, Dambuster Mickey Martin, Dambuster Bill Townsend, Group Captain Dennis David, Bob Stanford-Tuck, Group Captain James Tait, Hamish Mahaddie, Oliver Philpot, Don Kingaby, Denis Crowley-Milling, Dambuster Tony Burcher, Dambuster Len Sumpter, James Ginger Lacey, Bobby Oxspring, Laddie Lucas and so many more. Full list of covers and autographs. Award of the Air Force Cross signed by Sir Dermot Boyle, FH Bugge, AC Clouston printed, Grp Capt Emmerson, Sir Arthur Harris, and Bill Randle and ACM Keith Williamson. Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross signed by Sir Robin Hooper, Desmond Hughes, HC Rigby, Flt Lt Jimmy Edwards, Grp Capt. Ken Batchelor, Neville Duke and Ivor Broom. Award of the Victoria Cross signed by Leonard Cheshire, John Cruickshank, Norman Jackson, Rod Learoyd, Bill Reid, Leonard Trent and Freddie W Award of the Distinguished Service Order signed by Don Bennett, Harry Burton, John Cunningham, Denys Gillam, Johnnie Johnson, Dave Shannon and Hugh Verity. Award of the Distinguished Service Cross signed by Eric Brown, Fred Russell printed, Peter Twiss, David Morgan, Derry Kearns, Ian Robertson and Sir William Garthwaite. Award of the Military Medal signed by Edward Cerely, John McFarlane, Elspeth Green, William Magrath, Roy Marlow, Harry Simister and Wally Simpson. Award of the OBE signed by Sir Harry Broadhurst, Paul Holder, Earl of Selkirk, Colin Scragg, Denis Smallwood, Sir Geoffrey Tuttle and Sir John Whitley. Award of the Order of the Bath signed by Lord Cameron, William Dickson, Christopher Foxley-Norris, Lewis Hodges, Micky Martin, Denis Spotswood and Augustus Walker. Award of the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal signed by D Allen, Jack Bettany, George Dove, DT Jones, JW Norris, Bill Townsend and J G Wheeler. Award of the 1939-45 Star Battle of Britain signed by Ben Bennions, Dennis David, Bob Doe, H Hallowes, Pat Hancock, Bob Stanford-Tuck and George Unwin. Award of the Aircrew Europe Star signed by Michael Beetham, Harold Bird-Wilson, Wallace Kyle, John Lapsey, Hamish Mahaddie, Fred Rosier and James Tait. Award of the Military Cross to Airmen signed by Brian Coote, Peter Gosse, Arthur Hall, A E Milton, Norman Page, Oliver Philpot and Sir Robert Thompson. Award of the Air Efficiency Award signed by Denis Crowley-Milling, HG Davis, Frank Dodd, Sandy Johnstone, Don Kingaby, HM Stephen and Peter Vanneck. Award of the Distinguished Flying Medal signed by Tony Burcher, E Cummings, Bill Howarth, James Lacey, DA Macdonald, AG Mitchell and Len Sumpter. Award of the George Medal to Airmen signed by R Bullen, Sir Geoffrey Dhenin, John Gray, Michael Lakey, James McCarthy, D Oliver and J Reeson. Mentioned in Despatches signed. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
Rolling Stones collection 7 original rare 4x3 black and white unsigned photos featuring Mick Jagger and Brian Jones. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
Barnes Wallis signed rare SC36, RAF Scampton Avro Lancaster cover, The Dambusters 617 sqn. Sir Barnes Neville Wallis CBE FRS RDI FRAeS (26 September 1887 - 30 October 1979) was an English engineer and inventor. He is best known for inventing the bouncing bomb used by the Royal Air Force in Operation Chastise (the Dambusters raid) to attack the dams of the Ruhr Valley during World War II. The raid was the subject of the 1955 film The Dam Busters, in which Wallis was played by Michael Redgrave. Among his other inventions were his version of the geodetic airframe and the earthquake bomb. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
WW2 Navy 50th ann Tirpitz attack multiple X craft signed cover. Rare cover signed Tirpitz X craft Submarine veteran by Admiral Godfrey Place VC, Robert Aitken DSO X7, John Lorimer DSC X3, X6, Richard Kendall DSO X6, Arnold Wilson MBE X6, Sr E Page MBE X10, Kenneth Hudspeth DSC X10, X20, Lt Cdr George Honour DSC X4, X23, John Britnell X24, XE4. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
Major-General Charles George Gordon ALS dated 30. 1. 1877 rare letter penned before leaving for Egypt interesting content taken from the Kirby collection. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
Rare Ara Guler signed 20x16 mounted and framed Zonguldak Eregil Road 1962 limited edition print this was printed and signed in a special edition for the Ottoman Bank in 1987. Ara Guler (16 August 1928 - 17 October 2018) was an Armenian-Turkish photojournalist, nicknamed the Eye of Istanbul or the Photographer of Istanbul. He was one of Turkey's few internationally known photographers. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
Grey, white, and tan colorway. Immortalized in Dickens' " A Christmas Carol," the character Jacob Marley's Ghost visited Ebenezer Scrooge, his tight-fisted former business partner, on Christmas Eve to help him change his miserly ways. From his ghost-like face to the chained links he forged in life, every detail of this large, very rare Character Jug perfectly captures the essence of an important character from Dickens' holiday classic.Royal Doulton backstamp. Comes with certificate of authenticity. Artist: David B. BiggsIssued: 1999Dimensions: 7.5"HEdition Number: 124 Edition Size: 2500Manufacturer: Royal DoultonCountry of Origin: EnglandCondition: Age related wear.
