Maritime Auction - Nelson, HMS Victory and More!
Brian Goodison-Blanks previews the Maritime Auction, which will be held in Honiton
on 12th June 2013 with live online bidding. The auction has several lots relating
to Horatio Lord Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson and his flag ship HMS Victory at
the Battle of Trafalgar, including Lord Nelson's signature on a set of Admiralty
Orders.
A 19th Century reverse-glass silhouette picture of HMS Victory, set at anchor
with standing and running rigging, in the company of other shipping, estimated at
between £150 and £250 (MA13/217).
The forthcoming specialist
Maritime Auction
being held at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood's
Honiton salerooms
on 12th June 2013 has a number of pieces of historic interest.
Amongst the many
nautical ceramics,
maritime metalware,
ships fittings
and
navigational instruments
on offer are several pieces relating to Admiral Nelson and the Golden Age
of sail.
An Admiralty order signed by Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
(as 'Nelson Bronte') has already attracted international interest with its pre-sale
estimate of between £4,000 and £6,000 (MA13/274).
As one of the nation's most iconic and significant heroes, any items relating to
Lord Nelson are extremely popular. Buyers will no doubt be eager to obtain an
original signature of Lord Nelson
and have a rare opportunity of obtaining it on an Admiralty order relating to the
maintenance of ships in the fleet (MA13/274). Signed Nelson Bronte, in
reference to his title as The Duke of Bronte, the distinctive handwriting
will attract international interest with a pre-sale estimate of between £4,000
and £6,000.
A preserved piece of decorative timber from HMS Victory, which has been in
the same family since it was acquired during World War I, is expected to realise
between £200 and £300 (MA13/127).
Though HMS Victory is preserved today, she was in need of restoration at
the turn of the century. The task of restoring her to Trafalgar state was
given to the maritime artist and archaeologist Harold Wyllie (1880-1973),
son of the Victorian maritime artist William Wyllie (1851-1931).
Sections of timber were taken from HMS Victory and two such pieces that have lead
different lives over the years now come together in the same sale.
During the First World War, a young police officer seconded to Plymouth Dockyard
fire brigade, acquired a small section of
decorative timber from HMS Victory
(MA13/127) that has been kept within the family ever since. Retaining some faint
traces of original gesso and decoration, it still invokes the history and importance
that HMS Victory played.
A good early 20th Century waterline model of HMS Victory in her first commission
of 1780, constructed from ships timbers by the artist Harold Wyllie (1880-1973),
is expected to realise between £5,000 and £7,000 (MA13/325).
Another section of timbers taken from the ship were presented to Harold Wyllie to
produce a
commemorative model of HMS Victory
(MA13/325) in her 1780 commission. This model was displayed in the Royal Academy
in 1912 and sold to the present owner's family during an estate sale in 1936. Together
with two letters of provenance from Harold Wyllie himself, the model set with silver
sales has a fantastic history and will be sought after by maritime collectors.
The spirit of sail and exploration survives within the English psyche today. It
was there in the period of Nelson and 100 years later during Shackleton's Polar
expeditions.
A dockyard sign for British Antarctic Expedition 'The Quest' (1921-22), which is
being offered in our Maritime Sale starting on 12th June 2013 at our salerooms in
Honiton and on the Internet through live online bidding (MA13/201).
An autographed
dockyard sign for The Quest,
used on the ships return to Plymouth, has attracted international interest (MA13/201)
as have a group of
Victorian Polar magic lantern slides
(MA13/200).
A Georgian mahogany maritime themed tea table, which carries a pre-sale estimate
of £2,500-£,3000 (MA13/149).
Ships fixtures and fitting have always had a strong following and already several
items have generated pre-sale interest. The
Georgian mahogany maritime themed tea table
(MA13/149) is an interesting piece of period furniture. Only high ranking officers
would have been allowed to re-create some home comforts aboard ship, despite the
harsh conditions experienced by crew on Royal Naval ships in the late 18th century.
A desirable bronze signal cannon will attract interest from maritime enthusiasts
with its estimate of £800-£1,200 (MA13/147).
Perhaps one of the most desirable pieces for maritime enthusiasts is one of the
several cannons consigned to the sale. Even a small
maritime signal cannon
(MA13/147) will tempt bidders with an estimate of £800-£1,000 and for the more serious
collector, a late
18th century bow chaser cannon,
with an estimate of between £4,000 and £6,000.
The late 18th/early 19th century, 37 inch bronze bow chaser cannon will attract
serious maritime collectors, which is being offered with an estimate of between
£4,000 and £6,000 (MA13/150).
The sale has a strong section of
ship models
and
marine pictures,
to cater for all nautical tastes.
As one of the only auctioneers in the country to hold dedicated specialist
maritime auctions,
Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood provide another opportunity to meet the specialist
requirements of vendors and buyer alike.
For further information about this and other maritime sales, please contact
Brian Goodison-Blanks.
- Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood
- Maritime Auctions
- Horatio Lord Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
- HMS Victory
- William Wyllie (1851-1931)
- Harold Wyllie (1880-1973)
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