1. Brighton pier picture
Brighton Chain Pier, built between 1822-23.
This 18th century English school view on offer in Lyon & Turnbull’s November 14 sale is of Brighton Chain Pier, which was built between 1822-23. It measured 350 yards long and 13 ft wide, and acted as an embarkation point for cross-Channel ships.
It was, however, exposed to the elements and the coming of the railways and the sheltered aspect of Newhaven port spelt its demise. The pier was declared unsafe in October 1896. In December 4, 1896, it was destroyed by a storm.
This picture is estimated at £600-800 at the Edinburgh auction house’s sale called Five Centuries: Furniture, Paintings and Works of Art from 1600.
View the auction at thesaleroom.com
2. Silver cup
An unusual collection of silver tankards, beakers, goblets and cups (being sold separately), all inset with coins from the UK, Germany, Denmark and Sweden, is coming up in Brightwells’ November 14-15 auction.
The example shown here, estimated at £3000-4000, is a silver three-handled, round-bottom cup on stand, 9in (23cm) high overall, inset with world gold, silver and bronze coins, with French assay marks to cup and stand. The stand is also marked Tiffany & Co.
Inset coins include: Russia 1874 5 roubles; France gold 20 francs 1814, 1851 and a Napoleon type; Switzerland 20 francs 1896; Egypt 100 Qirsh AH1255; Spain 20 pesatas 1889 and Great Britain sovereign 1889. The collection comprises 11 lots with a combined estimate of £14,000-20,000.
View the auction at thesaleroom.com.
3. Charles Hull's corkscrew
Charles Hull's patent 'Presto' mechanical corkscrew.
A rare Charles Hull's patent 'Presto' mechanical corkscrew is being offered at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood on November 14-15. It has a rosewood handle with a brush to one end and maker's plate under the button to the other end reading Chas Hull Patent Presto Corkscrew. It is 16.5cm long unextended including the helix.
Manufactured in Hull's factory in Birmingham, the Presto corkscrew was patented c.1865, designed to ease the removal of the corkscrew once the cork was taken out from the bottle. It is estimated at £600.
View the catalogue entry at thesaleroom.com
4. René Lalique belt buckle
A René Lalique belt buckle.
This René Lalique belt buckle dates from the famous glass maker’s early career as a jeweller and will go under the hammer at Tennants Auctioneers on November 17 in Leyburn, North Yorkshire.
The silver and gold buckle, modelled in the form of a female face with flowing hair and a blue enamel headband, featured in an episode of the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow broadcast in April.
The vendor had been given the buckle by her uncle’s great aunt, who had moved to the UK from France in the 1890s and had worn it throughout her nursing career. It is estimated at £5000-8000.
View the auction details at thesaleroom.com
5. Pearlware vase
A rare c.1789 pearlware vase called George III’s Recovery from Ill Health features a half-length profile of the king with a profile of King Lear depicted as Uranus with foliage in his hair on the reverse. It is coming to auction at Historical & Collectables in Berkshire on November 17.
The baluster-shaped body of acanthus leaf form on a waisted foot and rectangular base is decorated in underglaze blue, brown, green and black. It is estimated at £300-600 at this sale held near Reading.
The auction house notes that David Garrick had played Lear (depicted with foliage on his head) in his 1756 production. Following the king’s first bout of madness, there were no further meaningful productions of the play. Indeed between 1810-20, when the king again lapsed into periods of insanity, the authorities banned any production of the play.
View this auction entry at thesaleroom.com
