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Click here to subscribeA Continental porcelain miniature floral encrusted tea set, consisting of tray, teapot with lid, two cups and saucers, bowl with lid and a milk jug, together with six etched champagne coupes and five cut glass tumblers (box).Condition report: Lot 966There are a few losses to the extremities of the encrusted decoration.One of the six champagne coupes has a chipped foot, otherwise no other issues.
A Floral decorated tea set, circa 1920, retailed by St. Patricks, Broadway, Worcestershire, comprising six cups and side plates and five saucers (one broken), together with a Victorian miniature jug and bowl and six early Victorian floral painted and gilt dessert plates, etc (box)Provenance:Alan Bennett (1930-2021) was an enormously respected, Cornwall-based antiques dealer.Alan Bennett started working in the antiques trade in the early 1950s for Parker’s of Blackheath before joining Harrod's Antiques Department. He moved to Cornwall in 1954 and opened his own shop, gradually expanding and offering one of the largest selections of antiques in Cornwall. He was assisted in the business by his wife Winifred, son Justin, and a team of restorers. He retired in April 2007.He was a man of refined manners, always impeccably dressed and he bought pretty, elegant things across the board, Dresden china and pierced silver Bon-Bon baskets but also brightly coloured Staffordshire figures, although it was the furniture that really fed his passion and he specialised in good quality Georgian and later furniture.David Lay reminiscences: "He would sit in the front row bidding with awesome discretion. Nothing as vulgar as a nod or wink. His demeanour told me he was bidding but of course, I knew his taste. I knew when he “should” be bidding. Often Winifred would view with Alan, the perfect couple.Happy memories of a different age. "Through his 50 years in the trade, he amassed an eclectic collection of very good quality art and antiques, many of which we are delighted to be offering here at Lays Auctions across various sales.Condition report: Repair to a saucer, hairline crack to a saucer, hairline crack to a teacup, cracks to bowl, chip to rim of teabowl, hairline crack to a dessert plate and one with a chip to foot.
A quantity of ceramics and glassware to include a late 19th century Wedgwood cylindrical vase with applied blue dot decoration presented to the Countess of Shrewsbury 14cm high together with another Wedgwood floral decorated black vase 15cm high, a rectangular box with fish handle, a large cache pot, part tea set and other wares (qty)
A hallmarked silver 5 piece miniature tea set of classical design. Comprising: water pot (with removable lid), tea pot (also has removable lid), 2 handled sugar bowl, milk jug and 2 handled tray. Each piece hallmarked for London, 1970 and with A. Marston & Co makers mark. Tray approx. 15cm long, water pot approx. 4.5cm tall. Total weight approx. 69.2g.
A collection of early 20th century Furnivals Limited Old Chelsea blue and white tea ware. Comprising: Coffee pot (damage to finial), set of 3 oval meat plates, large jug, large bowl, saucered conserve pot, 8 x cups & saucers, small oval dish, 8 x 8" tea plates, 3 x 10" dinner plates and a 7" plate.
A SILVER THREE PIECE TEA SET OF MELON FORM Comprising of a teapot hallmarked Birmingham 1896 Maker TH, a sugar bowl hallmarked Birmingham 1896 maker TH, a sugar bowl hallmarked Birmingham 1905, a creamery hallmarked Birmingham 1906, total weight 635g, 20.4 troy oz Condition Report : the tea set is of same design but different years of issue, very tarnished and in need of a clean, the tea pot with ebonised handles. Condition reports are offered as a guide only and we highly recommend inspecting (where possible) any lot to satisfy yourself as to its condition.
