Newly discovered portrait of Isabella Parry, wife of Polar explorer Sir Edward Parry »
Miniature portrait of Isabella Louisa Parry (1801-39), watercolour on ivory, English School, circa 1826, rectangular 100 x 75mm (4″ x 3 ″), later gold mount within giltwood frame, annotated in a later hand on reverse of frame: Isabella, Lady Parry, For Hugh This beautiful rediscovered miniature portrays the first wife of the Arctic explorer Sir (William) Edward […]
. View Post » The Waterloo Candlesticks »
In the run-up to the 2015 bicentenary of the battle of Waterloo, I sold this wonderful set of silver gilt candlesticks which belonged to General Rowland Hill who was second in command to the duke of Wellington at the battle. A SET OF FOUR LARGE GEORGE III SILVER GILT CANDLESTICKS MARK OF WILLIAM PITTS, LONDON, […]
. View Post » Marine Masterpiece by Nicholas Pocock (1740-1821) »
In 2014, in association with Corfield Morris Fine Art Advisers, I negotiated the sale by private treaty of an important painting by renowned 18th century marine artist Nicholas Pocock (1740-1821). This large work (canvas size approx: 40” x 60” / 1016mm x 1525mm) was entitled: HIS MAJESTYS Ships S.t Fiorenzo Capt Sir H. Neale Bart […]
. View Post » The Collingwood collection »
Although overshadowed by his illustrious contemporary, friend and colleague Horatio Nelson; Cuthbert Collingwood (1750-1810) enjoyed an equally distinguished career at sea. After serving with Nelson in the West Indies, the two officers fought alongside each other at the battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797. Following a brief meeting in England in 1800, the two […]
. View Post » Lost face of Nelson’s “son” »
This miniature which I discovered in his family’s collection, finally revealed the face of Nelson’s favourite and most enigmatic protégé Edward Thornbrough Parker, frequently referred to by the admiral in intimate terms as his ‛dear son and friend’. Until recently very little was known about the enigmatic young officer whose life was so tragically cut […]
. View Post » Nelson’s watch »
In 2004, shortly after the publication of Nelson’s Purse, I was contacted by the owner of a remarkable Nelson treasure. Recently inherited, the watch had been on loan since 1962 to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, although it was in the reserve collection and not on public exhibition view when I visited the museum […]
. View Post » The Alexander Davison Collection of Nelson Relics »
In 2001 whilst on a routine valuation I discovered a remarkable trove of relics, papers and artefacts belonging to Admiral Lord Nelson. The collection had remained hidden and unseen in a trunk for almost two hundred years with the family of Nelson’s prize agent, confidant and closest friend Alexander Davison. The trunk contained almost a […]
. View Post » The Matcham Collection of Nelson Relics »
In 2005, I consulted on the sale at Sotheby’s,London of the Matcham Collection, a landmark auction of Nelson’s belongings from the family of his sister Catherine “Kitty” Matcham. The wide ranging group of treasures extended from glassware, porcelain and furniture to medals, letters and books. Together they offered vivid insight into Nelson’s domestic world. Particularly […]
. View Post » Nelson memorial ring »
After Nelson was killed at Trafalgar, his family arranged for a series of gold and enamel mourning rings to be distributed in his memory. The rings were decorated with Nelson’s initials, heraldic achievements and motto PALMAN QUI MERUIT FERAT and variously inscribed Lost to his Country 21 Oct 1805 Aged 47. An original manuscript listing […]
. View Post » Nelson’s Nile Silver »
In 2013, eight years after advising the family of Catherine Matcham in the sale of Nelson relics, I was instructed by descendants of Lord Nelson’s other sister Susannah to seek a buyer for a highly important and historic George III armorial silver entree dish and cover presented to the admiral by Lloyd’s Coffee House after […]
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