Rare Planétaire Copernicien et sphère céleste mécanique, France, attribué à Emile Bertaux, fin du XIXe siècleA rare Copernician Planetarium with mechanical Celestial brass sphere, on a walnut and mahogany base, France, attributed to Emile Bertaux, late 19th centuryWith multiple and variously sized brass spheres and smaller spheres revolving around a central shaft with base graduated circular dial inscribed 'SUD' 'EST' 'NORD' 'OUEST', and inscribed with the twelve astrological signs, within a glass sphere fitted to the inside with paper stars, on a turned mahogany waisted socle and veneered square shaped base, with brass crank handle, above a brass inset numbered plaquette inscribed in Turkish, mentioning that the Planetarium was offered in 1926 to the Balmumcu Museum, and with a paper label inscribed '98(B)' in red ink, 64cm high, 40.5cm diam., the base 32cm square (25in high, 15 1/2in diam., 12 1/2in wide)Footnotes:The hand cranked geared mechanism operating the nine planets, six mounted on curved armatures and two others and the Earth and Moon mounted on geared mechanism showing the orbits around the Sun, mounted within glass sphere applied with paper stars representing the constellations, the mahogany base containing the geared mechanism with crank handle at the side.A similar planetarium and celestial sphere signed 'Bertaux, geographer 25 rue Serpente Paris 1892' is conserved in the Musée de la Marine, Paris, inventory 15 NA13. Emile Bertaux (1840-1903) was a publisher of geographical works and maker of globes, he succeeded to the business of Charles Dien, and was established rue Serpente, 25 in Paris. In the 1867 International Exhibition he was awarded a bronze medal and he later devised a clockwork driven planetarium contained within a glass star sphere which is illustrated in the 1882 catalogue.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: WW Lot is located in the Bonhams Warehouse and will only be available for collection from this location.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Rare bol à thé et sa soucoupe en porcelaine de Meissen au décor Hausmaler de Preissler, vers 1720-30A rare Meissen Preissler Hausmaler teabowl and saucer, circa 1720-30Decorated in the workshop of Ignaz Preissler, Kronstadt (Bohemia), each with a harbour scene with the ships, figures, land and buildings in iron-red and the water and sky in black, the details sketched in a sgraffito technique through the enamel, the saucer: 12.5cm diam.; the teabowl: 4.5cm high (tiny chip to saucer footrim) (2)Footnotes:Provenance:Private Collection, Switzerland (sold at Christie's London, 11 December 2007, lot 80);Private German Collection of Meissen PorcelainSimilar scenes, including the same fortified tower and arch-bridge, are on a series of faience plates decorated in black monochrome with harbour scenes and armorials in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg (A. Müller-Hofstede, Der schlesisch-böhmische Hausmaler Ignaz Preißler, in Keramos 100 (1983), ill. 54, attributed to Preissler). A teapot decorated with a view of Paris in the same technique using iron-red and black is in the Victoria & Albert Museum (C.75&A-1939, published by A. Müller-Hofstede, Der schlesisch-bömische Hausmaler Ignaz Preissler, in Keramos 100 (1983), ill. 49), and a bowl is in the Prague Museum of Decorative Arts (published by H. Brozkova (ed.), Daniel a Ignac Preisslerové (2009), no. 77).For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Deux rares tapisseries Louis XV des Gobelins de la série Don Quichotte, une par Michel Audran, datée 1757, l'autre par Pierre-François Cozette, datée 1764, d'après un dessin de Charles Antoine Coypel, faisant partie de la sixième série tisséeTwo rare Louis XV Gobelins tapestries from the Don Quixote series, one dated 1757 by Michel Audran, the other dated 1764, by Pierre-François Cozette, after a design by Charles Antoine Coypel, part of the sixth weaving of the seriesBoth woven in wool and silk, the first entitled 'The False Princess Micomicon asking Don Quixote to Restore her to her Throne', the central cartouche showing the young female in typical dress with elaborate plumed headdress, her turbaned companion kneeling behind her, two figures peeking out from behind a tree, a rocky landscape in the distance, the text to the bottom of the flowering frame reading LA FAUSSE PRINCESSE MICOMICON, VIENT PRIER DOM QUICHOTTE DE LA REMETTRE SUR LE THRÔNE, the second tapestry entitled 'Don Quixote made a Knight by the Inn Keeper,' the central cartouche showing the main figure of Don Quixote in his armour, kneeling before the inn-keeper who is adorned with a pluming red hat, two figures, one female and one youth standing behind him, two maidens holding the military attributes of Don Quixote behind the kneeling knight, a young woman to the foreground drawing water from the well, dressed in a red dress, the text below to the flowering frame reading DOM QUICHOTTE FAIT CHEVALIER, PAR L'HOSTE, DE HOTELLERIE both scenes are set within a central reserve with scrolling foliate and frame, headed by a peacock, and flanked by ribbon-tied foliate swags, above bursting cornucopiae and military trophies, within a frame border, resting on a base with armour and an axe, flags and cornucopiae, flanked by a spaniel and a ram, the corners with interlaced L's, on blue oval medallions, the former signed and dated UDRAN. G. 1757' with a fleur-de-lys to the dark blue outer slip with signature, the latter signed and dated 'Cozette 1764' to the lower right field, and signed COZETTE on the blue outer slip, minor wear to outer slip, 361.5cm x 283cm (11.86ft x 9.28ft) and 361cm x 275.5cm (11.84ft x 9.03ft) (2 )Footnotes:Provenance:Commissioned by Abel-François Poisson de Vandières, Marquis de Marigny, Surintendent et Directeur des Batiments du Roi;Sold as part of a larger set to Madame Veron on 4 July 1783 (Don Quixote knighted by the innkeeper delivered on 27th November, 1764), thence by inheritance to;Louis Grégoire Veron, Receveur Général des Finances de France-Comté in 1780;Richard Seymour-Conway, 4th Marquess of Hertford, by 1865, thence to his son;Sir Richard Wallace, sold at Christie's London, 20 April 1876, lot 210;Baron de Gunzbourg, sold to Paul Chevalier, Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, 30 January 1884, lots 3 and 4 respectively;Clarence H. Mackay by 1926, thence by descent to his daughter, Mrs Robert Z.Hawkins, 1958;English private collection Exhibited:Paris, Palais de l'Industrie, Exhibition de l'Union centrale des Beaux-Arts appliqués à l'industrie, 1865(loaned by Lord Hertford who lent the pieces to the Musée Rétrospectif Exhibition) This magnificent series was woven nine times - between 1714 and 1794 - with six different alentours (borders), resulting