Porridge, Politics and Poisoning
January 2009
Nic Saintey takes a brief glance at a few interesting lots in the first Fine Art
Sale of the year, which is being held on 28th January 2009 and 29th January
2009 at our Okehampton Street Salerooms in Exeter.
Lot 132: George I Porringer
A George I porringer with twin scroll handles, the body with spiral fluted and reeded
decoration, having a gadrooned girdle and circular cartouche, 7.5cm high, maker's
mark indistinct, London 1717, 122gm, 3.92oz. Estimate: £150-250
Although Lot 132 'A George I silver porringer' has all the look of a ceremonial
toasting vessel with a hint of loving cup about it as a porringer it is in fact
generally considered to be a swanky cereal bowl, literally a vessel for eating or
perhaps drinking porridge or gruel from. However an alternative suggestion is that
the word derives from pottager or pottinger which has its root in the French dish
Potage in which case it would be a bowl for stew or soup! Whichever derivation you
prefer this is a good George I example bearing London marks for 1717.
Lot 148: Edwardian Novelty Menu Card Holders
A cased set of four Edwardian novelty menu card holders in the form of standing
owls with textured plumage, on circular bases, with inset coloured glass eyes, 3cm.
high, maker Samuel Morden & Co, Chester, 1908, 85gm, 2.73oz (hinges to case in need
of attention). Estimate: £200-300
Staying with the dining table albeit nearly two centuries later is Lot 148 'A cased
set of four silver menu card holders' each is in the form of an owl and is by the
premier maker of such novelties Samuel Morden bearing marks for Chester 1908. I
have no idea why owls have joined a select band of desirable animal or anthropomorphic
subject matter for silversmiths that includes cats, pigs and elephants, but they
appear regularly and should have no problem flying to their new homes.
Lot 64: Carl Theodor Frankenthal Figure
A Carl Theodor Frankenthal porcelain figure of a running boar on a rectangular base,
in the white, 24cm long, underglaze blue marks, initials and '77' for 1777. Estimate:
£1,200-1,500
Although not decorated in colours Lot 64 a 'Carl Theodor Frankenthal figure' is
crisply and dramatically modelled and something of a rarity. Of all the 'major'
porcelain concerns in Germany the one based in Frankenthal was one of the shortest
lived with a lifespan of a little over forty years. When the Hannong family got
into serious financial difficulties Carl Theodor Prince Elector, Count Palatine
and Duke of Bavaria bailed them out and took over administration of their porcelain
manufactory. This lead to a period of relative stability and 1762 until the mid
1770's saw the production of much high quality, highly thought of porcelain all
marked with a datecode and the Prince's initials. The Prince was renowned as a great
patron of the arts and sciences, but was a 'clumsy' politician, who tried to swap
the less interesting bits of his kingdom with the Austrians. Apparently when he
died of a stroke his subjects celebrated for three days. I feel sure there is a
pun somewhere with a running boar, but I'm not brave enough to use it.
Lot 391: A 19th Century Homeopathic Medicine Case
A 19th century mahogany homeoepathic medicine case of rectangular form, the hinged
lid with leather lined interior stamped ‘JAMES LEATH, 9 VERE STREET AND ST PAULS
CHURCHYARD’, enclosing a soft leather bound book entitled 'HOMEOPATHIC GUIDE FOR
FAMILY USE' by Dr Laurie, containing twenty-four various miniature glass medicine
tubes with paper labels, some with contents, one replacement, some a/f, having a
single drawer below fitted with two larger glass medicine tubes, the case 13cm wide.
Estimate: £150-250
Something else that is both unusual and something I am also not keen to try out
is Lot 391 'A Nineteenth century homeopathic medicine case' produced by James Leath,
9 Vere Street and St Pauls Churchyard (not a good address under the circumstances)
it comes complete with phials of remedies and a slim volume entitled Homeopathic
Guide for Family Use. I feel a little knowledge might well be dangerous as a brief
glance reveals that if you are 'inflated with wind between the pit of the stomach
and the navel' you are safe to self administer six globules of Bella Donna (Deadly
Nightshade).
Lot 310: Watercolour by Frederick William Jackson
310 Frederick William Jackson (1859-1918) Pisa from the city wall looking towards
Duomo and bell tower signed, inscribed and dated 1907 in pencil bottom left watercolour
heightened with bodycolour 26.5 x 38cm; unframed. Estimate: £400-600
Frederick William Jackson is not exactly a household name born in Middleton Junction,
Oldham this competent Manchester trained landscape artist did travel to Italy and
Morocco. A quick glance at the airy and atmospheric sketches that form Lots 310
and 310a show them to be refreshing images and a world away from his home town,
no offence intended – one can't help, but form the impression that he really enjoyed
getting out! Being an artist is a dirty job, but someone has to do it.
Lot 322: Portrait by the Circle of Michael Dahl
Circle of Michael Dahl circa 1659-1733 Portrait of an English Chancellor, thought
to be Peter King, 1st Baron King (1699-1734) three quarter-length standing, wearing
ceremonial dress and full wig oil on canvas 125 x 102cm. Estimate: £3,000-5,000
Whilst I may be stating the blindingly obvious when it comes to portraiture, the
identity of the sitter is critical to its wider appeal and desirability at sale.
The greater number of portraits tend to be 'other peoples ancestors' and as such
are nothing more than decorative wall hangings. However Lot 322, 'Circle of Michael
Dahl' is a good example of a desirable portrait. The sitter is thought to be Peter
King who was born in this very town of Exeter in 1669, although an author, academic
and a barrister with notable relations (his cousin was the philosopher John Locke)
he was more widely known as the MP for Bere Alston, for being the most senior judge
in London and ultimately the Speaker of the House of Lords and Lord Chancellor.
My choices are entirely personal. They are not the most expensive lots in the forthcoming
sale and, as you can see, they don't really have any coherence about them, but if
you wanted standardisation and sameness you'd visit the high street rather than
an auction house. If nothing else, I hope that I have managed to scratch the surface
of each to reveal just a glimpse of the story that each has to tell, the rest - well
that's up to you!
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