Nelson and Bonaparte: The Continuing Rivalry
Brian Goodison-Blanks, Head of the Maritime and Sporting Department, relishes another
battle between the formidable protagonists of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
and Napoleon Bonaparte - this time in our salerooms in Exeter and live over the
Internet on 11th June 2014.
A wall cabinet constructed from the timbers and copper of HMS Foudroyant is
estimated at between £5,000 and £7,000 and will be auctioned in the Maritime Sale
on 11th June 2014.
Though it has been over two hundred years since the decisive Battle of Trafalgar
that changed the course of history, Horatio Nelson and Napoleon Bonaparte continue
to meet in battle in the auction room.
Both renowned strategists and celebrities of their own time,
Nelson
and Bonaparte are still regarded in high esteem by many modern day collectors who
are eager to obtain a piece of history. While there are many commemorative pieces
relating to both men that can be seen at auction on a regular basis, period items
with good provenance are the Holy Grail to collectors. It is not until you are actually
face to face with such items that you suddenly have a wave of realisation that
you
are holding history in your hands. This is the motivation behind the competitive
bidding in the saleroom.
A small parcel of Napolean Bonaparte's hair, which carries a pre-sale estimate
of £200-£300, is being offered in the Maritime Auction, which will also feature
live online bidding.
Over the years of dealing with the
Specialist Maritime Auctions
at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood, I have been fortunate to have sold a number
of pieces from these two great men, and look forward to the renewed battle in the
forthcoming
Maritime Auction on 11th June 2014. A small unassuming late
Georgian ivory and gilt mounted toothpick case is included in this sale. Not an
interesting piece in itself, but inside carefully wrapped is a small packet labelled
"Bonaparte's Hair". You may wonder how Old Boney's hair would come to be in a property
in Devon, but investigating the story reveals the possibility that it is genuine.
After his defeat at Waterloo, Bonaparte was held captive aboard HMS Bellerophon
in Torbay harbour prior to being exiled. Word spread and the bay was full over thousands
of small boats and ships with curious onlookers all trying to get a look at
England's greatest enemy. It is entirely possibly that a sailor aboard the
Bellerophon may have taken a memento from Bonaparte's cabin. A similar lot was sold
by Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood for £800, so there is considerable potential
for this small parcel to soar above its £200-£300 pre-sale estimate.
However, to the victor go the spoils and this continues to the case for Nelson with
high prices for his items at auction. Included in the June 2014 Maritime Sale is
A wall cabinet constructed from the timbers of Nelson's first flagship HMS Foudroyant.
Styled in the form of the stern galley of the ship with anchor light and arched
transom, the cabinet would be a fine piece in which to display all of your
other Nelson pieces. Constructed by Goodall, Lamb and Heighway in 1899,
the cabinet should attract bidders with its unique history at £5,000-£7,000.
A signed handwritten letter by Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson (1758-1805) is
expected to sell at the upper end of its pre-sale estimate of £5,000-£7,000 because
of its personal nature.
Also included in the sale is a letter signed by Nelson himself and dated 1803. The
handwriting is distinctive, as Nelson was not naturally left handed and had to adapt
to writing after loosing his lower arm at the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
in 1797. Written in the latter stages of his life, it discusses the shipment of
A pipe and best port wine to a relative in Canterbury. Previous signatures of Nelson
on Admiralty documents have sold for over £4,000, but the personal nature and the
handwritten text of this letter should encourage buyers to the upper end of a pre-sale
estimate of £5,000-£7,000.
It is interesting to think that such pieces relating to perhaps two of the most
significant historical figures can be found tucked away around the county. Even
more interesting will be the results of this Maritime Auction in which these two
combatants meet once more.
- Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood
- Maritime Auctions
- Horatio Nelson
- Napoleon Bonaparte
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