in approximately 200 panels over the course of 80 years. The initial manufacture of the series was overseen by Robert Cotte, the Royal Architect in Chief and Gobelins director (1656-1735) and the Duc d'Antin, Surintendant des Batiments du Roi (1708-1736), who received the first set, which consisted of 16 panels (see below). The production and distribution of the series in the 18th century is complex, but dates of the first few sets are thought to be as follows: The first set for the Duc D'Antin in 1717 (sold at Christie's London, 10th June 1993);The second set consisted of 12 panels, a gift from Louis XV to the Spanish Ambassador;The third set was woven in 1733;The fourth set, woven at some point between 1746-49, consisted of twelve pieces (sold as a whole to the Duke of Parma and currently in Turin);The fifth set included thirty panels;The sixth set (the present lot) originally consisted of 23 panels and is thought to have been woven between 1757-64;The seventh set consisted of 14 panels;The eighth set had a phenomenal 67 tapestries woven to make up the set. A set of this series with a red background was woven between 1772-1785 and given to Albert and Marie-Christine, Duke and Duchess of Saxe Teschen in 1786. Four of these are now at the J.Paul Getty Museum (acc.no 82.DD.66-69). Four tapestries from the series were presented on 18 July 1788 by Louis XVI to the artist Richard Cosway as a sign of gratitude for the four tapestry cartoons by Giulio Romano depicting the history of Scipio, which Cosway had presented to the King for display in the Louvre. Cosway gave his set to George IV shortly afterwards and they were hung in Carlton House until 1823, when they were moved to Buckingham Palace (inv.RCIN 3190-94). A Royal Commission 'Presents from the King to Princes and Ambassadors' Don Quixote (or 'The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha), captured the 17th century European noble imagination as translations permeated the various courts and libraries of the upper échelons of society. These tapestries are of particular importance because they represent a change in artistic subject matter at the Gobelins factory. There was a noticeable shift from depictions of stories of military subjects and classical mythology to lighter and occasionally, frivolous scenes. Charles Coypel (1694-1752), painter to Louis XV, created 28 cartoons for the Gobelins manufactory. He received 200 livres for each design. The paintings on which the present lot are based date to 1716 and 1714 (as panels 6 and 0 respectively). 'Don Quixote knighted by the Innkeeper' was the first painting of the series to be presented at the Gobelins factory and set the tone for the rest of the panels. These specific borders, (or alentours) occur for the first time in these tapestries. Some scholars have argued that these borders, which are credited to Jean Baptiste Belin de Fontenay, have just as much iconographic significance as the scenes depicted in the central cartouches. For this set the borders form part of the fifth version of the weaving, which was a variant of the second. That version was a joint effort of Audran and Fontenay under Coypel. The fifth version, only used until 1760, was executed by Vallade who was supervised by Coypel and supplied to Audran in 1751. We know that the Duc D'Antin had wanted new paintings from Coypel and wider hangings so under Coypel a new alentour was designed, mainly using the work of Claude Audran. The piles of armour and flags to the bottom were enlarged, some books added and additional animals including a monkey.The first set of these tapestries were commissioned by the Duc d'Antin
Grand plat armorié Meissen du service Münnich, vers 1738A Meissen armorial charger from the Münnich service, circa 1738Painted with the arms within the Collar and Badge of the Russian Order of St. Andrew above the motto Obsequio et candore, flanked by oval cartouches and martial trophies all hung with swags and scattered indianische Blumen, the rim moulded with 'Sulkowski-Ozier' basketwork, 29.6cm diam., crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue, (set in a later metal tree-claw mount for hanging)Footnotes:Provenance:Given by Augustus III of Poland and Saxony to Count Burchardt Christoph von Münnich in late 1740;German private collectionGeneral Field Marshall Burchard Christoph Graf von Münnich (1683-1767) entered the service of Augustus the Strong in 1716 and quickly became General Inspector of Polish troops and Commander of the Royal Guard. In 1721, he entered the service of Czar Peter the Great, and under Peter II, became General of the Infantry and was ennobled as Count (Graf) in 1728. Under Czarina Anna Ivanovna, he was appointed Privy Councillor, Minister of War and, in 1732, Field Marshall. He was awarded the Order of St. Andrew in 1734. He was exiled to Siberia by Czarina Elizabeth following the palace coup of 1741, and was rehabilitated only 20 years later by Peter III. He resumed high office and died in 1767 during the reign of Catherine the Great, who commented at his death: 'Even if he wasn't a Son of Russia, he was one of its Fathers.'The service was a gift - along with the Polish Order of the White Eagle - from the Saxon Elector, Friedrich August, in gratitude for Münnich's role in the War of the Polish succession (1733-35/38), which resulted in Friedrich August's election as King (Augustus III) of Poland. In 1734, Münnich led the 135-day siege of Danzig, where Friedrich August's rival, Stanislaw Leszcynsky, had taken shelter. The decision to give Münnich a gift may have been made around this time. The service is first mentioned in 1738, though it seems that it was the elevation of Münnich to First Minister at the end of 1740 that caused the service to finally be delivered. See the detailed discussion of the service by Anette Loesch in U. Pietsch (ed.), Meissen for the Czars (2004), pp. 50-51. Other examples from this service are illustrated by Pietsch (ed.) 2004, pp. 50-55. Other pieces from this rare service offered at auction include a plate at Sotheby's London, 2 December 2003, lot 29; a plate at Stockholms Auktionsverket, 5 October 2007, lot 2821; a plate at Sotheby's London, 12 June 2008, lot 722; and another plate at Christie's London, 12 May 2010, lot 86, and more recently a plate was offered at Bonhams London as part of the collection of Brigitte Britzke, 14 December 2016, lot 90.