Carved and painted portrait bust dated 1767 inscribed W Wood, from the Phillip Lucas collection at Spitalfields House – estimate £6000-8000 at Dreweatts.
Property from the Phillip Lucas collection at Spitalfields House forms part of the sale at Dreweatts in Newbury on December 1.
Estimated at £6000-8000 is this 2ft 2in (65cm) George III carved and painted portrait bust dated 1767 and inscribed W Wood (pictured top). The subject is William Wood (1725-1804) who with his brother John established shipyards and timber yards at Whitehaven, Harrington, Workington and Maryport in Cumberland.
A similar bust in a private collection that is inscribed for I Wood with the same date was previously thought to depict the Bath architect and planner John Wood the Elder but it seems more likely the two busts were carved together to mark the success of the Wood brothers shipyard in Maryport.
The Old Mill - A View by Thomas Girtin – estimate £1200-1800 at David Duggleby
The Old Mill - A View by Thomas Girtin (1775-1802) has a guide of £1200-1800 at David Duggleby in Scarborough on November 25.
The watercolour measures 7 x 8in (17 x 20cm), is signed and indistinctly titled verso.
Pair of pink tourmaline, cultured pearl and diamond earrings by Elizabeth Gage – estimate £1000-1500 at Roseberys.
In a maker’s case, this pair of pink tourmaline, cultured pearl and diamond earrings by Elizabeth Gage is expected to bring £1000-1500 at the Jewellery & Watches sale at Roseberys London on November 29.
Platinum palladium print of Mainbocher Corset by Horst P Horst – estimate £8000-10,000 at Chiswick Auctions.
A platinum palladium print of Mainbocher Corset by Horst P Horst, the first print produced in an edition of 50, is expected to bring £8000-10,000 at Chiswick Auctions’ sale of 19th & 20th Century Photographs on November 24.
Mainbocher Corset was the last photograph taken by the German-American fashion photographer before he fled Paris in 1939. Taken for Vogue magazine, it depicts the model Madame Bernon wearing Parisian lingerie at a time when the corset had come back into fashion after a period of unpopularity.
The version of the print used by Vogue was retouched to make the corset appear a snug fit. However, in this print taken from the original negative, the left-hand side of the corset hangs down provocatively from the model’s side. It was considered too risqué for publication.
What appears to be vocal scores for an unknown opera or musical performance, inscribed Adolph Prince D Angleterre 1796 – estimate £500-800 at Tennants.
A collection of opera scores and books from the library of the late 7th Earl of Harewood is to be offered in Tennants’ Books, Maps and Manuscripts Sale on November 23.
George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood (1923-2011), was a music lover with a particular passion for opera.
During a long career he was director of the Royal Opera House, chairman of the board of the English National Opera, managing director of both the English National Opera and the English National Opera North, and governor of the BBC. Following his death, part of his library was donated by the late Lady Harewood to Opera North, and while the majority of the collection is being retained by the company, many lots are now up for auction.
Pictured here is what appears to be vocal scores for an unknown opera or musical performance, inscribed Adolph Prince D Angleterre 1796. Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (1774-1850) was the 10th child of George III, who lived in Germany most of his adult life, commanding the Hanoverian Guards. It is unclear if the prince’s name is the title of the work, or if it was presented to him. The vocal score, which is in Italian, French and German, is estimated at £500-800.
A 16th century Italian maiolica medicine jar – estimate £100-150 at Keys.
This 16th century Italian maiolica medicine jar is among 11 maiolica lots from several local collections in Keys’ Fine sale in Aylsham from November 23-25.
The jar, which is 9in (22cm) high and painted with mythical beasts in blue surrounded by fruit and painted in green palette, is inscribed Infrigidan GF, with the date 1581 on the reverse.
Estimate £100-150.
One of two England football caps awarded to Victorian player Thomas Clare – estimate £800-1200 together at Wilson55.
The sale at Wilson55 in Nantwich on November 24 includes two England football caps awarded to Victorian player Thomas Clare (1865-1929).
Clare, a right-back, played 251 games for Stoke helping them to the Football Alliance title in 1890-91 before signing with Manchester City and then for Port Vale.
He won four England caps with the one pictured here his first, given for a game at Anfield on March 2, 1889, when England neat Ireland 6-1. Clare was later appointed manager-secretary of Burslem Port Vale in 1905, a position he held for six years.
Estimate £800-1200.
Georgian silver ear trumpet, London 1808 – estimate £300-500 at Flints.
This Georgian silver ear trumpet is marked for Thomas Phipps and Edward Robinson, London 1808. In nice condition, with no splits or repairs, it is expected to bring £300-500 at scientific instruments specialist Flints in Thatcham, Berkshire on November 24.
Auxiliary Territorial Service ‘Blonde Bombshell’ Second World War poster by Abram Games – estimate £5000-6000 at Onslows.
Onslows’ 38th winter auction of vintage posters on November 25 includes a scarce Second World War propaganda poster known worldwide as the Blonde Bombshell. This was the first of three posters designed by Abram Games to promote joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
Deemed to be overly glamorous and therefore provocative, the government banned this poster after its issue in 1941, replacing it with a plain photographic poster depicting a serving member of the ATS. The second design came in 1942 and was considered ‘too Soviet’ by Winston Churchill. The third appeared in 1943 employing a statuesque yet sober style which met with the official seal of approval. Estimate £5000-6000.
