Champion jockey Joe Mercer was also a keen buyer of racing memorabilia and a familiar face at Special Auction Services. The Newbury firm is offering more than 30 lots from his collection in the monthly Antiques & Collectables sale on February 1.
During his career, Mercer (1934-2021) claimed nearly 3000 domestic victories and his most successful ride was Brigadier Gerard, winner of 17 of his 18 races between 1970-72. He was champion jockey in 1979.
Along with silver- and silver-plated trophies and awards, the paintings and other horse-racing ephemera includes this Victorian oak jockey scales chair by Avery purchased by Mercer at an auction relating to English flat-race jockey Fred Archer (1857-86). Archer was champion jockey for 13 consecutive years until 1886, the year he committed suicide.
SAS notes it is believed that Archer used these scales (pictured top) on a weekly basis when training. Estimate £1000-2000.
specialauctionservices.com or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Lodge & Thomas is offering a third edition, London 1689, of The Present State Of The Morea Called Anciently Peloponnesus Together With A Description Of The City Of Athens, Islands Of Zant, Strafades And Serigo by Bernard Randolph.
In a binding of the period, it includes three fold-out maps of Morea Olim Peloponnesus, Greece With Part Of Anatolia and The Prospect of The Grand Serraglio Or Imperial Palace Of Constantinople As It Appears From Galata.
The estimate in Truro on February 10-11 is £1000-2000.
Early 20th century German silver and enamel cigarette case – estimate £1200-1600 at Chiswick Actions on January 26.
A sale of erotica and objects of desire at Chiswick Actions on January 26 includes this early 20th century German silver and enamel cigarette case guided at £1200-1600.
chiswickauctions.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Early 20th century platinum, old-cut diamond, emerald and plique-a-jour enamel brooch – estimate £3000-4000 at Fellows on January 27.
The Fine Jewellery sale at Fellows in Birmingham on January 27 includes this early 20th century platinum, old-cut diamond, emerald and plique-a-jour enamel brooch.
Estimate £3000-4000.
fellows.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Pair of bronze busts of bacchantes, after Auguste Clesinger, foundry marks for Barbedienne and Rome 1857 – estimate of £500-800 at Ryedale Auctioneers on January 28-29.
More than 600 items are being offered by Ryedale Auctioneers from Beal House, the home of the late Ian Stewart, who died in 2019 aged 70. He was a businessman who lived and worked in both the UK and the Far East and amassed hundreds of antiques in the country house style over his many years of collecting.
The Grade II-listed manor house is near the village of Thornton-le-Street, between Northallerton and Thirsk. Dating to the 18th century, it was originally built as the dower house for the Gautby Estate. It was recently sold for around £2m.
The primary sale of the contents of Beal House was held in 2020 by Edinburgh auction house Lyon & Turnbull.
Highlights at Ryedale on January 28-29 include a pair of bronze busts of bacchantes with an estimate of £500-800, after Auguste Clesinger, foundry marks for Barbedienne and Rome 1857, 12in (30cm) high.
ryedaleauctioneers.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Early issue (pre-1865) Victorian Southampton County Borough police helmet plate – estimate £300-400 at C&T on January 26.
A specialist auction of police memorabilia at C&T in Kenardington on January 26 includes this early issue (pre-1865) Victorian Southampton County Borough police helmet plate estimated at £300-400.
candtauctions.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Set of seven Minton hand-painted tiles, depicting ‘The Seven Ages of Man’ in the form of storks designed by Alfred Masson – estimate £2000-3000 at Ewbank’s on January 27.
The sale of Decorative Arts & Modern Design sale at Ewbank’s in Send, Woking, on January 27 features this rare set of seven Minton hand painted tiles, depicting ‘The Seven Ages of Man’ in the form of a storks designed by Alfred Masson.
Estimate £2000-3000.
ewbankauctions.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Liberty & Co brown leather footstool in the form of an elephant – estimate £400-500 at the Truro Auction Centre on January 27-28.
The sale at the Truro Auction Centre in Redruth, Cornwall, on January 27-28 includes this Liberty & Co brown leather footstool in the form of an elephant.
Estimate £400-500.
cornwallauction.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Signed photograph of Claude Monet with the stamp of the photographer Henri Manuel to the reverse – estimate £800-1000 at Lyon & Turnbull on February 2.
