Ephemera

Novelty Teapot in the form of an apple, probably English, late C20th, early C21st

Price: £35

Despite the obvious form, this is not an object intended for practical use! Purely decorative, this teapot is made to resemble an apple, the green body with a yellow ‘blush’ front and back and the lid a detachable stalk with leaves. Similar examples, some with a bite mark to the fruit, are marked ‘Sunshine Ceramics’ with dates of 1986 and 1987. Sunshine Ceramics was set up by Paul Cardew in the 1980s at his 19th century farmhouse in Devon. Teapots were a speciality but his most famous productions were the pig models made for Natwest in the 1980s, some of which are highly collectible now. This teapot is so similar to Cardew’s marked productions that his pottery is most likely the source. Perhaps it was made from the original moulds later on or after his retirement in 2008 since production did continue for some years thereafter.

Pair of Indian brass Piano Sconces, early C20th

Price: £55

A pair of brass piano sconces, the elaborately cast arms attached to a circular hinged mounting fitment and supporting the candle holders and drip pans. Candle sconces were regularly fitted to upright pianos in the nineteenth and early twentieth century to assist the pianist and perhaps a singer accompanying him in reading the music at a time when rooms in general were not so brightly lit. With the advent of electric lighting, they gradually fell out of use and many pianos can be found now with the sets of holes into which they were once screwed. Most are European, but the work here is clearly Indian, in particular the engraved stylised floral design on the surface of the pans and the cast floral decoration on the candle holders. Doubtless they were made for European colonial settlers and this suggests an early twentieth century dating. Most piano sconces are swivelled, as here, and it is possible that some examples were, in fact, intended as gimble candlesticks to be used on a boat or a train.

Egg cup holder, Royal Bonn Porcelain, Germany, marked, early C20th

Price: £55

A fine quality porcelain egg cup holder with four cups, the oval base with a large loop handle and four apertures, its foot with a band of modelled palmette leaves, the cups of goblet form with a broad flat foot, the polychrome transfer decoration with floral sprays. The underneath has elaborate marks including a stamped device ‘BONN’, ‘FRANZ ANT MEHLEM’ ‘GERMANY’ with a cipher ‘FM’ within a castle.

The firm Royal Bonn had its origins in the eighteenth century when by order of the Elector of Cologne, Clemens August of Cologne, the factory Kurfürstliche Fayencerie Poppelsdorf (Poppelsdorf Faience Fabrique) was founded in 1755 to discover the secret recipe of porcelain. Two years later, when no results had been achieved, Clemens August withdrew his support and there began a long period of multiple and varying ownerships of the business culminating in the involvement of the Mehlem brothers, Paul Joseph Mehlem and Everhard Joseph Mehlem, in 1836, who renamed the business after their own name, eventually using that of their Father, Franz Anton. After the death of the last remaining member of the family, Everhard, in 1865, the business was taken over yet again, still though retaining the family name, until it was sold to Villeroy and Boche in 1920. Shortly after this, the production of fine porcelain ceased and the factory closed in 1931.

The form of the mark here was used between 1885 and 1920 and this set was probably made in the early years of the twentieth century. The quality of the porcelain is easily appreciated and this is a highly decorative set which could also have a practical value today.

Chinese silk textile picture, Zhichun Pavilion, the Summer Palace, C20th

Price: £25

This is a Chinese silk textile picture depicting the Zhichun Pavilion within the Summer Palace, Beijing. Built by the Chinese Empress Cixi as a sanctuary for quiet retreat, the Summer Palace is a vast ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces. The Zhichun Pavilion is situated on the small island in front of the Hall of Jade Ripples, beside Kunming Lake’s east bank. It backs onto a hill and to the south it faces the sun allowing a view of spring’s arrival, it’s name translating as ‘knowing Spring’. Image (7) shows a contemporary view and this silk textile was, no doubt, made as a tourist souvenir, perhaps in the 1960s.

Novelty ceramic celery Vase, Price Kensington, 1960s

Price: £25

A novelty ceramic vase with two mask heads, the eyebrows and moustache formed as leaves, with the wording ‘CELERY’ above, the base with transfer marks ‘PRICE KENSINGTON’ within a wreath above ‘MADE IN ENGLAND’ and the pattern number ‘3644’ written at the side.

Price & Kensington was the trademark for Price & Kensington Potteries Ltd which was formed in 1962 by the amalgamation of Price Bros. (Burslem) Ltd and Kensington Pottery Ltd which were both subsidiaries of Arthur Wood & Son (Longport) Ltd. From 1962 to 2003 Price & Kensington produced large quantities of domestic wares alongside novelties and souvenirs, but in 2003 their parent company went into administration and their brand name was eventually sold to Rayware Limited which continued to use it, eventually moving the manufacture abroad, mainly to China.