A jadeite bracelet composed of collet-set cabochon jadeite links and rectangular links with Chinese character detail, Chinese marks(Length: 17.5cm)Footnote: Note: Lots 297-310 for part of the collection of Ellen Mary Victoria Fludder (nee Lowe). Ellen was the daughter of John Lowe, whose antiques shop, J. Lowe was a well-known feature of what was then 138 Wardour Street, London, during the early 20th Century, the street numbers have since changed. Originally a watch and clock repairer, John expanded the business to include antiques, primarily jewellery and oriental art. John became a well-known and respected antiquarian and clockmaker, and indeed his youngest son John Harold Lowe remembered visiting Buckingham Palace with his father, where he was employed to wind the clocks for Edward VII or George V. Adverts from the period show a novel approach to marketing, using lines from Shakespeare to expound upon the virtues of dealing with such an exemplary antiquarian as J.Lowe; ‘China dishes, Very Good Dishes! / The Stamp of Merit. / I will buy with you! Sell with You!/ Old and Antique’ reads part of the poem, borrowing lines from The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure and Twelfth Night among others. This literary flight of fancy rather foreshadows another foray into the literary world the family would later take. Born in May 1897, Ellen was a favourite of her father’s and though she was sent to boarding school in Devon at a young age, she and her brothers were later educated in London, and living above the shop, surrounded by such curiosities and attending various auctions and dealers’ shops, it is little wonder that she began to take a lively interest in her fathers’ business. Though very much a woman in man’s world, she became a well-known fixture in her fathers’ shop and at the London salerooms. Indeed, one of her regular customers, who she met when she was around 18, was the author Edgar Jepson (1863-1938), who was a keen collector of antiques. As well as writing detective fiction, Jepson was also a translator, most notably of the Arsène Lupin stories by Maurice Leblanc, which are currently enjoying a revival on Netflix. He was quite taken with the character Ellen cut in the shop, and certainly, the curiosities of the Far East which filled the shop offered much scope for his creative mind. His 1927 novel, ‘Miss Timmins and Lord Scredington’ is based around J.Lowe and Ellen is the inspiration for the title character, Miss Timmins. ‘Miss Timmins runs an Oriental curio shop, and her adventures with strange and beautiful pieces of jade and lapis lazuli and chalcedony, carved by the artists of the East, and the strange and sometimes dangerous customers they bring her, are always amusing and thrilling.’ Edgar opens the novel with a direct reference to the frustrations of a ‘lady antique dealer’ in a world of men, and throughout her adventures the feisty Miss Timmins enjoys nothing better than getting the better of her male competitors, who often underestimate her. The novel has everything you could want from a 1920s cosmopolitan adventure novel; a rakish Lord smitten with the heroine, tea dances at the best places in town, brushes with the occult and unscrupulous antiquarians; certainly, if only a fraction of it is true, Ellen had a rather interesting life! J.Lowe closed in 1924, after the death of John Lowe, and Ellen later went on to work for Reville Terry, a Couturier on Grosvenor Square as their jewellery buyer, regularly travelling between London and Paris to see the latest collection. Lots 297-310 are not only a collection of beautiful jewels, very much of their time; but also, a lovely throwback to the exploits of Miss Timmins, and her love of Chinese jades; indeed one could almost imagine one of the jadeite brooches on her lapel, next to her infamous jade cloak hook which sent Lord Scredington so wild with envy as she raced about town in search of her next ‘find’.