The Rare Books and Manuscripts sale at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh on February 2 offers this signed photograph of Claude Monet with the stamp of the photographer Henri Manuel to the reverse.
Estimate £800-1000.
lyonandturnbull.com or see this item at thesaleroom.com
A timed online auction of militaria at Halls closing on February 1 includes a Great War Military Cross group of three awarded to 2nd Lt William Roy Webb, estimate £800-1200.
A timed online auction of militaria at Halls in Shrewsbury closing on February 1 includes a Great War Military Cross group of three awarded to 2nd Lt William Roy Webb of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.
He won his MC at Ypres during the operations of September 28 to October 2, 1917. The London Gazette recorded: “On September 29 he captured his objective in face of heavy fire, and later in the day when his line was heavily shelled, he walked about between his posts encouraging his men by his own example. On October 2 he again distinguished himself by fearless leadership under heavy fire.” Estimate £800-1200.
fineart.hallsgb.com or see this item at thesaleroom.com
A Roman hammered gold aureus coin dating from the reign of Tiberius (14-37AD) is on offer in Batemans’ Jewellery & Watches, Silver & Gold, Coins & Banknotes sale on February 18.
The obverse is inscribed TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS surrounding Tiberius’ laureate head facing right; the reverse features PONTIF MAXIM surrounding a female figure (possibly Livia) seated facing right, holding a sceptre and a branch.
The coin minted in Lugdunum (now Lyon), weighs 7.9g and is 1.5 x 2.5mm thick, with diameter varying from 18.1-19.1mm. It is estimated at £1200-1500.
Early 19th century mahogany-cased, quarter-repeating bracket clock by Marriott, London – estimate £1000-1200 at Durrants on January 28.
This early 19th century mahogany-cased, quarter-repeating bracket clock by Marriott, London, has an estimate of £1000-1200 at Durrants’ sale in Beccles, Suffolk, on January 28.
durrantsauctions.com or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Miniature from a manuscript copy of the Lives of the Saints made in Netherlands or western Germany c.1460-70 – estimate £10,000-15,000 at Forum on February 10.
This miniature comes from a manuscript copy of the Lives of the Saints made in Netherlands or western Germany c.1460-70. The estimate is £10,000-15,000 as part of the Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper sale at Forum in London on February 10.
The scene beneath the zodiacal sign of Sagittarius shows two peat barges on a river with a townscape and a man splitting timber with other figures in foreground.
The city depicted may be Cologne or possibly Amsterdam, since it is known that peat barges were used to build the foundations of the city.
Another cutting from the same manuscript depicting Pisces above a battle scene was sold at Sotheby’s in 2018.
It was attributed to the Master of Evert van Soudenbalch, a Dutch miniaturist with roots in Cologne who was active c.1460-70, or possibly to his close collaborator, the Master of Gijsbrecht van Bredrerode.
forumauctions.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
This example of scrimshaw is estimated at £200-400 at Plymouth Auction Rooms on February 2.
This example of scrimshaw, estimated at £200- 400 at Plymouth Auction Rooms on February 2, was found in a collection of silver and effects brought along to the saleroom from a family in the South Hams area.
The rectangular panel, of whale pan/jawbone, measuring 7 x 15½in (17 x 40cm), is scratched out with a scene of a whaling ship and other boats in choppy seas off a coastline. The scene is within a border decorated with marine emblems of swords, anchors and love hearts.
plymouthauctions.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
Musical-related illustration by Ronald Searle – estimate £2000-3000 at Catherine Southon’s sale on February 2.
Catherine Southon’s sale at the Farleigh Court Golf Club in Selsdon, Surrey, on February 2 includes this large 2ft 5in x 19in (72 x 47cm) original musical-related illustration by Ronald Searle (1920-2011).
Worked in watercolour, ink, pastel, gouache and pencil, it includes the long inscription Coughs cannot always be totally suppressed, but they can often be postponed, With respect to a great composer, what might pass unnoticed in a Brahms finale can wreck a reflective passage of Debussy, We beg you to cough judiciously and with impeccable timing.
Estimate £2000-3000.
catherinesouthon.co.uk or see this item at thesaleroom.com