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Rare groupe Meissen d'un franc-maçon et d'une dame, monté en bronze doré, vers 1745A rare Meissen ormolu-mounted group of a Freemason and lady, circa 1745Modelled by J.J. Kaendler, the gentleman seated on an upturned pedestal, wearing a gilt-edged white jacket, blue-edged chamois apron and black breeches, his tricorn under his right arm, his companion seated on a pedestal holding a beaker to his lips and holding a jug in her left hand, a pug dog seated on her lap, wearing a white bonnet, puce cape, dress decorated with indianische Blumen and puce shoes with gilding, the base applied with leaves and flowers, 17cm high, traces of crossed swords mark in blue (table missing from front of base, some restoration)Footnotes:Provenance:The Property of a Lady, sold Sotheby's London, 15 May 1965, lot 149;Private Collection, Germany (offered at Sotheby's London, 17 June 1997, lot 140);Private German Collection of Meissen PorcelainThere are two brief mentions of Freemason groups in Kaendler's work records in May and November 1744. The Taxa of overtime work mentions in an entry dated 21 November 1744: '1. Frey Maurer Groupgen, da ein Frey-Maurer in seiner Kleidung und Schurz Fell neben einer Dame vom Mopß-Orden sizet, welche ihn mit einer Chocolate, die sie auf dem Tisch neben sich stehen hat, beehret, auf deren Schooß liegt ein Mopß' [1 Freemason group, a Freemason in his clothes and hide apron seated next to a Lady of the Order of Pugs, who offers his chocolate that she has standing on a table next to him].For the significance of the pseudo-Masonic Mopsorden, or Order of the Pug Dog, see E. Köllmann, Der Mopsorden, in Keramos 50/1970, pp. 71-82. Other examples of this group are in the Pauls-Eisenbeiss Collection (I. Menzhausen, In Porzellan verzaubert, p. 114), and in the Gustav von Klemperer (no. 601), Walther von Pannwitz (no. 276) and Gustav von Gerhardt (no. 89) collections.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Très rare ensemble de vingt et une figurines Meissen 'Cris de Paris', vers 1755A very rare set of twenty-one Meissen 'Cris de Paris' figures, circa 1755Modelled by Peter Reinicke after drawings by Christophe Huet of 1753, comprising: crier with a magic lantern, the spirits seller, the pipe and drum player, the female fish vendor, the oyster seller, the hurdy-gurdy player, the grape seller, the orange seller, the peasant with a cradle, the vegetable seller, the triangle player, the violinist, the flower seller, the lemon seller, the liquorice-water seller, the cook with a stove, the lemonade seller, the egg seller, the horn player, the crier with chicks (later-decorated) and the poultry chef, after 1760, 14-15cm high, crossed swords marks in underglaze-blue and blue, various impressed numerals (scattered restoration) (21)Footnotes:Provenance:Private German Collection of Meissen PorcelainLiterature:Martin Eberle, Cris de Paris Meissener Porzellanfiguren des 18. Jahrhunderts (2001): no. 23 (the flower seller), no. 25 (crier with chicks), no. 28 (lemonade seller), no. 29 (cook with stove), no. 32 (triangle-player), no. 33 (hurdy-gurdy player), no. 35 (crier with drum and whistle), no. 36 (crier with horn), no. 37 (vegetable seller), no. 38 (crier with cradle), no. 39 (fish seller), no. 43 (spirit seller), no. 44 (liquorice-water seller), no. 47 (orange-seller);U. Pietsch/C. Banz, Triumph der blauen Schwerter (2010), cat. no. 436 (crier with magic lantern)Exhibited:Leipzig, Gohliser Schlößchen, 'Sachsens Gold im Schlößchen', 29 April-10 June 2001 (as above Literature);Dresden, Japanese Palace, 'Triumph der blauen Schwerter. Meissener Porzellan für Adel und Bürgertum 1710-1815', 8 May-29 August 2010 (crier with magic lantern)For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
Rare groupe de 'L'enlèvement d'Hélène', Frankenthal, vers 1757A rare Frankenthal group of the Abduction of Helen, circa 1757Modelled by J.W.Lanz, the figure of Paris in antique armour standing in a boat and holding Helen in both arms, an attendant lifting an anchor from the sea, 28cm high, 21.5cm wide, 11cm deep crowned CT mark in underglaze blue (some restoration to extremeties)Footnotes:The group depicts the famous story from Greek mythology which led to the Trojan War. The model is after a print by Louis Desplaces (1682-1739), after the drawing by Charles-Joseph Natoire (1700-1777). For a full discussion, see B. Beaucamp-Markowsky, Frankenthaler Porzellan-Die Plastik (2008), p.183ff.Another example of this rare group is in the collection of the Historisches Museum der Pfalz in Speyer, and is published, together with a large group of other Frankenthal porcelain in their collection, online. Further examples are in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, the Erkenbert-Museum, Frankenthal, the Kurpfälzisches Museum, Heidelberg, the Museum Kunsthaus Heylshof, Worms, and in the Pauls-Eisenbeiss Collection.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
GUCCI A rare minaudière silver-glass beaded framed evening bag. Dating from the 1960s, this piece has an iridescent pearl satin lining and kiss-lock fastening. Two inside side-pockets. It measures 18 cm x 13 cm. The silver metal strap drop is 18 cm. Comes in red Gucci dust bag. Condition Report: Good condition commensurate with age
An extremely rare iconic piece of fashion history. An HERMES Sac à Dépêches (Kelly) bag 35cm. Retourne in black box-calf leather. A top handle handbag bearing a significantly early heat stamp "A" signifying manufacture in 1945 (The first year that HERMES authenticated their bags with serial numbers was 1945 and the "A" stamped items are scarce.) Gold coloured hardware. Very desirable black leather interior. With original black leather fob, padlock and working key present. Condition Report: In good condition commensurate with age and use. Small good professional repair to one side and professional restoration to all four corners. Age and use-related damage to the one side of flap Would benefit from leather treatment as leather is a little "thirsty" but robust and un-faded. Some use marks under the handle.
A rare original c1965 ladies iconic pale blue PVC raincoat by MARY QUANT/ALLIGATOR collaboration. Satin lined with original belt. Fits UK M-L. Alligator Rainwear was a British company, whose main factory was based in Stockport. It was best known for its 1960s collaborations with Mary Quant in the design and production of her "Wet Look" collection of PVC raincoats. Similar seen at the Victoria & Albert Museum - photos of exhibits as shown.Please note lot contains mac only, any additional items in the images are included for illustrative purposes only. Condition Report: Good condition commensurate with age
OSSIE CLARK original 1974/5 purple evening maxi-dress in very rare purple shot-crepe with green shimmer and geometric print. Leg-o-mutton sleeves with covered-button cuffs and tie waist. Backless design with V-neck front. labelled size 12 (Fits modern size 10.)Condition Report: Good condition commensurate with age and wear. No obvious snags or holes or fading. Label photo will be added.