This celery vase was one of the most popular and distinctive pieces which Price & Kensington produced and examples are enthusiastically collected today.

Indian Soapstone Box with Pietra Dura Inlay, C20th

Price: £25

An oval soapstone box and cover, the sides of the box with reticulated or openwork lattice decoration and the flush fitting lid with ‘pietra dura’ inlay flowers. The technique of ‘pietra dura’ (literally ‘hard stone’) inlay in which polished and precisely cut, coloured and semi-precious stones were used to create intricate designs in stone (usually marble) was developed in Florence in the 16th century and then used around a hundred years later in the decoration of the Taj Mahal in India. The technique continued to be employed and is found even in pieces made in fairly modern times. These soapstone boxes were made in India and some retain their label stating this. Dating is probably to the mid twentieth century and these attractive pieces would be well suited for storing trinket items today.

Orrefors Zaglo signed crystal glass Decanter, Riding Scene, mid C20th

Price: £35

This is one of the series of engraved crystal glass decanters designed and engraved by Aleek Zaglo for the Swedish glassworks Orrefors in the second half of the twentieth century. These decanters were produced in a variety of shapes and engraved mainly with sporting scenes, although there is one design which commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway and is dated to 1975. Here we see a horse rider and the fence he is attempting to jump, apparently termed ‘the double oxer’, the rails being of unequal height. Zaglo’s name appears on the base along with the model number and number of the edition ‘809’, presumably implying a total production of 1000. Originally the decanter was fitted with a round stopper, also engraved with a horse. Included with this lot is a modern oval replacement.

Orrefors was founded in Sweden in 1898 by Johnan August Samuelson. It then went through a variety of ownerships and also acquired many of its rival glass companies including Kosta Boda. Orrefors became Orrefors Kosta Boda in 1990 and joined The Royal Scandinavia Group in 1997.

Orrefors Zaglo signed crystal glass Decanter, Riding Scene, mid C20th

Price: £35

Pair of Japanese ceramic Bookends, seated Boy and Girl, mid C20th

Price: £55

A pair of Japanese ceramic bookends, each modelled as a seated figure, a boy and a girl, dressed in elaborate robes, the boy wearing a typical Oriental conical hat, both holding in their upraised arms a carrier’s ‘yoke’, their throne-like chairs with gilt decoration to the sides. While figures like this were sometimes made in Europe, this pair not only look Japanese but were clearly made there. The style of the decoration and the paste of the foot both confirm this. Dating is probably to the 1950s when Japan was exporting a variety of novelty ceramic items for a Western audience. The two yokes are a strange addition. Normally these are seen with hanging containers attached, usually for water. Image 9 shows a typical and heavily burdened ‘water carrier’ figure from the late nineteenth century. Our pair here can hardly be regarded as taking a rest, so the carrying implements were presumably simply added to enhance the design. The result, though, is extremely pleasing and would more than enhance a small collection of books today.

Trade+Aid Teapot, Van Gogh Café Scene, UK 1990s

Price: £25

This is an amusing enamel teapot, the rectangular body curving in towards the lid and with a loop handle and spout. It is brightly decorated in coloured enamels with a Parisian Café scene after the painting by Van Goch whose first name can be seen on one of the sides. The original is in the Kröller-Müller Museum Otterlo, Netherlands (see image 7). The base of the teapot is marked ‘Trade+Aid’ ‘No.158.UK’ and it comes from a range of teapots produced for ‘Charlotte di Vita Collections’ under the trading name ‘Trade+Aid’. These were hand crafted items using traditional techniques whose sale benefited charitable projects and initiatives worldwide. The various designs were usually limited editions and some are quite collectible today

Novelty matchstick holder, Boot with Cat and Dog, probably Japan 1950s

Price: £25

A novelty ceramic matchstick holder in the form of a black boot, unlaced, with a dog climbing towards a cat seated on top, the sole glazed brown with an impressed mark '3'. Some other examples of these have a printed mark 'Japan’ in black and it may be that this has simply worn off here. Certainly the work and design is so similar that Japanese manufacture is almost certain; they produced many ‘novelty’ ceramic pieces for export after the war, marked at first ‘Made in Occupied Japan’ and then, after 1952, ‘Made in Japan’ or ‘Japan’. Usually the painted decoration flakes off, whereas here it remains in excellent condition.

Andy Pandy Oil Lamp, German, Karl Meyer, 1950s

Price: £35

Our users of a certain age will recognise the small seated figure wearing a blue and white striped jump suit with a white frilled collar but others who need to rely on a Google search will easily discover his identity. It is Andy Pandy, the earliest creation by the BBC for childrens’ television, who made his first appearance in 1950 and was then seen frequently in the years thereafter with a remake in 1970 and again in 2002. Accompanied by his companions Teddy, a teddy bear, and Looby Lou, a rag doll, Andy, a marionette doll, entertained young children with a collection of unrelated songs and games with no ongoing narrative. Viewers were invited to sing or dance along and each episode ended with a variation on the famous song: "Time to go home / Time to go home / Andy is waving goodbye."