A 1930s jade and diamond ring collet-set with a cabochon jadeite, each shoulder set with six old round-cut diamonds, unmarked; together with the original pencil and water-colour design(Ring size: S)Footnote: Note: Lots 297-310 for part of the collection of Ellen Mary Victoria Fludder (nee Lowe). Ellen was the daughter of John Lowe, whose antiques shop, J. Lowe was a well-known feature of what was then 138 Wardour Street, London, during the early 20th Century, the street numbers have since changed. Originally a watch and clock repairer, John expanded the business to include antiques, primarily jewellery and oriental art. John became a well-known and respected antiquarian and clockmaker, and indeed his youngest son John Harold Lowe remembered visiting Buckingham Palace with his father, where he was employed to wind the clocks for Edward VII or George V. Adverts from the period show a novel approach to marketing, using lines from Shakespeare to expound upon the virtues of dealing with such an exemplary antiquarian as J.Lowe; ‘China dishes, Very Good Dishes! / The Stamp of Merit. / I will buy with you! Sell with You!/ Old and Antique’ reads part of the poem, borrowing lines from The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure and Twelfth Night among others. This literary flight of fancy rather foreshadows another foray into the literary world the family would later take. Born in May 1897, Ellen was a favourite of her father’s and though she was sent to boarding school in Devon at a young age, she and her brothers were later educated in London, and living above the shop, surrounded by such curiosities and attending various auctions and dealers’ shops, it is little wonder that she began to take a lively interest in her fathers’ business. Though very much a woman in man’s world, she became a well-known fixture in her fathers’ shop and at the London salerooms. Indeed, one of her regular customers, who she met when she was around 18, was the author Edgar Jepson (1863-1938), who was a keen collector of antiques. As well as writing detective fiction, Jepson was also a translator, most notably of the Arsène Lupin stories by Maurice Leblanc, which are currently enjoying a revival on Netflix. He was quite taken with the character Ellen cut in the shop, and certainly, the curiosities of the Far East which filled the shop offered much scope for his creative mind. His 1927 novel, ‘Miss Timmins and Lord Scredington’ is based around J.Lowe and Ellen is the inspiration for the title character, Miss Timmins. ‘Miss Timmins runs an Oriental curio shop, and her adventures with strange and beautiful pieces of jade and lapis lazuli and chalcedony, carved by the artists of the East, and the strange and sometimes dangerous customers they bring her, are always amusing and thrilling.’ Edgar opens the novel with a direct reference to the frustrations of a ‘lady antique dealer’ in a world of men, and throughout her adventures the feisty Miss Timmins enjoys nothing better than getting the better of her male competitors, who often underestimate her. The novel has everything you could want from a 1920s cosmopolitan adventure novel; a rakish Lord smitten with the heroine, tea dances at the best places in town, brushes with the occult and unscrupulous antiquarians; certainly, if only a fraction of it is true, Ellen had a rather interesting life! J.Lowe closed in 1924, after the death of John Lowe, and Ellen later went on to work for Reville Terry, a Couturier on Grosvenor Square as their jewellery buyer, regularly travelling between London and Paris to see the latest collection. Lots 297-310 are not only a collection of beautiful jewels, very much of their time; but also, a lovely throwback to the exploits of Miss Timmins, and her love of Chinese jades; indeed one could almost imagine one of the jadeite brooches on her lapel, next to her infamous jade cloak hook which sent Lord Scredington so wild with envy as she raced about town in search of her next ‘find’.
An early 20th-Century jadeite and diamond ring collet-set with a cabochon jadeite, each shoulder set with eight-cut diamonds, stamped PLAT(Ring size: R)Footnote: Note: Lots 297-310 for part of the collection of Ellen Mary Victoria Fludder (nee Lowe). Ellen was the daughter of John Lowe, whose antiques shop, J. Lowe was a well-known feature of what was then 138 Wardour Street, London, during the early 20th Century, the street numbers have since changed. Originally a watch and clock repairer, John expanded the business to include antiques, primarily jewellery and oriental art. John became a well-known and respected antiquarian and clockmaker, and indeed his youngest son John Harold Lowe remembered visiting Buckingham Palace with his father, where he was employed to wind the clocks for Edward VII or George V. Adverts from the period show a novel approach to marketing, using lines from Shakespeare to expound upon the virtues of dealing with such an exemplary antiquarian as J.Lowe; ‘China dishes, Very Good Dishes! / The Stamp of Merit. / I will buy with you! Sell with You!