A rare stoneware ‘Grotesque’ tobacco jar by the Martin Brothers (pictured top) is estimated at £30,000-50,000 in Dreweatts’ October 26 auction in Newbury.
The Fulham pottery (1873-1914), which was run by four brothers (Wallace, Walter, Charles and Edwin), only lit the kiln once a year and without protective saggars. Due to this strange practice, it had a high rate of losses, which meant output was extremely limited.
‘Grotesque’ figures such as this example were the signature style and a particular penchant of the eldest of the brothers, Robert Wallace Martin (1843-1923), who was also an architectural sculptor.
He was the lead designer at the pottery and the rim of the lid of the jar, dating from March 1900, bears his signature.
Late 19th or early 20th century replica of the famous Alfred Jewel discovered in a field in north Petherton, Somerset, in 1693 - estimate £400-600 at Plymouth Auction Rooms on October 27.
This replica of the famous Alfred Jewel discovered in a field in North Petherton, Somerset, in 1693 dates from the late 19th or early 20th century. It is of a good quality and represents an accurate copy of the original.
At Plymouth Auction Rooms on October 27 it carries an estimate of £400-600.
The iPod poster features in 1818 Auctioneers’ timed online sale ending on October 24 and is estimated at £150-250.
When Apple launched the iPod, its portable music player, in 2001 it become the catalyst for a revolution in digital music.
This advertising poster for a first generation iPod notes that the device could store up to 1000 songs.
As a measure of how fast technology changes, 16 years later Apple removed the iPod Nano and Shuffle from its stores, marking the end of its production of standalone music players.
Today a new iPod Touch, which comes with an integrated camera and a host of other functionality, can stream 70m songs via an Apple Music subscription (although these days most people just use their smartphone instead).
The iPod poster features in 1818 Auctioneers’ timed online sale in Milnthorpe, Cumbria, ending on October 24 and is guided at £150-250.
Omar Ramsden three-piece Cafe au Lait set, London 1923, estimated at £1800-2500 at The Rostrum on October 21-22.
This Omar Ramsden three-piece Cafe au Lait set, London 1923, is estimated at £1800-2500 in the Autumn Sale at The Rostrum in Norfolk on October 21-22.
Weighing 916g, it comprises an 8in (21cm) tall coffee pot, hot milk jug and sugar bowl, with peacock tail decoration to the body and an unusual cardinal hat finial to each piece.
Each piece carries the Omar Ramsden Me Fecit inscription.
Sword commissioned by Napoleon’s elder brother Joseph when King of Naples – estimate £250,000-350,000 at Bonhams on October 27.
During his reign as King of Naples and the Two Sicilies, Napoleon’s elder brother Joseph commissioned a magnificent sabre deluxe with Viva Il re Giuseppe Napoleone (Long Live King Joseph Napoleon) inscribed along both sides of the blade.
It is the leading lot of Bonhams’ Napoleon Bonaparte: The British Sale in London on October 27. Never before offered for sale, it is estimated at £250,000-350,000.
This sword was produced between 1806-08 by the Royal Arms Manufactory of the Torre Annunziata in the Kingdom of Naples and the Two Sicilies. The blade itself, however, was most likely to have been made by Coulaux at Klingenthal in Alsace (Klingenthal means Blade Valley in German) as the type of engraving on the blade was not known in Naples.
It was with some reluctance that Joseph left Naples in 1808 when, at Napoleon’s insistence, he become the king in Spain. There, he endured a hostile reception and was never able to establish complete control over the country. He abdicated after his defeat at the Battle of Vitoria on June 21, 1813.
This not only ended French rule in Spain it also led to the capture of Joseph’s fabulous sabre by the British, led by the Marquis of Wellesley (later the Duke of Wellington).
There is only one other blade inscribed in a comparable way, says Bonhams. It was made for the Emperor Napoleon himself and is now in the collection of the Museo Ejercito in Spain.
Dream brooch designed by Phoebe Anna Traquair – estimate £3000- 5000 at Lyon & Turnbull on October 21.
Phoebe Anna Traquair (1852-1936) learned the craft of art enamelling from her friend Lady Carmichael in 1901, and over the coming decade her enamels would be set either as jewellery (notably pendants and necklaces) or ‘architectural’ formats such as triptychs in stands often designed by her architect son Ramsay.
They were exhibited both in Scotland and in London with the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society.
Traquair always gave her craft pieces titles, such as The Dream – the brooch shown here – which copies the central plaque of a 1906 necklace of the same name.
Enamels that were admired or which she herself found particularly satisfying were duplicated, with a number remaining unset in her studio. One such unmounted piece also called The Dream, dated 1909, was given to the V&A by her granddaughter.
This enamel brooch, 2in (5cm) across, is of the same period. The setting may be by Brook & Sons. It is estimated at £3000-5000 at Lyon & Turnbull of Edinburgh on October 21.