TV linked merchandise was created even in the earliest days of the medium and this charming small ceramic oil lamp, hardly the safest accessory for the nursery, is an amusing example. Andy sits next to a table with an urn on the top which forms the base of the lamp. Oil or paraffin would have been contained inside and once lit the wick could be adjusted by turning the round flat knob on the side. This has the trademark symbol for the German toy manufacturers Karl Meyer (see image 7). The base is marked ‘FOREIGN’ which was a common requirement for items imported into the UK after the second World War and allowed the makers to conceal their country of origin, which might have been useful to some of them at the time. A true piece of nostagia whether the figure represented is familiar or not.

Two brass bulldog paperweights, mid C20th

Price: £55

Two brass figures of bulldogs, one sitting erect and one crouching, each solid cast and expressively modelled. These small brass bulldogs are usually regarded as paperweights and appear to have been popular around the time of the second world war as an example of British stubbornness and tenacity. Some see reminiscences here of ‘John Bull’ and others the great ‘bulldog’ himself, Winston Churchill. Most likely, then, these two ‘mastiffs’ date to the 1940s and can carry out their function today just as well as they did all those years ago.

Perfume Bottle and Stopper, Stuart Akroyd, signed J S A, late C20th

Price: £75

A perfume bottle and stopper, the body of slender baluster like form, a flat tear drop shape panel to one of the sides, the stopper bead shape and flaring inwards towards the base, the clear glass mottled with a purple roundel, the base flat with the incised initials ‘J’ ‘S’ ‘A’.

The signature here, which occurs on other pieces by the same artist, is for Stuart Akroyd, a celebrated English glassmaker who worked from studios in Sunderland then Sheffield from 1991 to 2021(see image 8). Born in 1966, Akroyd studied at Sunderland University, following this with a Post Graduate Diploma at the International Glass Centre, Brierley Hill. After working as the head maker at Lakeland Crystal, Cumbria he went on to establish his own business, Stuart Akroyd Glass Designs, in 1991, renaming it Stuart Akroyd Contemporary Glass when he moved from Sunderland to Sheffield in 2000. Best known for his sculptural pieces which were inspired by the ‘Skylon’ structure, the well known symbol of the 1951 Festival of Britain, Akroyd also worked on a smaller scale and there a number of small bottles by him of which this is an excellent example. The glass effects are skilful and inventive and the flat panel to the body is both decorative and functional, allowing the level of fluid in the bottle to be seen clearly. Many of his sculptural pieces were made in his later Sheffield workshop which, with its greater space, allowed him to employ the techniques necessary to create them, so it is a reasonable guess that this bottle and its companions belong to the first phase of his output.

Art Deco style crystal glass Perfume Bottle and Stopper, late C20th

Price: £35

A crystal glass perfume bottle and stopper, the angular body comprising two truncated cones, one inverted, with facetted surfaces, the shoulder flat and with a white metal screw thread collar above which fits into the white metal base of the stopper which is also angular and facetted. While Art Deco in style, this attractive perfume bottle is more likely of fairly recent manufacture dating to the late twentieth century but it is a stylish piece nevertheless and the quality of the glass enhances the detail of the design making it an elegant dressing table accessory.

LOT 4

Pair of petit point Tapestry Pictures, The Needlewoman Shop London, mid C20th

Estimate: £30 – 40

12d 7h 13m

£0.00

Perfume Bottle Brooch, probably French mid C20th

Price: £55

A perfume bottle brooch, the bottle and stopper suspended from a white metal clasp with a ‘pull’ fastening pin and beading at the edge, the glass heart shape body encased in silver metal filigree work, the face with a beaded border surrounding blue metal trellis work with studded rosettes, the reverse with a similar border surrounding a clear glass panel, the white metal cover with a red bead at the top and similarly decorated with a glass wand attached and a screw fitting matching the top of the bottle. There are no ready parallels for the decoration here but the work is most likely continental and probably French with a dating to the mid twentieth century.

Egyptian Revival Perfume Bottle and Cover, probably Czech second half C20th

Price: £55

A perfume bottle with a screw top cover, the flattened oval glass body encased in gilt filigree work, the front with a portrait head of Tutankhamun between two falcons representing the Goddess Ra and the reverse with an oval opening revealing the interior of the bottle and the glass wand attached to the cover which is in gilt metal with a screw fitting matching the top of the bottle. The style here is obviously that of the ‘Egyptian Revival’ which became ever more fashionable after the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb by the Earl of Carnarvon and Harold Carter in 1922. Glass bottles encased in gilt filigree work are a hallmark of the Czech glassworks and while most incorporate European elements into the decoration there are other examples which are Egyptian Revival in style and so this is most likely what we have here. Dating is probably to the 1970s.