/ Old and Antique’ reads part of the poem, borrowing lines from The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure and Twelfth Night among others. This literary flight of fancy rather foreshadows another foray into the literary world the family would later take. Born in May 1897, Ellen was a favourite of her father’s and though she was sent to boarding school in Devon at a young age, she and her brothers were later educated in London, and living above the shop, surrounded by such curiosities and attending various auctions and dealers’ shops, it is little wonder that she began to take a lively interest in her fathers’ business. Though very much a woman in man’s world, she became a well-known fixture in her fathers’ shop and at the London salerooms. Indeed, one of her regular customers, who she met when she was around 18, was the author Edgar Jepson (1863-1938), who was a keen collector of antiques. As well as writing detective fiction, Jepson was also a translator, most notably of the Arsène Lupin stories by Maurice Leblanc, which are currently enjoying a revival on Netflix. He was quite taken with the character Ellen cut in the shop, and certainly, the curiosities of the Far East which filled the shop offered much scope for his creative mind. His 1927 novel, ‘Miss Timmins and Lord Scredington’ is based around J.Lowe and Ellen is the inspiration for the title character, Miss Timmins. ‘Miss Timmins runs an Oriental curio shop, and her adventures with strange and beautiful pieces of jade and lapis lazuli and chalcedony, carved by the artists of the East, and the strange and sometimes dangerous customers they bring her, are always amusing and thrilling.’ Edgar opens the novel with a direct reference to the frustrations of a ‘lady antique dealer’ in a world of men, and throughout her adventures the feisty Miss Timmins enjoys nothing better than getting the better of her male competitors, who often underestimate her. The novel has everything you could want from a 1920s cosmopolitan adventure novel; a rakish Lord smitten with the heroine, tea dances at the best places in town, brushes with the occult and unscrupulous antiquarians; certainly, if only a fraction of it is true, Ellen had a rather interesting life! J.Lowe closed in 1924, after the death of John Lowe, and Ellen later went on to work for Reville Terry, a Couturier on Grosvenor Square as their jewellery buyer, regularly travelling between London and Paris to see the latest collection. Lots 297-310 are not only a collection of beautiful jewels, very much of their time; but also, a lovely throwback to the exploits of Miss Timmins, and her love of Chinese jades; indeed one could almost imagine one of the jadeite brooches on her lapel, next to her infamous jade cloak hook which sent Lord Scredington so wild with envy as she raced about town in search of her next ‘find’.
An early 20th-Century jadeite, diamond and ruby brooch millegrain-set with a cushion-cut ruby and two old round-cut diamonds, in a quatrefoil polished jadeite border, unmarked(Width: 2.1cm)Footnote: Note: Lots 297-310 for part of the collection of Ellen Mary Victoria Fludder (nee Lowe). Ellen was the daughter of John Lowe, whose antiques shop, J. Lowe was a well-known feature of what was then 138 Wardour Street, London, during the early 20th Century, the street numbers have since changed. Originally a watch and clock repairer, John expanded the business to include antiques, primarily jewellery and oriental art. John became a well-known and respected antiquarian and clockmaker, and indeed his youngest son John Harold Lowe remembered visiting Buckingham Palace with his father, where he was employed to wind the clocks for Edward VII or George V. Adverts from the period show a novel approach to marketing, using lines from Shakespeare to expound upon the virtues of dealing with such an exemplary antiquarian as J.Lowe; ‘China dishes, Very Good Dishes! / The Stamp of Merit. / I will buy with you! Sell with You!/ Old and Antique’ reads part of the poem, borrowing lines from The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure and Twelfth Night among others. This literary flight of fancy rather foreshadows another foray into the literary world the family would later take. Born in May 1897, Ellen was a favourite of her father’s and though she was sent to boarding school in Devon at a young age, she and her brothers were later educated in London, and living above the shop, surrounded by such curiosities and attending various auctions and dealers’ shops, it is little wonder that she began to take a lively interest in her fathers’ business. Though very much a woman in man’s world, she became a well-known fixture in her fathers’ shop and at the London salerooms. Indeed, one of her regular customers, who she met when she was around 18, was the author Edgar Jepson (1863-1938), who was a keen collector of antiques. As well as writing detective fiction, Jepson was also a translator, most notably of the Arsène Lupin stories by Maurice Leblanc, which are currently enjoying a revival on Netflix. He was quite taken with the character Ellen cut in the shop, and certainly, the curiosities of the Far East which filled the shop offered much scope for his creative mind. His 1927 novel, ‘Miss Timmins and Lord Scredington’ is based around J.Lowe and Ellen is the inspiration for the title character, Miss Timmins. ‘Miss Timmins runs an Oriental curio shop, and her adventures with strange and beautiful pieces of jade and lapis lazuli and chalcedony, carved by the artists of the East, and the strange and sometimes dangerous customers they bring her, are always amusing and thrilling.’ Edgar opens the novel with a direct reference to the frustrations of a ‘lady antique dealer’ in a world of men, and throughout her adventures the feisty Miss Timmins enjoys nothing better than getting the better of her male competitors, who often underestimate her. The novel has everything you could want from a 1920s cosmopolitan adventure novel; a rakish Lord smitten with the heroine, tea dances at the best places in town, brushes with the occult and unscrupulous antiquarians; certainly, if only a fraction of it is true, Ellen had a rather interesting life! J.Lowe closed in 1924, after the death of John Lowe, and Ellen later went on to work for Reville Terry, a Couturier on Grosvenor Square as their jewellery buyer, regularly travelling between London and Paris to see the latest collection. Lots 297-310 are not only a collection of beautiful jewels, very much of their time; but also, a lovely throwback to the exploits of Miss Timmins, and her love of Chinese jades; indeed one could almost imagine one of the jadeite brooches on her lapel, next to her infamous jade cloak hook which sent Lord Scredington so wild with envy as she raced about town in search of her next ‘find’.
An early 20th-Century jadeite, ruby and diamond brooch claw-set with a pierced and carved jadeite panel, above a cushion and rose-cut diamond stem, set with two cushion-cut rubies, engraved detail, unmarked(Length: 7.3cm)Footnote: Note: Lots 297-310 for part of the collection of Ellen Mary Victoria Fludder (nee Lowe). Ellen was the daughter of John Lowe, whose antiques shop, J. Lowe was a well-known feature of what was then 138 Wardour Street, London, during the early 20th Century, the street numbers have since changed. Originally a watch and clock repairer, John expanded the business to include antiques, primarily jewellery and oriental art. John became a well-known and respected antiquarian and clockmaker, and indeed his youngest son John Harold Lowe remembered visiting Buckingham Palace with his father, where he was employed to wind the clocks for Edward VII or George V. Adverts from the period show a novel approach to marketing, using lines from Shakespeare to expound upon the virtues of dealing with such an exemplary antiquarian as J.Lowe; ‘China dishes, Very Good Dishes! / The Stamp of Merit. / I will buy with you! Sell with You!/ Old and Antique’ reads part of the poem, borrowing lines from The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure and Twelfth Night among others. This literary flight of fancy rather foreshadows another foray into the literary world the family would later take. Born in May 1897, Ellen was a favourite of her father’s and though she was sent to boarding school in Devon at a young age, she and her brothers were later educated in London, and living above the shop, surrounded by such curiosities and attending various auctions and dealers’ shops, it is little wonder that she began to take a lively interest in her fathers’ business. Though very much a woman in man’s world, she became a well-known fixture in her fathers’ shop and at the London salerooms. Indeed, one of her regular customers, who she met when she was around 18, was the author Edgar Jepson (1863-1938), who was a keen collector of antiques. As well as writing detective fiction, Jepson was also a translator, most notably of the Arsène Lupin stories by Maurice Leblanc, which are currently enjoying a revival on Netflix. He was quite taken with the character Ellen cut in the shop, and certainly, the curiosities of the Far East which filled the shop offered much scope for his creative mind. His 1927 novel, ‘Miss Timmins and Lord Scredington’ is based around J.Lowe and Ellen is the inspiration for the title character, Miss Timmins. ‘Miss Timmins runs an Oriental curio shop, and her adventures with strange and beautiful pieces of jade and lapis lazuli and chalcedony, carved by the artists of the East, and the strange and sometimes dangerous customers they bring her, are always amusing and thrilling.’ Edgar opens the novel with a direct reference to the frustrations of a ‘lady antique dealer’ in a world of men, and throughout her adventures the feisty Miss Timmins enjoys nothing better than getting the better of her male competitors, who often underestimate her. The novel has everything you could want from a 1920s cosmopolitan adventure novel; a rakish Lord smitten with the heroine, tea dances at the best places in town, brushes with the occult and unscrupulous antiquarians; certainly, if only a fraction of it is true, Ellen had a rather interesting life! J.Lowe closed in 1924, after the death of John Lowe, and Ellen later went on to work for Reville Terry, a Couturier on Grosvenor Square as their jewellery buyer, regularly travelling between London and Paris to see the latest collection. Lots 297-310 are not only a collection of beautiful jewels, very much of their time; but also, a lovely throwback to the exploits of Miss Timmins, and her love of Chinese jades; indeed one could almost imagine one of the jadeite brooches on her lapel, next to her infamous jade cloak hook which sent Lord Scredington so wild with envy as she raced about town in search of her next ‘find’.