Taxidermy: A Red Fox Mask Cigarette Box, (Vulpes vulpes), by Army and Navy Stores, Naturalist Dept, London, S.W, an unusual a rare Red fox mask mounted cigarette box, with snarling open mouthed expression, the hinged upper jaw section opening to reveal a wooden rectangular compartment, with painted text to interior - "Surrey Union, March, 1956", overall length 26cm, height 10cm, taxidermist's ivorine trade label to underside, (af).Considerable moth damage to hair on forehead, various amateur re-gluing applied to hair, both ear tips damaged, nose tip damaged, 04/11/22
Taxidermy: A Red Fox Death Mask (Vulpes vulpes), dated 1926, by Henry Murray & Son, Naturalists, Bank Buildings, Carnforth, a rare and unusual adult Red fox death mask, suspended by a leather belt loop, attached to a typical shaped oak shield, bearing ivorine plaque - "Littlebeck, Feb. 9. 1926, Staintondale & Goathland Joint Meet", taxidermist's full paper trade label to verso.From the Estate of Stephen Hamilton Rawlings, Scarborough.Both ear tips damaged in need of restoration, 30/12/22
Taxidermy: A Cased Re-creation of a Family of Extinct New Zealand Huia Birds (†Heteralocha acutirostris), circa 2022, by Barry Williams, Taxidermy, Cannock Staffordshire, a superb pair of composed full mount Huia birds, the male with huhu grub within it's beak feeding his young chick laid within a natural nest site, the female perched upon a branch with head turning to the right observing, mounted amidst a natural setting of grasses, reeds and fauna, above painted soil groundwork beneath, set against a pale blue painted back drop, enclosed within an ebonised period style three-glass display case, 89cm by 30.5cm by 67cm, the beak of the female has been reproduced from an actual beak specimen shot in the Gollans Valley, York Bay, New Zealand circa 1890, mounted upon substitute donor bodies, together with a pair of authentic natural Huia bird feathers, previously owned by his grace the 11th Duke of Bedford, president of the London Zoological Society (1899-1936), and later owned by his grace the 12th Duke of Bedford. Additional image shows the natural birds which donated the two feathers included within this lot.The Huia birds extinction had two primary causes. The first was rampant overhunting to procure huia skins for mounted specimens and their tail feathers for hat decorations. The second major cause was the widespread deforestation of the lowlands of the North Island by European settlers to create pasture for agriculture. Most of these forests were ancient, ecologically complex primary forests, and huia were unable to survive in regenerating secondary forests. It was already a rare bird before the arrival of Europeans, confined to the Ruahine, Tararua, Rimutaka and Kaimanawa mountain ranges in the south-east of the North Island. It was remarkable for having the most pronounced sexual dimorphism in bill shape of any bird species in the world. The female's beak was long, thin and arched downward, while the male's was short and stout, like that of a crow. Males were 45 cm (18 in) long, while females were larger at 48 cm (19 in). The sexes were otherwise similar, with orange wattles and deep metallic, bluish-black plumage with a greenish iridescence on the upper surface, especially about the head. The tail feathers were unique among New Zealand birds in having a broad white band across the tips.
Animal Furniture: A Rare Late Victorian Pair of Silver Plate Mounted Javan Rhinoceros Feet (Rhinoceros sondaicus), attributed to Rowland Ward, Ltd, 166 Piccadilly, London, a pair of prepared and mounted adult feet, one mounted as a watch tower including an open faced pocket watch, fitted with silver plated mounts, the other mounted as a double inkwell, fitted with silver plated mounts, each 21cm and 25.5cm in height.
Taxidermy: A Late Victorian Cased Pair of Magnificent Rifle Birds (Ptiloris magnificus), re-cased by Rowland Ward Ltd, 64/65, Grosvenor Street, London, (circa 1960), a superb pair of rare and interesting Magnificent Riflebirds, the male with wings outstretched displaying his colourful neck plumage, the female perched beside with head raised, both mounted upon a small branch, amidst reeds and leaves, set above soil covered groundwork below, enclosed within a typical Rowland Ward five-glass table display case with green painted taped frame, 49.5cm by 27cm by 41cm, bearing a trade mark circular ivorine button to interior groundwork, bird specimens were mounted circa 1875, and then re-cased in the 1960's by Rowland Ward.
Taxidermy: A Cased Albino Weasel (Mustela nivalis), circa , by Rowland Ward, Ltd, Naturalist's, 167 Piccadilly, London, an unusual rare full mount adult Albino Weasel with head turning to the left, stood upon soil covered groundwork, enclosed within a typical five-glass table display case with green taped frame, 22.5cm by 11.5cm by 18cm, bearing two full taxidermist's paper trade labels to underside, trade mark ivorine button label to interior groundwork.
Military General Service 1793-1814, 13 clasps, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, St. Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse (Chas. Stott, Serjt. 36th Ft.) contemporarily re-engraved naming, with original ribbon and otherwise as issued with perfect rivets etc., edge bruise, very fine or better and very rare £800-£1,000 --- Only two 13-clasp M.G.S. medals were issued with this combination of clasps, one to Corporal Henry Backefeld, 1st Hussars K.G.L. (Sold Sotheby, March 1980, and in these rooms in April 2003 and September 2012), the other to Driver John Fitton, Royal Artillery Drivers, who died in September 1848 and whose medal has never appeared on the market. It is most probable that Fitton’s medal was acquired by Sergeant Charles Stott, or perhaps a member of his family, in order to embellish his military history! Discharge papers exist for both men as follows: Charles Stott was born in the Parish of Manchester and enlisted into the 36th Foot at Didsbury, Lancaster, on 22 November 1808, aged fourteen for unlimited service, a cotton spinner by trade. He served 15 years 219 days, not counting 4 years under age, and was discharged at Dublin on 30 April 1828, in consequence of hepatitis. He was admitted to an Out-pension at Chelsea Hospital on 15 May 1828, which he claimed in the Manchester District. According to the Royal Hospital Chelsea Admissions Book he was still living in 1864 when he would have been aged 70, his date of death unknown. John Fitton was born in the Parish of Wrighton, near Oldham, Lancaster, and enlisted into the Royal Artillery Drivers at Manchester in November 1803, aged 18, a weaver by trade. He served 13 years 31 days and was discharged at Woolwich on 31 October 1816, ‘being afflicted with Rheumatism and thereby rendered unfit for further service - is placed upon the Pension List at Nine Pence per Diem commencing 1st November 1816, By Order of the Honorable (sic) Board of Ordnance.’ He claimed his pension in the Manchester District and, more importantly, claimed his Peninsula War medal with 13 Clasps before he died on 14 September 1848, aged 62.