Small circular ceramic plaque after Fragonard marked Limoges, framed, late C20th

Price: £25

The scene reproduced here is found on many porcelain and occasionally glass shapes dating from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, most of them made in one or other of the workshops at Limoges, France. Often referred to as a ‘Courting Couple’ we see here a lady and gentleman in eighteenth centur dress in a rustic garden setting with trees and an architectural niche in the backgound. The lady is seated listening to the standing gentleman who is playing a musical instrument, perhaps a guitar or a lute. The composition is loosely base on a picture by the famous eightenth century artist French Fragonard entitled ‘The Music Contest’ (see image 7). Not all of these pieces are very old and this one probably dates to the late twentieth century. The frame with a gilt metal border at the front, which is marked ‘Danish Design’ is consistent with this. Marked ‘Limoges’ on the front (other examples have ‘Fragonard’ in addition) this plaque is also marked ‘Meissner’ ‘Limoges’ ‘France’ to the reverse which confirms the provenance of a piece which is a modest reflection of the eighteenth century rococo style.

Faience Perfume Bottle and Stopper, Quimper France, C20th

Price: £75

A tin glazed pottery perfume bottle and fitted cork and wood stopper, heart shaped with a short cylindrical neck, the front face with a cream craquelure glaze and painted with a Breton peasant standing amidst flowers, the reverse similarly glazed and with a fleur de lis, the sides and neck glazed blue with slight enamel loss to the top rim revealing the earthenware body below. The form here and the style of decoration with its emphasis on French and specifically Breton elements point to manufacture by one of the potteries at Quimper in Brittany, France. Production began there in the late seventeenth century and has continued almost without a break until the present day. Slightly rustic in style, Quimper pieces display a traditional Breton influence in their decoration. One design, which became typical, is the ‘petit breton’, a naive representation of a Breton man or woman in traditional costume which became popular in the late nineteenth century and is still the most desirable today

This bottle has the Breton gentleman on its front face and a fleur de lis to the reverse. The stylised lily, known as fleur de lis, became a symbol of the French royal family and France in general. It occurs, for example, on the Canadian flag but was also regularly used as a decorative motif by the Quimper potteries. These bottles can date to as early as the beginning of the twentieth century but a later time of production is probably a safer assumption here, perhaps to the 1950s. Few of these bottles survive with their fitted stoppers and the traces of cork to the top interior suggest that this stopper has been in place for some time and probably since the date of manufacture.

Novelty match holder with cat, Klimax Japan, mid C20th

Price: £20

This is a novelty ceramic match holder made in the form of a cat, colourfully dressed with a slightly puzzled expression, holding a vase to contain the matches. The base is stamped in orange ‘Klimax’ ‘Hand painted’ ‘Foreign’. Little seems to be known of the firm, but they produced modest, hand painted decorative ceramics before and after the second world war for the export market. Their work is often similar to Noritake or very late Kutani pieces and concentrates on tableware and vases. These march holders seem much less common. The word ‘foreign’ was used by Japanese manufacturers when there was a feeling that the true country of origin should not be advertised. It was more common before the war but used sometimes afterwards, so a dating here to the 1940s or 1950s is the most likely. Not the most sophisticated ceramic item, but certainly an amusing one!

Pair of small green depression glass Jars with bakelite Covers, 1930s

Price: £45

A pair of square green glass jars with cut off corners and curved bases and shoulders, the bodies with press moulded line and panel decoration and the tops with screw fittings to secure the black bakelite covers. The covers are marked 'GM' within a stylised 'A', '58', 'P' and the base of one has the same 'GM' symbol with 'U' '895' and what looks like a small triangle while the base of the other only has the 'GM' symbol and '95'. The style of these pieces is often termed ‘depression glass’ and refers to a whole range of modest glass wares, sometimes distributed free of charge, made during the 1930s in America around the time of the great depression. Certainly the form and decoration reflect the Art Deco era and the use of bakelite for the covers is consistent with this. Also, the glass here contains easily visible imperfections which were inevitable from a manufacturing process which emphasised speed and low cost and are something of a hallmark of these pieces. Perhaps originally intended for kitchen or bathroom storage (one lid has an old label reading ‘borax’, a cleaning agent) these jars are more collectors’ items now recalling the ‘thrift purchases’ of a challenging era.

Crown Winsor Jockey Teapot, 1980s

Price: £35

This amusing teapot depicts the head and shoulders of a jockey (his red cheeks implying perhaps a fondness for light refreshment between races) and the head of a horse. The modelling is vivid and colourfully painted, the white glaze with an original light craquelure. The base has a stamped mark. A circle with a cipher inside, above a crown and below the wording ‘Crown Winsor’ (note the spelling) and ‘England’ (rather indistinct).