Onslows hammered down another copy of this poster in July 2019 for what it believes was a record £8000 (ATG No 2402).
The Plumb-pudding in danger or State Epicures taking un Petit Souper by James Gillray – estimate £6000-8000 at Forum Auctions.
The Plumb-pudding in danger or State Epicures taking un Petit Souper is the most famous of all James Gillray’s satirical caricatures, perhaps the most well known of all Georgian political cartoons.
Published by Hannah Humphrey in 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte and William Pitt face each other across a steaming ‘plum-pudding’ globe, both intent on carving themselves a substantial portion of the world.
This copy, trimmed to or just within the platemark with some toning to extremities of the sheet and minor spotting, has a guide of £6000-8000 at Forum Auctions in London on December 1.
Tunbridge ware painted commemorative pin cushion made to commemorate the jubilee of George III on October 25, 1809 – estimate £300-500 at Bleasdales.
This Tunbridge ware painted commemorative pin cushion in the form of a crown is inscribed in ink to the base: This Pin Cushion was made to commemorate the Jubilee of George III October 25, 1809.
By today’s standards it was a modest affair, with the royal family attending a private service at Windsor and a fete and firework display at Frogmore.
This appears to be the earliest example so far known of a piece of Tunbridge commemorating royalty and it comes for sale at Bleasdales in Warwick on November 23 with an estimate of £300-500.
The auction features some 260 lots of Tunbridge ware including 170 lots from Brian Austen who wrote the book Tunbridge Ware and Related European Decorative Woodwares. Austen’s collection ran to over 1000 pieces and will be included in this and the next three Bleasdales sales.
The Empress Froth Jug by The National Spirit Measuring & Checking Tap Company – estimate £80-120 at Bishop & Miller.
This scarce piece of Victorian kitchenalia, The Empress Froth Jug by The National Spirit Measuring & Checking Tap Company, has a guide of £80-120 at a ceramics sale held by Bishop & Miller in Stowmarket, Suffolk, on November 24.
The 9in (23cm) tall jug with a face mask spout is named after Empress Eugénie, the Spanish wife of Napoleon III who made chocolate a popular drink in France and England.
Broadside issued by William III at Hampton Court on November 11, 1701 – estimate £200-300 at Dominic Winter.
The sale of Photographs, Autographs & Documents at Dominic Winter in South Cerney on November 24 includes, estimated at £200-300, this broadside issued by William III at Hampton Court on November 11, 1701.
It was produced at a turbulent moment in British political history shortly after the Act of Settlement secured the Protestant succession and parliamentary system of government. Parliament, split between the strong Tory majority and the Whigs, had been prorogued in June but by September the king was being pressed with calling an election – the second in one year.
Rare French clockwork toy in a fitted box with instruction booklet marked Automatic Rower, First Prize Concours Lepine 1927 – estimate £2000-3000 at Lawrences of Crewkerne.
This rare French clockwork toy – a seated rowing figure in a wooden hulled boat – comes in its fitted box with instruction booklet marked Automatic Rower, First Prize Concours Lepine 1927. It has an estimate of £2000-3000 at the sale of collector’s items at Lawrences of Crewkerne on November 25.
Admission ticket to the Coronation of George IV on July 19, 1821 – estimate £300-600 at Southgate Auction Rooms.
This admission ticket to the Coronation of George IV on July 19, 1821, is guided at £300-600 as part of the timed online Books and Works on Paper sale at Southgate Auction Rooms in London that closes on November 30.
Originally scheduled for August 1, 1820, the ceremony at Westminster Abbey had been postponed due to the parliamentary proceedings of George’s estranged wife Caroline of Brunswick.
In accordance with George’s lavish personal tastes, the coronation was the most extravagant ever staged with a total cost of £238,000. Caroline was turned away at the door and died two weeks later.
A similar ticket to the Coronation banquet (the last of its type) held at Westminster Hall is estimated at £250-500.
Medieval ring with inside the band an inscription in French ieo vos tien foi tenes le moy (‘I hold your faith, hold mine’) – estimate £30,000-40,000 at Noonans.
This medieval ring will be offered by Mayfair saleroom Noonans on November 29, estimated at £30,000-40,000.
This ring is in “almost perfect condition”, says Noonans, and has an inverted diamond set into the raised bezel so that it comes to a point. The hoop is composed of two neatly entwined bands symbolising the union of the couple. Inside the band is an inscription in French ieo vos tien foi tenes le moy (‘I hold your faith, hold mine’).
It was found by a metal detectorist in a Dorset field. The location was acquired by Henry de Broc (or de la Brook) from Reginald de Mohun (1206-58), feudal baron of Dunster in Somerset, who had inherited this land from his first wife Hawise Fleming, daughter and heiress of William Fleming. It then passed by descent through the Brook family, coming into the possession of the wealthy landowner Sir Thomas Brook (c.1355-1418).
Noonans says that due to the “exceptionally fine quality”, it was possibly the wedding ring given by Sir Thomas to his wife Lady Joan Brook for their marriage in 1388.
