This late-19th century 9ct hallmarked Football League medal was awarded to Billy Bassett (1869-1937), one of the best-known footballers of the late Victorian era.
Bassett made 16 appearances for England and 261 appearances for West Bromwich Albion. After retirement he became The Baggies’ director and club chairman.
The medal was awarded for his involvement in a Football League match between England and Ireland, which was comprised of teams from the English and Irish football leagues on November 7, 1896, at The Oval in Belfast.
The medal, made by Vaughton & Sons, Birmingham 1893, is estimated at £2000-3000 at Fieldings’ Mantiques auction on July 6 in Stourbridge, West Midlands.
fieldingsauctioneers.co.uk or see this item on thesaleroom.com
A collection of portrait miniatures from the estate of Mary, Countess of Gainsborough, will be included with other art and antiques from her estate in the auction at Tennants of Leyburn in North Yorkshire on July 13.
The miniatures date from the 16th to early 20th centuries with potential highlights including Portrait of a Bearded Man by a follower of François Clouet (1522-72), estimated at £3000-5000, Portrait of a Lady Wearing a Blue Dress by Peter Cross (c.1650-1724), at £2000-3000, and Portrait of Mr Lear by Christian Richter (1678-1732) at £3000-5000.
A sale of silver and objects of vertu at Salisbury saleroom Woolley & Wallis on July 16 will feature this George IV silver coffee pot and teapot, by Paul Storr, London 1826.
The pieces bear the combined coats of arms of the Vincent and Norreys (or Norris) families with a Vincent finial crest.
Estimate £2000-3000.
woolleyandwallis.co.uk or see this item on thesaleroom.com
Bristol’s famous Clifton Suspension Bridge, which spans the Avon Gorge and the River Avon, was beset by problems early on in its construction. The original company tasked with its erection went bust in 1837 and a lack of funding forced building to halt again in the 1840s.
During this time, intrepid passengers with a head for heights shuttled across the gorge in a basket slung from a 32mm cable originally installed between the two towers for the swift transfer of materials.
The basket is visible in this scene attributed to the Bristol artist John Syer (1815-85), who probably painted it in the 1850s. The pleasure steamer, Avon, is depicted in the foreground.
Lawrences of Crewkerne in Somerset will offer the 21in x 2ft 6in (53 x 76cm) canvas with an estimate of £3000-4000 on July 5.
lawrences.co.uk or see this item on thesaleroom.com