Crown Winsor was a short lived earthenware manufacturer at the Sylvan Works, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England, previously the premises of the firm Shaw and Copestake, who traded under the well known name ‘SylvaC’ and went into voluntary liquidation in 1982. A workers co-operative trading under the name of Longton Ceramics attempted to take the business over but with little success and eighteen months later the enterprise was fully taken over by United Co-operative Society and run under the name of Crown Winsor. The Co-operative society already owned the Windsor Pottery works and the Crown Clarence Pottery works which was the source of the ‘Crown Winsor’ name. Production centred on whimsical and novelty items, sometimes made from the old SylvaC moulds but demand proved weak and the business ceased trading in 1989. This teapot is typical of their range and the elaborate cipher underneath seems to read ‘CW’ grandly announcing a trade name which unfortunately had a very short life

Japanese miniature wood sample Cabinet, late nineteenth century

Price: £45

A small wood cabinet with three drawers and two sliding doors, two of the drawers with marquetry inlay to the front faces both patterned and grained, the sliding doors with graining effect and the third drawer plain. Two of the drawers are signed with the same character and the underneath of the cabinet has further signature marks.

This is an example of Japanese marquetry technique known as ‘Yosegi-Zaiku’ in which intricate geometric patterns made from small pieces of wood were used to decorate the surfaces of small pieces of furniture such as jewellery cabinets or ‘kotan-su’ (kodansu). The technique originated in the town of Hakone, near to Tokyo, in the Edo period (1601/3 to 1868) but continued into the Meiji era (1868-1912) and beyond. Some of the pieces produced have an elaborate array of designs, but what we appear to have here is a sample or specimen piece showing the types of effect the craftsman could produce. This is further complicated by the fact that the top right drawer, which has no decoration at all and is not signed underneath like the other two, appears to be a later replacement with a different form of handle. But there is still some charm and no small amount of skill here. Dating is most probably to the late nineteenth century and this experimental ‘kodansu’ could easily find a place in an early twenty first century setting.

LOT 30

Aquatint panoramic engraving of Windsor castle, maple veneer frame, C19th

Estimate: £150 – 200

12d 8h 5m

£0.00

LOT 22

Set of four prints, Ladies of Fashion, Christel Marrot, signed, mid C20th

Estimate: £40 – 60

12d 7h 49m

£0.00

Green pressed glass Coronation Plate, Edward VIII, 1936

Price: £75

A commemorative ware green pressed glass dish with a ruffle edge, the centre with a medallion portrait of the prospective King Edward VIII surrounded by lettering naming him and his proposed coronation day, 12th May 1937. After the death of George VI in January 1936, many manufacturers began making commemorative wares in anticipation of the coronation of his eldest son, David, in May the following year. They were then famously wrong footed by the new (uncrowned) King’s abdication in December 1936 and left with merchandise which was no longer relevant or appropriate. Some of these pieces still survive, but this glass dish is one of the much less common ones. A desirable item, then, for collectors of commemorative memorabilia and a memento of a troubled time in the history of the British monarchy.

As he did in so many other respects, Edward VIII broke with tradition and demanded that his face look in the same direction as his Father’s, in order to show his hair parting. The custom was for the direction of the head to alternate. His brother George VI, though, chose the same orientation on the grounds that he ought to have been following a predecessor facing the other way!

LOT 20

Lace picture of a lady, framed, C20th

Estimate: £40 – 60

12d 7h 45m

£0.00

LOT 17

Alphabet needlework sampler by Sarah Goodwin, dated 1828, with later frame

Estimate: £80 – 120

12d 7h 39m

£0.00

LOT 11

Framed stumpwork picture of a country cottage scene, C20th

Estimate: £20 – 30

12d 7h 27m

£0.00

LOT 13

Framed print, Madonna of the Streets, mid C20th

Estimate: £20 – 30

12d 7h 31m

£0.00

LOT 14

Framed needlework picture, Anemone Flower, C20th

Estimate: £20 – 30

12d 7h 33m

£0.00

LOT 15

Pair of Cash’s Woven Pictures, Butterflies and Wild Flowers, second half C20th

Estimate: £30 – 40

12d 7h 35m

£0.00

LOT 10

Two prints of Parisian scenes after Maurice Legendre, late C20th

Estimate: £20 – 30

12d 7h 25m

£0.00

Crown Winsor Jockey Teapot, 1980s

Price: £35

LOT 5

Needlework sampler with a prayer by Sarah Flower Adams, probably late C19th

Estimate: £20 – 30

12d 7h 15m

£0.00

Japanese black lacquer musical jewellery Box, mid C20th

Price: £45

A Japanese jewellery box and hinged cover, with a mirror and blue ridged fabric lining to the inside face, of rectangular form, the exterior decorated with landscape scenes and the lid with a border of shaped pieces of abalone shell, the interior with two upper compartments, lined with ridged blue fabric, the hinged lids with red tassels and also decorated with landscape scenes, fitted with hinge like devices to allow them to be lifted up revealing two further compartments below, one lined with ridged blue fabric and the other with a black lacquer lid cover which lifts up to reveal a music box below, the base with four feet and a winding device for the music box which plays music [WHAT?] when the lid is opened. These boxes were made in Japan in the 1950s and 1960s for export and this example is in particularly good condition and comes with its original key.