An early 20th-Century sapphire, rose quartz and pearl necklace the chain of filigree detail, collet-set at intervals with round-cut sapphires and pearls, suspending a millegrain-set cushion-cut sapphire and a polished rose quartz drop(Length of necklace: 44cm)Footnote: Note: Lots 297-310 for part of the collection of Ellen Mary Victoria Fludder (nee Lowe). Ellen was the daughter of John Lowe, whose antiques shop, J. Lowe was a well-known feature of what was then 138 Wardour Street, London, during the early 20th Century, the street numbers have since changed. Originally a watch and clock repairer, John expanded the business to include antiques, primarily jewellery and oriental art. John became a well-known and respected antiquarian and clockmaker, and indeed his youngest son John Harold Lowe remembered visiting Buckingham Palace with his father, where he was employed to wind the clocks for Edward VII or George V. Adverts from the period show a novel approach to marketing, using lines from Shakespeare to expound upon the virtues of dealing with such an exemplary antiquarian as J.Lowe; ‘China dishes, Very Good Dishes! / The Stamp of Merit. / I will buy with you! Sell with You!/ Old and Antique’ reads part of the poem, borrowing lines from The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure and Twelfth Night among others. This literary flight of fancy rather foreshadows another foray into the literary world the family would later take. Born in May 1897, Ellen was a favourite of her father’s and though she was sent to boarding school in Devon at a young age, she and her brothers were later educated in London, and living above the shop, surrounded by such curiosities and attending various auctions and dealers’ shops, it is little wonder that she began to take a lively interest in her fathers’ business. Though very much a woman in man’s world, she became a well-known fixture in her fathers’ shop and at the London salerooms. Indeed, one of her regular customers, who she met when she was around 18, was the author Edgar Jepson (1863-1938), who was a keen collector of antiques. As well as writing detective fiction, Jepson was also a translator, most notably of the Arsène Lupin stories by Maurice Leblanc, which are currently enjoying a revival on Netflix. He was quite taken with the character Ellen cut in the shop, and certainly, the curiosities of the Far East which filled the shop offered much scope for his creative mind. His 1927 novel, ‘Miss Timmins and Lord Scredington’ is based around J.Lowe and Ellen is the inspiration for the title character, Miss Timmins. ‘Miss Timmins runs an Oriental curio shop, and her adventures with strange and beautiful pieces of jade and lapis lazuli and chalcedony, carved by the artists of the East, and the strange and sometimes dangerous customers they bring her, are always amusing and thrilling.’ Edgar opens the novel with a direct reference to the frustrations of a ‘lady antique dealer’ in a world of men, and throughout her adventures the feisty Miss Timmins enjoys nothing better than getting the better of her male competitors, who often underestimate her. The novel has everything you could want from a 1920s cosmopolitan adventure novel; a rakish Lord smitten with the heroine, tea dances at the best places in town, brushes with the occult and unscrupulous antiquarians; certainly, if only a fraction of it is true, Ellen had a rather interesting life! J.Lowe closed in 1924, after the death of John Lowe, and Ellen later went on to work for Reville Terry, a Couturier on Grosvenor Square as their jewellery buyer, regularly travelling between London and Paris to see the latest collection. Lots 297-310 are not only a collection of beautiful jewels, very much of their time; but also, a lovely throwback to the exploits of Miss Timmins, and her love of Chinese jades; indeed one could almost imagine one of the jadeite brooches on her lapel, next to her infamous jade cloak hook which sent Lord Scredington so wild with envy as she raced about town in search of her next ‘find’.
