Captain Coram’s Cup »
A Fine George I documented silver-gilt cup and cover by Richard Bayley, London 1721 Plain, inverted bell-shape on spreading circular foot, with two scroll handles and detachable domed cover. Inscribed beneath foot: THOMAS CORAM TO HIS GODSON THOMAS CORHAM 1721 In original leather, wood and felt shaped fitted case Height: 174mm / 6 3/4 inches Weight: […]
. View Post » Above the salt »
This George III silver salt, with gilded interior, was made by Daniel Pontifex in London 1800. It belonged to Admiral Lord Nelson and probably formed part of a service of silver he purchased after the battle of Copenhagen in 1802 using funds granted him by Lloyd’s Coffee House. Pontifex also supplied the Copenhagen service with […]
. View Post » Going to bed with Nelson »
This George III silver chamber candlestick with its extinguisher, made by Thomas Hannam and John Crouch in London 1775, belonged to Admiral Lord Nelson. It is engraved with his San Josef crest granted to Nelson when he was made a knight of the Order of Bath after the battle of Cape St Vincent in February 1797. […]
. View Post » Dining with Admiral Lord Nelson »
This important 26 piece collection of silver flatware from Lord Nelson’s personal service – the largest group remaining in private hands – illustrates the evolution of the admiral’s armorial bearings as he accumulated honours and titles in the years leading to his death at Trafalgar. The earliest pieces dated 1796/7 and made by London silversmiths William […]
. View Post » The Sheridan Grant silver dishes: love and scandal (and a duel) »
A set of four William IV silver second course dishes each plain shaped circular with gadroon, acanthus leaf and shell border and bowl recess, engraved with two armorials by John Harris, London 1834. 10 1/2″ (262 mm) diameter; 97 tr.oz. (3019 grams) 1. Arms of SHERIDAN, Vert a lion rampant between three trefoils slipped for […]
. View Post » Pushing the boat out: Captain Henry Blackwood’s silver jolly boats »
A very rare pair of George III Old Sheffield Plate “Jolly Boat” wine trolleys, circa 1810, engraved with the family crest of Blackwood for Admiral Sir Henry Blackwood (1770-1832). Length of each 33cm (13in) This very rare pair of Old Sheffield Plate double wine coasters recalls one of Admiral Lord Nelson’s most admired frigate captains, and a hero of […]
. View Post » Spanish “Golden Age” Jewels »
In association with Corfield Morris Fine Art Advisers and Deborah Elvira, I am representing an extraordinary and exceptional group of gold and gem set jewels recovered in the Caribbean from two Spanish galleons which were lost at sea in the 16th and 17th century. The jewels were found by Tracy Bowden and his team of […]
. View Post » The Earl’s Machine »
In 2008, I curated the widely-acclaimed exhibition of a very rare calculating machine invented by the extraordinary and colourful Charles, 3rd Earl Stanhope (1753-1816) at the Winter Fine Art & Antiques Fair, Olympia by courtesy of the Trustees of the Chevening Estate. Chevening in Kent was the home of the Stanhope family for almost 250 years […]
. View Post » Warts and All »
In 2013, I wrote the catalogue entry for a plaster cast of the Death-mask of Oliver Cromwell from the collection at Warwick Castle which accompanied an exhibition of miniatures by Samuel Cooper (1607-1672) at Philip Mould & Company, London W1. Oliver Cromwell by Unknown artist, plaster cast of death-mask, probably 19th century When Oliver Cromwell […]
. View Post » Composer Cipriani Potter’s “Truth” seal »
Gilt metal pendent fob with chased foliate and fox mask motif decoration set with a rectangular foiled back rock crystal seal engraved with a quill and legend TRUTH, English, circa 1830. Height approx: 25mm / 1 inch: £1500. Accompanied by a letter of family provenance dated October 1909 stating descent from Sir Wyndham Dunstan (1861-1949), […]
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