Powder compact with a lizard skin lid made by Patrys, France, 1950s

Price: £25

This is an elegant rectangular powder compact with many of the usual elements. The lid opens to reveal a mirror on its underside and a hinged gilt metal plate which opens itself to reveal the powder sifter and the base below which is marked ‘Patrys’ ‘Made in France’. Some examples come with a rectangular powder puff, absent here, also marked ‘Patrys’ which would have been used to dab the powder through the sifter before application. Little is known about the manufacturer, but the firm Patrys produced a wide variety of powder compacts in the 1950s and early 1960s characterised by their style and design. This example has a lizard skin lid which has survived in excellent condition and an engine turned design of horizontal lines to the underside. Doubtless less expensive than models from the rather more well known fashion houses, Patrys’ productions could well match them in quality and this example of their work is certainly a collector’s item today.

Carved oak wood Box, possibly German, late C19th

Price: £55

A light brown oak wood box with a hinged lid, the interior lined in blue velvet and the lid with a mirror inset inside, the exterior deeply carved with panels of leaves on a textured ground, the lid in addition with a repeating geometric pattern border, the corners with dovetail joints clearly visible. The work on this attractive box is clearly European (there are other similar examples from India and China) and the naturalistic motifs suggest German work in the well known ‘Black Forest’ tradition which exploited woodland themes including animals. Dating is most likely to the late nineteenth century and this piece well retains its attraction today.

Indian carved wood Box with miniature Plaques, second half C19th

Price: £150

A small carved hardwood box, probably ebony, the top with two hinged lids with hook fasteners which open to reveal the plain interior. The sides and lids are decorated with deeply carved stylised scrolling foliage on a micro ‘punched’ ground (see especially images 7 & 8), and the lids are inset with oval painted plaques depicting two scenes from Delhi (i) to the left, the minaret Qutb (or Qutub) Minar, a ‘victory tower’ built by the first Sultan of Delhi in 1199 (ii) to the right, the mosque Jami Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656. These miniature plaques were a speciality of the artists in Delhi in the second half of the nineteenth century and keenly sought after by Europeans who would buy them loose, framed, or mounted into boxes such as this. They are also sometimes seen elsewhere as ‘grand tour’ brooches. The workmanship here is of the highest quality and the plaques have survived in excellent condition which is not always the case, making this a highly desirable addition to a collection of Indian colonial art.

Danish silver plate Photograph Holder,with repoussé decoration, 1970s/1980s

Price: £45

This is a folding silver plate photograph holder each side with a similar repoussé work scene of a traditional rustic interior with metal workers busy plying their trade. Repoussé work is a metalworking technique in which a malleable metal is shaped by hammering from the reverse side to create a design in low relief. Very similar pieces carry a mark for Denmark, as here, (see image 4) but also the initials JThS, or a slight variant on this, which seem to stand for Jorgen Th Steffenson of Randers who is known to have worked in the late 1970s. While not necessarily by him, a similar dating is most likely here.

Magnifying Glass with Crown Handle, C20th

Price: £45

A large magnifying glass with silver plate trim, the handle with a ball shape terminal decorated with bead work and stylised floral designs and a crown shape finial again with beadwork, both separated by a ridged tube of ivorine. This elaborate desk item is sometimes found as part of a boxed set together with a matching paper knife. Highly useful for reading that small print it probably dates to the 1950s but retains its functionality today.

Two satin glass Vases inscribed Zeebruge and signed H.Martin, Belgium, first half C20th

Price: £35

Two similar glass vases of slender beaker form tapering outwards towards the top and bottom, the base flat, the satin effect glass in tones of amber with a design in black and red of two boats to the front with the sea and rocks below and the lettering ‘Zeebruge’ above, the sides signed ‘H Martin’. Zeebruge is, of course, the well known Belgian port linked to Bruges by a canal and the decorator, Henri Martin, is known to have worked for the well known Belgian glassworks, Scailmont, located in Manage, a centre of glass making. Founded in 1901, Scailmont became known for moulded and satin-finish vases with art nouveau and art deco decorations, employing around 800 people in 1930 but eventually to close in 1970. Most of its pieces were signed and some had a paper label which could, of course, disappear in time. But Martin is also known to have worked for another factory in Manage, the Vauty studio, for whom Scailmont supplied blanks. These vases seem a bit modest for Scailmont but they are consistent with its style (see image 8 for another larger vase by Martin, again without a signature or label) so perhaps did originate there, possibly with a label now lost, although Martin’s other employer remains a possibility. Dating is probably to the 1920s or 1930s. Signed Henri Martin pieces do not appear very often so these two vases are an interesting sample of Belgian glass making from the years before the second World War.

