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), […]
. View Post » Dance to fame: silver from the Royal Academy of Arts »
A fine and historic pair of presentation sterling silver entree dishes and covers by Robert Garrard, London 1809, each domed oval with gadroon edging, covers engraved with a family crest and motto: VIRTUTEM SEQUITUR FAMA, interior of dishes similarly engraved in two places. Covers with removable strawberry and leaf finials and further engraved with a presentation […]
. View Post » Sir John Herschel’s “horn of Africa” silver beakers »
A pair of silver lined buffalo horn beakers, mounted by Charles Rawlings & William Summers, London 1839, engraved with the crest of Sir John Herschel (1792-1871); height of each approx. 116mm / 4 5/8 inches. This pair of beakers belonged to the famed mathematician and astronomer Sir John Herschel. Son of the celebrated astronomer and discoverer […]
. View Post » The face of Nelson »
In 2014, in association with Sotheby’s, I identified, researched and negotiated the sale to the Royal Naval Museum Portsmouth of a newly-discovered life mask in plaster of Admiral Lord Nelson. The mask, discovered in a private collection in the USA, is a finer example with earlier provenance than two other similar masks: one also at RNM, the other […]
. View Post » Jane Austen family seal »
A gold and yellow agate fob seal engraved with the Austen family crest and initials J.T.A., English, circa 1810. Height approx: 30 mm / 1 1/8″; stone approx: 20mm x 17mm; 7/8″ x 3/4″. This rare relic belonged to John Thomas Austen (1794-1876), the son of Major John Austen and his wife Harriet Hussey and second […]
. View Post » 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 »