The unique Waterloo Medal awarded to Lieutenant Thomas Baynes, 39th Foot, who was ‘shot through the neck’ at the battle of Vittoria, and later as Aide-de-Camp to Major-General Sir John Lambert served in the Peninsula and during the 1812 War in America, serving at the disastrous battle at New Orleans and at Fort Bowyer where Lambert took command of the Army. Serving alongside Lambert at Waterloo, Baynes had two horses killed and two wounded under him during the battle Waterloo 1815 (Lieutenant Thomas Baynes, 39th Foot.) fitted with contemporary replacement silver clip and swivel-bar suspension, overall light contact marks and edge bruising, nearly very fine or better and rare £7,000-£9,000 --- Provenance: Glendining’s, November 1907; Payne Collection 1911; Needes Collection 1939; Dix Noonan Webb, March 2013. A unique Waterloo Medal to the only officer of the 39th Foot and one of the few Officers to serve at both New Orleans and Waterloo. Thomas Baynes was appointed Ensign in the 1st Battalion, 39th Foot on 27 October 1808, and Lieutenant on 20 July 1809. He served in Sicily 1810-11 and Portugal from October 1811, serving during Lord Hill’s operations in Spanish and Portugal 1811-12. He took part in the advance to Madrid and the terrible Burgos retreat, where his battalion formed part of the rearguard. At the battle of Vittoria on 21 June 1813, the 39th were very heavily engaged, being tasked with the taking of and afterwards defending, against repeated French attacks, the village of village Subijana de Alave. Casualties in the regiment were very heavy indeed, totalling 243, amongst the highest of any Regiment in the Army. Baynes was severely wounded here, being shot through the neck. Recovering from his wound, he joined Sir John Lambert (a relative) commanding a brigade in the 6th division at the pass of Maya, and served with him as his Aide-de-camp in the operations in the Pyrenees, in September and October 1813, passage of the Nivelle, passage of the Nive, and the battle of St. Pierre, battles of Orthes and Toulouse. Baynes again accompanied Sir John Lambert, commanding 1st Infantry Brigade (7th, 43rd and 5th West India Regiment) as his Aide-de-camp during the whole of the Brigade’s operations in North America; 1814-15, taking part in the Battle of New Orleans. During the battle of New Orleans Lambert took command of the Army after General Pakenham was killed. As Aide-de-camp, Baynes would have been in the thick of things, carrying messages, liaising with Commanding Officers &c., a most dangerous job as he would have found during the Peninsula and later at Waterloo. The 1st Brigade was initially in reserve, which was thought to be an odd decision at the time. This mainly because the 7th and 43rd were two ‘elite’ regiments brought straight from the Peninsula. However, General Pakenham had sound reason for holding them in reserve stating, ‘Those fellows would storm anything, but, indeed, so will the others, and when we are in New Orleans, I can depend upon Lambert’s Reserve.’ As it happened, 1st Brigade was indeed brought into action and eventually it was this Brigade that covered the retreat of the Army. Another Officer on General Lambert’s Staff at New Orleans and beyond was Major (later Sir) Harry Smith. Smith wrote much about the Campaign (and Waterloo where he was also on Lambert’s Staff) in his autobiography. As General Lambert’s Aide-de-camp, by reading this book and by following Lambert’s movements, Lieutenant Baynes’s can also be followed: ‘If Sir Edward Pakenham is killed, Sir John Lambert commands, and will judge of what is to be done. I saw the attack had irretrievably failed. The troops were beat back, and going at a tolerable pace too; so much so, I thought the enemy had made a sortie in pursuit, as so overpowering a superiority of numbers would have induced the French to do. “May I order your Brigade, sir, to form line to cover a most irregular retreat, to apply no other term to it, until you see what has actually occurred to the attacking columns?” He assented, and sent me and other Staff Officers in different directions to ascertain our condition. It was (summed up in few words) that every attack had failed; the Commander-in-Chief and General Gibbs and Colonel Renny killed; General Keane, most severely wounded; and the columns literally destroyed. The column for the right bank were seen to be still in their boats, and not the slightest impression had been made on the enemy. Never since Buenos Ayres had I witnessed a reverse, and the sight to our eyes, which had looked on victory so often, was appalling indeed. Lambert desired me, and every Staff Officer he could get hold of, to go and reform the troops, no very easy matter in some cases. However, far to the rear, they (or, rather, what were left) were formed up, Sir John meanwhile wondering whether, under all the circumstances, he ought to attack. He very judiciously saw that was impossible, and he withdrew the troops from under a most murderous fire of round shot. Soon after this we heard the attack on the right bank, which succeeded easily enough. The extent of our loss was ascertained: one-third.’ So as it happened, 1st Brigade was indeed brought into action and eventually it was this Brigade that covered the retreat of the Army. The battle itself had been a bloodbath but hardships suffered by the British Army during the retreat from New Orleans are often overlooked, though they are amply testified to by the likes of Gleig. Encumbered with large numbers of wounded and in terrible weather conditions, the Army was forced to retreat through the hostile, swampy country they had advanced. They were then ferried in ships’ boats the day’s journey to the fleet itself. A week or so later, the British were on the offensive again, striking out towards Mobile and Alabama, with the Army under Lambert eventually taking Fort Bowyer. After the peace treaty arrived from Ghent, Lambert and Baynes returned to England but immediately on arriving, the Army was being mobilised for another campaign against Napoleon. Lambert was placed in command of the 10th Infantry Brigade consisting of regiments that had just arrived back from the American war (1/4th, 1/27th and 1/40th). These would be the only regiments to take part in the both campaigns. Still serving as Lambert’s Aide-de-camp, Baynes served at the battle of Waterloo, where he was again in the thick of the action, proof of this is clear as he had two horses killed and two wounded under him. And it is believed he and Lambert spent part of the battle in the square of the 27th Foot. He subsequently took a part in the capture of Paris. Baynes was promoted to Captain in the Royal African Colonial Corps in January 1824, reverted back to the 39th Foot as Captain in June 1826, and transferred to the 88th Foot in November 1827, being placed on half-pay on 20 November 1828. He died at Brussels on 27 May 1847.
The Second Afghan War Medal awarded to Lieutenant T. J. O’D. Renny, 4th Punjab Infantry, who was mortally wounded on 14 December 1879, while forcing the Zawa Pass during the expedition against the Zaimukhts Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Lt. T. J. O’D. Renny, 4th Pun, Infy.) minor edge bruise, otherwise good very fine and rare £1,200-£1,600 --- Thomas John O’Dwyer Renny was born at Mussoorie on 15 August 1846, third son of Colonel Robert Renny, C.B., Bengal Staff Corps. He entered H.M.’s Service on 11 April 1868, as an Ensign in the 31st Foot, but was transferred on the same day to the 36th Foot, and being in India when he was gazetted, he joined the latter regiment at Peshawar in the succeeding June. In November 1869 he accompanied the regiment to Rawal Pindi, and, on 28 October 1871, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. On 5 January 1872, he was appointed Second Wing Subaltern in the 4th Punjab Infantry, on probation for the Bengal Staff Corps, into which he was subsequently admitted with effect from that date. He joined this regiment at Abbottabad, and at that station from February 1873 to April 1874 he officiated as Quarter-Master of the corps, acting also as Adjutant, in addition, from the month of January. In April 1874 he was appointed First Wing Subaltern, and, still officiating as Adjutant, he, in December of that year, marched with the regiment to Kohat, at which station he continued officiating as Adjutant of the corps until February 1870. From September 1876 to May 1877 he again officiated as Quarter-Master, and during this period a reorganisation of regimental appointments having taken place, his permanent appointment received the designation of “Wing Officer”. In August 1877 he took part with the regiment in a raid into the country of the Jowaki Afridis, carried out in reprisal of Jowaki incursions into British territory, and in the following winter, as Adjutant of the regiment (to which post he was permanently appointed in November 1877'), he served with the corps throughout the arduous operations against that troublesome clan (India Medal and Clasp). On the termination of this campaign he accompanied the regiment to Edwardesabad, arriving there in April 1878, and during the cold season of 1878-79 he was actively employed with the corps in protecting the Tank border against the Mahsud Waziris, who had at that time been making a series of unusually daring raids into British territory. In the autumn of 1879, on the renewal of the Afghan War, he accompanied the regiment to the Kuram Valley, and in December of the same year he took part with it in the expedition against the Zaimukhts, a tribe which had been conspicuously troublesome in its plundering and murdering incursions on the line of communications. In the operations which followed he unfortunately lost his life, having, on the 14th December, fallen mortally wounded, shot through the head in the assault of Zawa, the Zaimukht stronghold. He died of his wound on the following day, in camp at Chinarak, whence his remains were afterwards removed to Kohat, and there interred.