Pair of Tower of London Vases, New Hall Pottery, first half C20th

Price: £45

A pair of ceramic vases of tapering octagonal form with short concave necks and slightly flared bases, transfer decorated with colourful scenes of the Tower of London and attendant Beefeaters, the bases marked ‘NHP’ ‘MADE IN ENGLAND’.

The mark is for New Hall Pottery Co Ltd which traded in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, from 1899 to 1956. During the early years of the twentieth century, the firm was mainly known for the production of toilet sets and jugs, in 1908 producing and selling more than 50,000 toilet sets of the Waverley shape alone. After the First World War, demand for these pieces slackened and the firm turned towards producing dinner and hotel wares. Trading was difficult in the years before the Second World War but production was allowed to continue during it, mainly for supplying the armed forces, and was able to return to normal afterwards with an overseas trade nearly exceeding that of past years until the firm ceased trading in 1956.

A variety of marks were used of which the one seen here was the simplest version. Since it also appears on toilet sets, a similar date of production seems likely and perhaps these vases were a part of the attempt to diversify as the demand for the staple product of the business was beginning to decline. Certainly, while modest pieces in themselves, they do have something of an ‘Art Deco’ look and can be regarded as amusing decorative items today.

Vesta case in the form of a fly, C20th

Price: £25

This is a vesta case in the form of a fly with a striker plate to the underside of one of its wings. Vesta was the Roman Goddess of the hearth, home and family and altars and temples dedicated to her commonly employed a live flame, which caused some manufacturers of matches in the nineteenth century to name their products 'Vestas', the most famous being the Swan Vesta match produced from around 1900. Early matches were highly combustible and cases to keep them safe were produced from around 1830 onwards. The peak of popularity of the 'Vesta Case' was around 1900 and their use declined in the 1920s when the first cigarette lighters were produced giving a probable dating here to the last years of their production. It is marked to the underside of the wings 'P&C' but this manufacturer cannot be identified.

Harmony Kingdom Trinket Box with Puffins, dated 2001

Price: £20

A novelty trinket box, the wood interior covered in ivory coloured resin modelled to form a group of puffins closely packed together, their faces and feathers picked out in grisaille detail and their beaks in mustard yellow and red, the interior with a snake at the bottom and the base with a paper label reading ‘Harmony Kingdom’ ‘Made in England’ ‘In Fine feather’ ‘Copyright 1996’. Inside the top rim is scratched mark ‘1 May 2001’ ‘VAS’ which gives the exact date of manufacture and presumably the initials of the maker.

Harmony Kingdom is a business set up by Peter Calvesbert in 1992. Their studio is situated in the Malvern Hills and they have been producing whimsical figurine sculptures for over 25 years which have an enthusiastic following, particularly in the USA. ‘In Fine Feather’ is a discontinued item so now has a very modest rarity value in addition to its intrinsic charm.

Kitsch Style Conch Shell with painted landscape decoration, C20th

Price: £45

This is a conch form shell which has elaborate painted landscape decoration to the exterior and interior, the design flowing on almost continuously and extending deep into the inside of the piece. Whether in good taste or not, the skill of the artist is evident with the detailed and colourful riverside scene continuously unfolding to the extreme interior of the shell. While painted shells are known, there are no immediate comparisons to what we have here and provenance and dating are rather a matter of guesswork. There seems to be a 1950s feel though and the work looks more English than European. A conversation piece perhaps!

Bisque Scottish boy character doll c. 1900

Price: £60

This is a very sweet souvenir doll comprising a young Scottish boy in tradition dress with a bisque head, hands and feet and a fabric body. With traditional Scottish garb. Made in Germany.

Edwardian large text magnifying glass with horn handle, early C20th

Price: £25

This is an unusually large magnifying glass that has a buffalo horn as a handle. The large lens itself is set in brass with a brass attachment fitting to the handle. It would most likely have been used to read a newspaper by those for whom the text was too small and its size would have made it hard to misplace. Dating is probably to the early years of the twentieth century, the era of the celebrated Edwardian detective, Sherlock Holmes!

Victorian leather bound photo album made by Mechi and Bazin c.1870

Price: £110

This is an incredible photo album comprising a finely tooled green leather cover and gilt edged pages that have inserts for the photos. It is made by Mechi and Bazin, a well respected manufacturer based on Regent Street in central London and mainly known for their campaign fitted toiletry boxes and writing slopes. This album is quite petite so it was most likely also meant for travel. It holds 23 beautiful Victorian photographs : mainly portraits with a few outdoor views.The album Is marked 'Mechi & Bazin Makers London' on front cover.