A collection of jewellery including two lady's wristwatches, a Victorian paste set monkey brooch; a Georgian enamelled whistle charm, various bar brooches, pendants, beaded necklaces etc.Footnote: Note: Lots 297-310 for part of the collection of Ellen Mary Victoria Fludder (nee Lowe). Ellen was the daughter of John Lowe, whose antiques shop, J. Lowe was a well-known feature of what was then 138 Wardour Street, London, during the early 20th Century, the street numbers have since changed. Originally a watch and clock repairer, John expanded the business to include antiques, primarily jewellery and oriental art. John became a well-known and respected antiquarian and clockmaker, and indeed his youngest son John Harold Lowe remembered visiting Buckingham Palace with his father, where he was employed to wind the clocks for Edward VII or George V. Adverts from the period show a novel approach to marketing, using lines from Shakespeare to expound upon the virtues of dealing with such an exemplary antiquarian as J.Lowe; ‘China dishes, Very Good Dishes! / The Stamp of Merit. / I will buy with you! Sell with You!/ Old and Antique’ reads part of the poem, borrowing lines from The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure and Twelfth Night among others. This literary flight of fancy rather foreshadows another foray into the literary world the family would later take. Born in May 1897, Ellen was a favourite of her father’s and though she was sent to boarding school in Devon at a young age, she and her brothers were later educated in London, and living above the shop, surrounded by such curiosities and attending various auctions and dealers’ shops, it is little wonder that she began to take a lively interest in her fathers’ business. Though very much a woman in man’s world, she became a well-known fixture in her fathers’ shop and at the London salerooms. Indeed, one of her regular customers, who she met when she was around 18, was the author Edgar Jepson (1863-1938), who was a keen collector of antiques. As well as writing detective fiction, Jepson was also a translator, most notably of the Arsène Lupin stories by Maurice Leblanc, which are currently enjoying a revival on Netflix. He was quite taken with the character Ellen cut in the shop, and certainly, the curiosities of the Far East which filled the shop offered much scope for his creative mind. His 1927 novel, ‘Miss Timmins and Lord Scredington’ is based around J.Lowe and Ellen is the inspiration for the title character, Miss Timmins. ‘Miss Timmins runs an Oriental curio shop, and her adventures with strange and beautiful pieces of jade and lapis lazuli and chalcedony, carved by the artists of the East, and the strange and sometimes dangerous customers they bring her, are always amusing and thrilling.’ Edgar opens the novel with a direct reference to the frustrations of a ‘lady antique dealer’ in a world of men, and throughout her adventures the feisty Miss Timmins enjoys nothing better than getting the better of her male competitors, who often underestimate her. The novel has everything you could want from a 1920s cosmopolitan adventure novel; a rakish Lord smitten with the heroine, tea dances at the best places in town, brushes with the occult and unscrupulous antiquarians; certainly, if only a fraction of it is true, Ellen had a rather interesting life! J.Lowe closed in 1924, after the death of John Lowe, and Ellen later went on to work for Reville Terry, a Couturier on Grosvenor Square as their jewellery buyer, regularly travelling between London and Paris to see the latest collection. Lots 297-310 are not only a collection of beautiful jewels, very much of their time; but also, a lovely throwback to the exploits of Miss Timmins, and her love of Chinese jades; indeed one could almost imagine one of the jadeite brooches on her lapel, next to her infamous jade cloak hook which sent Lord Scredington so wild with envy as she raced about town in search of her next ‘find’.