An extremely rare framed pair of General Gordon’s Stars awarded during the Siege of Khartoum 1884-85 General Gordon’s Star for the Siege of Khartoum 1884, silver with traces of gilt, as awarded to officers of the rank Mulazem to Sagh General Gordon’s Star for the Siege of Khartoum 1884, pewter, as awarded to non-commissioned officers and other ranks, this attached by thread to a blue cloth backing Together with 10 Piastres Khartoum Siege Banknote, the three items, with ivorine labels, set in an old Spink, London, wooden, glass-fronted case, 245 x 170mm.; the back of case with a contemporary paper clipping referring to the ‘Gordon Memorial Fund’, medals very fine and very rare (3) £3,000-£4,000 --- Provenance: From the collection of the late Felicité Ann Araminta, Lady Aldington (née MacMichael), Dix Noonan Webb, September 2012. From the collection of the late Felicité Ann Araminta, Lady Aldington (née MacMichael); the above probably given to her by her father, Sir Harold Alfred MacMichael, G.C.M.G., D.S.O. (1882-1969) who was heavily employed as a Colonial Administrator in Sudan. His first overseas posting in 1905 was with the Sudan Political Service, successively as Inspector of the Provinces of Kordofan, Blue Nile and Khartoum, and later he was a Political and Intelligence Officer with the Expeditionary Force which reoccupied Darfur in 1916; after which he was the Sub-Governor of Darfur Province. MacMichael was awarded the D.S.O. in 1917; awarded the C.M.G. in 1926 and received a knighthood with the award of the K.C.M.G. in 1932. During 1933-37 he was employed variously as Acting Governor-General, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Tanganyika Territory and during 1938-44 he was variously High Commissioner and Commissioner-in-Chief for Palestine and High Commissioner for Trans-Jordan. Awarded the G.C.M.G. in 1941. The paper clipping reads: ‘Gordon Memorial Fund - Through the courtesy of the Egyptian Government, search was made to see if any of the notes issued by General Gordon during the siege of Khartoum had reached and been preserved in Cairo. Some were found and the Prime Minister has presented them to the Governor-General, who intends disposing of them for the benefit of the Gordon Memorial Fund. ... Anyone who wishes to obtain possession of one or more of these notes should apply to the Secretary, Gordon Memorial Fund, at the Palace, Khartoum, or care of Sudan Government London Office ...’
Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (2. Lieut. L. T. Burgess. R. Ir. Rif.) good very fine, rare to unit £240-£280 --- Leonard Thomas Burgess was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Irish Rifles, and served with the Machine Gun Corps during the Great War on the Western Front from July 1916. His British War and Victory Medal pair were issued from the Machine Gun Corps medal roll. Sold with copied medal index card and medal roll extracts which show Burgess as being one of only two officers from the Royal Irish Rifles to receive the Territorial Force War Medal.
Khedive’s Sudan 1910-21, 2nd issue, 2 clasps, Darfur 1916, Fasher (14115 Pte. C. C. Bennett. R. War. R.) officially impressed naming, nearly extremely fine and rare £400-£500 --- Medal Index Card confirms Sudan Medal and clasps. He also served in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and the Royal Engineers and is entitled to British War and Victory Medals but ineligible for 1915-15 Star although he served in the Egyptian theatre from 20 August 1915. Sold with copied Medal Index Cards.
The South Africa 1877-79 medal to Colour-Sergeant T. H. E. McAllan, 90th Foot, who was wounded in the arm at Kambula on 29 March 1879, and after the wound was dressed ran out to his company, performing his duty till shot dead South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8-9 (636. Colr. Sergt. T. H. E. McAllan. 90th Foot.) extremely fine and a rare casualty £5,000-£7,000 --- Colour-Sergeant Thomas H. E. McAllan, 90th Light Infantry, was wounded in the arm at Kambula on 29 March 1879, and, after his wound was dressed, joined the sortie by two companies of his regiment when he was shot a second time, dead. ‘Concerning the battle of Kambula, a correspondent of a Natal paper says:-During the attack of the Zulus on this column on the 29th ult., I had the opportunity of observing all that passed in the camp, and admired the cool and systematic manner in which all the orders were carried out by officers and men, and the short time it took to establish a thorough preparedness for fighting; and after every one was at his station, their countenances showed a stern determined purpose of meeting the foe with British pluck and courage; and the volleys that they delivered were something terrible, especially on the side where the 1-13th were stationed, that being the centre and main attack of the Zulu army. Colonel Wood and his staff-officers were conspicuous for their bravery in directing the defence of first the fort and then the laager, under a very heavy cross fire from the enemy; Captain Woodgate especially exposing himself to the enemy’s fire, and directing the two companies of the 90th at the sortie where to go, marching as leisurely and unconcernedly as if he was pacing a piece of ground for cricket wickets. Major Hackett received a dangerous wound, the ball passing through the head, whilst gallantly leading on two companies 90th L.I.; he is in a most precarious state. Lieut. Smith, 90th L.I., assistant director of transport, was wounded, ball through left arm, while gallantly bearing a stretcher to carry a wounded man, under a heavy fire. Colour-Sergeant McAllen was wounded in the arm, and after the wound was dressed ran out to his company, performing his duty till shot dead.’ (The British, The Boers and The Zulus, by Duncan C. F. Moodie, Adelaide, 1879, refers)
The South Africa 1877-79 medal to Private Joseph Weaver, 80th Foot, who was killed in action at Intombi River on 12 March 1879 South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1878-9 (716 Pte. J, Weaver. 80th Foot.) toned, extremely fine and a rare casualty £5,000-£7,000 --- Private Joseph Weaver was killed in action at Intombi River on 12 March 1879. In the early morning of 12 March 1879, the 80th was surprised on the Intombi River while guarding a wagon convoy stranded on both sides of the flooded river, while crossing at Meyer’s Drift. Due to the failure of Captain Moriarty, commanding the detachment, to erect adequate defences and post sufficient sentries, a Zulu impi under Chief Mbelini overran the camp and killed 61 soldiers of the 80th Foot, with the loss also of 80 rifles and 90,000 rounds of ammunition. Private Weaver is commemorated on the Staffordshire Volunteers Regimental Memorial in Lichfield Cathedral, Staffordshire.
