The celebrated Cary family of cartographers and globe makers were known for their geographical accuracy, producing some of the most sought-after globes of the late Georgian era.
The firm was established in London in the late 18th century by John Cary, an engraver and dealer in maps who often worked in partnership with his brother William Cary (c1760-1825), a scientific instrument maker.
Dating from 1800, a pair of 12in Cary globes in 3ft (91.5cm) high mahogany stands are priced at £28,500 at Wick Antiques in Hampshire.
A dozen 18th century naval chairs dating to the height of Britain’s maritime prowess will be offered at Charles Miller’s auction on November 6.
The c.1795 set of mahogany ‘concertina-action’ chairs would originally have been used at an admiral’s table. Recently discovered in the cellars of a house in Spain, the group will go under the hammer at the cooperative saleroom 25 Blythe Road in West Kensington, London.
Naval chairs were designed to be compact and fold away at speed, but this also made them vulnerable to wear and tear. Few survived as a result.
This group of 12 is the only known set of 18th century naval or campaign chairs documented. A similar group are in Nelson’s cabin aboard HMS Victory, but some are reproductions.
Estimate £10,000-15,000.
NL Auction Rooms in north Finchley, London, will reoffer this three-piece ‘Blue John’ garniture made of the unique Derbyshire fluorspar on November 5.
The transaction was not completed after the hammer came down in September.
Privately consigned, they were catalogued in September as possibly George III period (although they were subsequently thought to be mid-19th century French). The vendor has since told the auction house he believes they were owned by his ancestor Colonel Alexander Gordon, a businessman from Ohio who died in London in 1910 and is buried in Putney. Estimate £5000-10,000.