One of 20 fans made to commemorate Lady Diana Spencer’s marriage to Prince Charles on July 29, 1981 – estimate £700-1000 at Kinghams on October 21.
One of 20 fans made to commemorate Lady Diana Spencer’s marriage to Prince Charles on July 29, 1981, is coming up for auction at Cotswolds saleroom Kinghams on October 21.
It is limited edition number 18 of the 20. Marketed by the Fan Circle International (FCI), it comprises three white ostrich feathers mounted on a silver hallmarked (London TD) handle, by the jeweller and goldsmith Thomas Dobbie and his wife Margaret, bearing the gilt crest and motto of the Prince of Wales on one side and the date of the wedding and the logo of the FCI on the other.
It is offered complete with fitted box and all documentation from the ordering of the item to delivery, including the invoice, the purchase price being £250 and a photocopy of a photograph of Princess Diana carrying her own slightly different version of the fan (which had been commissioned for her by Leonard G Kingdom, Master of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers in 1980).
Estimate £700-1000.
Pair of 19th century Kingwood, porcelain and ormolu mounted cabinets estimated at £800-1500 in Duke’s auction on October 28.
A pair of 19th century Kingwood, porcelain and ormolu mounted cabinets is estimated at £800-1500 in Duke’s Interiors auction on October 28.
Dating from c.1875, they include central porcelain plaques, one depicting a child, the other the profile of a lady, with the larger bottom section containing a large central plaque with ormolu surround depicting romantic scenes, directly after painter Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684-1721) below a smaller plaque after the same artist.
They measure 6ft 4in high x 2ft 7in wide x 15½in deep (1.93m x 79cm x 39.5cm).
Portrait of Lord Pembroke as High Admiral by an immediate follower of Willem Wissing – estimate £3000-5000 at Elstob & Elstob on October 23.
This striking portrait, painted by an immediate follower of Willem Wissing (Dutch, 1656-87), is one of seven known versions of the portrait of Lord Pembroke as High Admiral. All versions ultimately derive from the original work by Wissing at Wilton House, Wiltshire.
The original was allegedly executed in Holland circa 1685. After Wissing died in 1687, the painting was altered twice. These courses of re-painting were to include Pembroke’s Order of the Garter which he received in 1700 and in 1702 to reference his new appointment as Lord High Admiral. The second course of re-painting replaced a cavalry skirmish with the naval scene visible today.
This version is for sale at Ripon, North Yorkshire, saleroom Elstob & Elstob on October 23, estimated at £3000-5000.
The auction house says: “It has been posited that this swaggering example of the English Baroque was painted in 1709 after an engraving of the altered original in Wilton House.”
Gentleman’s size 18k solid white gold Daniel Roth chronograph numero 87 wristwatch - estimate £15,000-25,000 at Watches of Knightsbridge on November 13.
A “fine and rare” gentleman’s size 18k solid white gold Daniel Roth chronograph numero 87 wristwatch is on offer at Watches of Knightsbridge on November 13.
Ref C147, with salmon guilloche dial, it dates from c.1990 and is estimated at £15,000-25,000.
Late 19th century Victorian ‘Dutch’ peg doll in the manner of Grodnertal/Grodner Tal - estimate £400-600 at East Bristol Auctions on October 22-23.
This large late 19th century Victorian ‘Dutch’ peg doll in the manner of Grodnertal/Grodner Tal is estimated at £400-600 at East Bristol Auctions on October 22-23.
Measuring about 19in (49cm), it features wooden carved ‘peg’ limbs with articulated joints and a delicately painted rounded wooden face with blue eyes and red lips, and comes dressed in a period gown, with double layered petticoat.
POW and other personal RAF wartime ephemera relating to Thomas William Warwick 745325 (138313), flying officer RAF (Volunteer Reserve) – estimate £200-400 at Rendells on October 21-22.
A fairly innocuous looking shortbread tin brought in by a private vendor to Devon saleroom Rendells contained a unique time capsule of POW and other personal RAF wartime ephemera relating to Thomas William Warwick 745325 (138313), flying officer RAF (Volunteer Reserve).
It includes his mobilisation telegram dated November 24, 1939, and a typed letter to his wife confirming that he was shot down over the Bay of Biscay presumed dead.
However, a wartime log with detailed drawings and diary entries from Room 16, Block 4 M-Stammlager (Stalag) Luft III (made famous in the movie The Great Escape), concentration camp POW No 6967, reveal what actually happened to him.
Further items include a notebook journal, small album with personal collection of photographs, RAF dog tag, POW metal dog tag, cap badge, three wings badges, other paper ephemera and his membership card to the Goldfish Club (for surviving ditching in the sea and using his rubber dinghy to escape death).
Also from his posting in Africa, a canvas-backed Arabic text flyer and propaganda £1 Arab text note, along with other material.
The archive is being offered on October 21-22 with an estimate of £200-400.