The South Africa 1877-79 medal to Trooper R. Warren, 2nd Cape Mounted Yeomanry, who was killed in action in the second assault on Morosi’s Stronghold, 5 June 1879 South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Tpr. R. Warren. 2nd Cape Yeory.) lightly toned, nearly extremely fine and a rare casualty £3,000-£4,000 --- Trooper Robert Warren, 2nd Cape Mounted Yeomanry, was killed in action in the second assault on Morosi’s Stronghold, high up on Morosi’s Mountain, on 5 June 1879. Like the first assault of 8 April, it too was unsuccessful and it was not until the night assault of 19/20 November that the mountain was finally taken.
The campaign pair to the Rorke’s Drift defender Sergeant Alfred Saxty, 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot, who served as a Corporal in “B” Company at the defence and was one of the last few survivors of Rorke’s Drift South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8-9 (849 Cpl. A, Saxty, 2-24-Foot,); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (849 Sjt. A. Saxty, 2-S, W, Bord,) both early 20th century replacement medals officially impressed in small capitals, the I.G.S. struck with ‘Crimea’ dated obverse, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine and rare (2) £15,000-£20,000 --- Replacement medals claimed by Saxty whilst an In-Pensioner at Chelsea Hospital, sometime around October 1930, and issued under Authority Chelsea Rep/68/GEN/5160. Alfred Saxty was born at Buckland Dinham, near Frome, Somerset, and enlisted for 25 Brigade at Newport, Monmouthshire, on 11 September 1876, aged 19, being posted to the 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot at Brecon two days later. He was appointed Lance-Corporal in April 1877, promoted to Corporal in August 1877, and appointed Lance-Sergeant in February 1878 but reverted to Corporal in July 1878. He served in South Africa from 1 February 1878 to 12 January 1880, and was a Corporal in “B” Company of the 2nd Battalion who defended the hospital at Rorke’s Drift on 22 and 23 January, 1897, against 3,000 Zulus and beat them off. Loopholes were made in the farm buildings, and biscuit tins and bags of corn were used as a breastwork around the main buildings. Outnumbered by thirty to one the gallant garrison fought through the night to repulse the Zulu warriors who left 400 killed before they retreated. His presence at Rorke’s Drift is confirmed on the Chard roll, on Bourne’s rolls, in which he is incorrectly listed as a Sergeant, and on Dunbar’s list. In fact Saxty was promoted to Sergeant the day after the defence. After 7 months service in the Mediterranean, the regiment moved to India in August 1880 and served in Burma from May 1886 to January 1887, before returning to India again. Saxty was confined on 6 May 1881, charged with being drunk on picquet, and sentenced by District Court Martial to be reduced to Private and to 56 days imprisonment with hard labour and stoppage of pay, in addition being fined £1 and forfeited Good Conduct Pay. He steadily regained his steps in rank to become Sergeant again in December 1885. After his service in the Burma campaign, Saxty re-engaged for the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment at Madras on 4 October 1887, ‘for such term as shall complete 21 years service.’ He transferred to the 2nd Battalion of that regiment on New Years Day 1888, and then transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on 14 July 1891. Reduced to Corporal in October 1894, he was discharged at his own request at Thayetmyo, Burma, on 28 February 1895. Saxty had married Mary Copeland on 30 December 1885, at Ootacamund, India, and by December 1894 had issue four children, Albert, Mary, Wilfred and Leo. He was admitted to In-Pension at Chelsea Hospital on 12 June 1930, but reverted to Out-Pension in October 1933 in order to live with his sister in Newport, Monmouthshire. In 1934 he attended the Northern Command Tattoo, held at Gateshead, County Durham, 7-14 July, when he appeared in the arena with Bourne, Cooper, Jobbins and Wood, all former comrades at Rorke’s Drift. Saxty died of myocarditis and senility at Woolaston House Infirmary, Newport, Monmouthshire, on 11 July 1936. He was buried with military honours at St Wollos Cemetery, Newport, on 15 July. The Royal Horse Artillery provided the gun carriage, the South Wales Borderers Depot the bearers, firing party and bugler. A large number of Officers and other ranks of the Regiment and a strong contingent of British Legion attended. Lieutenant-Colonel Bourne sent a wreath, as did five other survivors of the former Rorke’s Drift garrison. Sold with a set of original Attestation and Discharge papers, Medical History, full pension record and Chelsea Hospital Death Certificate; together with a contemporary photograph of the ‘Five Defenders of Rorke’s Drift’ at the Northern Command Tattoo at Gateshead in 1934, fully annotated and identified in ink by Lieutenant-Colonel Bourne and accompanied by a manuscript letter from Bourne, dated 14 April 1939, at which time he and six others were the sole survivors of Rorke’s Drift. Together with comprehensive copied research including news cuttings, photographs, and Chard’s report on the defence of Rorke’s Drift.
Chief Maqoma Regiment (formerly Prince Alfred’s Guard) Infantry Officer’s 1896 Pattern Sword. A very rare example, the 82.5cm straight blade by Wilkinson Sword Ltd. London England (no number) with single fuller is etched with the badge of the regiment, a warrior’s shield upon crossed spears, inscribed, ‘Umzintzani’, the officer’s initials, ‘P.A.G.’ and panels of scrolling foliage. Pierced sheet metal plated hand guard incorporating the badge of the regiment and Latin motto, ‘Fidelis Et Fortis’. Wire bound fish skin grip, leather bound wooden scabbard, sword frog and blue linen undress waist belt, the blade with pitting and rust patches otherwise good condition £100-£140 --- This is an age restricted lot: the successful buyer will be required to either collect in person, or arrange specialist shipping.
German Second World War Cuff Titles. Army Railway Direction Service Brussels cuff title, introduced February 1941 and after 7 months withdrawn and replaced with the arm badge, subsequently the cuff title is rare. Luftwaffe Hermann Goring Division cuff title, full length, used, as removed from a tunic, stitches remain, enlisted ranks version, good condition (2) £140-£180
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