Two boxes of assorted decorative china wares to include Aynsley rose decorated tea set, various other coffee and tea wares, a Grain sewing maching (boxed), large blue and white and gilt twin handled foot bath, leather suitcase containing various sheet music, a tin trunk and a Singer sewing machine etc
A collection of silver wares to include a set of five George IV Scottish silver tea spoons (Glasgow, 1827, bears makers mark TK) and various other silver spoons to include a pair of Victorian silver mustard spoons, three napkin rings, a pair of Georgian silver sugar tongs and a modern silver toddy ladle with ebonised handle 12 oz weighable silver
A set of six silver tea spoons with floral decoration (London, 1899 by William Comyns) together with a silver gilt replica of the Coronation spoon used by the Archbishop of Canterbury (cased), a further cased silver spoon inscribed "Joy 2nd birthday November 8th 1936" a silver three piece baby set comprising pusher, spoon and fork (unboxed) with rivet style decoration (Sheffield, varying dates by Lee & Wigfull) together with a set of four silver tea spoons and a set of three silver tea spoons 10 oz
A 19th Century tea set with green and gilt decoration and hand-painted scenes depicting landscapes and buildings CONDITION REPORTS All bar three of the larger cups and one of the smaller cups have hair fractures. The milk jug has severe discolouration, crazing and an old repair to the handle. The sugar bowl has fading to the guilding and some chips to the edges. Fading to all pieces, some scatching. All pieces have crazing, discolouration and wear to the gilding. Wear and tear condusive to age and heavy use. See images for more details.
A large collection of NS Chinese dinnerwares comprising various plates and bowls etc together with a collection of Japanese bowls and plates etc and an early 20th Century Continental transfer decorated part tea service together with a Royal Worcester part tea set decorated with birds to the cups, saucers and plates CONDITION REPORTS The Royal Worcester part tea set:-Two different periods. All have discolouration and crazing. One cup has hairline fracture and has had some restoration, another cup has hairline fracture to the base. Cup with blue and green bird has a small amount of restoration to the rim. All the saucers have discolouration, most badly and one has been cracked in half and restored. The majority of the saucers have crazing. The two small plates have staining to them. Heavy wear and tear, some slight scratches etc to the enamel and gilding - see images for more details
A box containing a collection of Royal Albert "Old Country Roses" cups, saucers and tea plates, a set of five fruit decorated cups and saucers with gilt-washed interior, a brass baluster shaped mug, various other decorative china wares, etc CONDITION REPORTS The lot includes as per the catalogue description and Royal Albert tea wares - 16 small plates - basically sound though with some light wear conducive with age and use i.e. surface scratching to centres, together with one plate very damaged, 11 tea cups and one very damaged - condition basically sound though with wear and tear conducive with age and use.11 saucers - same condition together with a non-matching "Centenial rose" saucer6 Aynsley fruit decorated and gilt-washed teacups and saucers - condition basically sound though two saucers with small chips to foot, gilding with wear and tear conducive with age and use, light scratching, etc.There is also a pair of Bavarian white rose decorated oval dishes - condition basically sound though with some wear to both the design and gilding2 Royal Worcester floral decorated ashtrays - condition basically soundBerlin style transfer decorated dish - unmarked2 plated champagne type saucers with gilt-washed interiorsBrass baluster shaped mug - modern 9 "Regina" pattern transfer decorated and gilt decorated small plates by KGS & Co. and two sandwich plates - condition throughout worn and a small embroidered panel.
Two Royal Crown Derby Derby Days pattern trios, with matching milk jug, sugar bowl, two dinner plates, bowls, side plates and preserve dishes, similar set in Royal Antoinette pattern, Royal Worcester Windsor pattern four place tea and dinner setting, Minton Duet wares etc Condition Report:"Antoinette cups (3): one is chipped to the footrim and is XVLII, other two are XVLISaucers (5): one may be a second as the mark is scored through, all in good condition, gilding intact, different datesBowls (2): good conditionside plates (2): good conditionserving plates (2): good conditionSugar bowl / cream jug (2): good conditionslop bowls/stands for bowl and cream jug (2): good condition"
A Coalport porcelain tea set early 20th century pattern 6242, printed and painted with pink roses with raised gilt rims, the service comprising seven teacups, six saucers, six sideplates, cream jug, sugar bowl and a circular bread and butter or cake plate, 22cm diameter, printed factory marks in green and painted pattern numbers in iron red
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