A group of twenty assorted artists Stamps in H&R Johnson sample Box, C20th

Price: £75

This is a most interesting group of stamps, possibly intended for tiles, nearly all with naturalistic designs of trees or stylised floral emblems. Twelve are mounted on thick clear plastic or perspex blocks while the remainder are mounted on wood. Examples of the pressed designs can be seen in images 1 and 2 and their appeal is obvious. The stamps are contained in a wooden box with the name of the well known tile manufacturers H&R Johnson Ltd printed on the front with the words ‘ceramic glazed tiles’ below. H&R Johnson began trading in 1901 and are still producing tiles in imaginative and innovative designs today. The box was clearly for tile samples rather than stamps and was presumably adapted by the owner of these stamps to hold his small collection. Perhaps this is why the three central dividers are missing (the grooves for them can be clearly seen in image 3); their presence would not have allowed all the stamps to fit inside! This assembled collection with its impromptu container was clearly used by an enthusiastic amateur artist. Both the box and the stamps look to have been made in the 1950s or 1960s and were clearly well used. Printing block stamps can be much in demand today and there is a family firm, Stamped in Tradition, based in London and Devon who produce a truly vast selection of handmade pieces in bronze, some of which are similar in design to some of the stamps in this box (see images 9,10). The tradition truly lives on then, and this collection allows the opportunity for experimentation today in an age old craft.

Set of four Petit Point needlepoint stitch framed floral Wall Hangings, mid C20th

Price: £45

This is a set of four needlepoint designs comprising colourful floral spays (peony and chrysanthemum) stitched onto canvas. The fine stitching here is a version of needlepoint termed ‘petit point’ because of the small size of stitches used. In general needlepoint designs are stitched onto fine canvas using a simple tent stitch, a small, diagonal stitch that crosses over the intersection of one horizontal and one vertical thread of the canvas forming a slanted stitch at a 45-degree angle. Petit point uses the same technique but with much finer stitching and thread on a much finer canvas often requiring magnification for the work to be carried out. It allows more intricate designs and shading effects as seen here on some of the petals and leaves. The petit point technique dates back to the seventeenth century and was particularly popular in France amongst the aristocracy in the early eighteenth century but its use has continued to the present day. This set is most likely English work, doubtless that of an accomplished amateur, and has to be dated by the frames on the assumption that they are contemporary. The use of hardboard at the back, so popular in England in the 1950s, suggests, then, a mid century dating but this set would happily grace a contemporary interior.

Two Corgi Silver Jubilee Toys Boxed, (41) State Landau, (417) London Bus, 1977

Price: £45

The silver jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 1977 stimulated the production of a near avalanche of commemorative items. Mettoy, the manufacturers of the well known brand of Corgi toys, played their part in this producing a model of the 1902 state landau used in the royal processions and an accompanying model of a silver jubilee London bus with its special silver livery colour. The state landau is an example of their rather more ambitious pieces with the carriage rendered in great detail and the figures of the Queen and Prince Philip realistically modelled. The designer also allowed himself to include a corgi dog, appropriate for two quite distinct reasons. The bus is a typical example of the ‘Corgi Toys’ collected by so many during the years of their production and indeed thereafter. The typical ‘Corgi Toy’ was finely cast with detailed modelling and colouring accurately reflecting the features of its original. The two together, then, complete with their original boxes and in in good condition are a souvenir in themselves of a whole area of collecting.

Souvenir White House Enamel Box and Cover

Price: £15

A box and cover of ovoid form, the blue enamel ground with raised cloisonne enamel style decoration depicting the White House with the US flag atop, trees to the left and right and a profusion of stars which are repeated on the base with a single star on the interior. Doubtless to be found in the White House gift shops but available here without the need for a trip to Washington!

LOT 8

Mods at Clacton 1964, Photograph by Terry Disney for the Daily Express

Estimate: £20 – 30

12d 7h 21m

£0.00

Powder Compact, British Empire Exhibition (1924-1925), dated 1925

Price: £45

The success of the Franco-British Exhibition held at the White City, London, in 1908 stimulated plans for an exhibition to showcase the arts, scientific achievements and commerce of the British Empire itself, the largest in the world at the time. Arrangements began to be made in 1913 with the exhibition to be held at the same venue but were put on hold by the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. However, at the end of this in 1918, the project was revived culminating in the opening of the ‘British Empire Exhibition’ on the 23rd April 1924, this time at the Wembley stadium where the Cup Final had been held for the first time in 1923 when the building was completed. Planned to close on the 1st September, the exhibition enjoyed such popularity that it reopened in 1925 for a second season. Over the two years it received 27,102,498 visitors.

Souvenirs and medals were produced, amongst which were silver plated powder compacts as here. The round container for the powder has a hinged lid revealing the powder well below, originally fitted with a mauve ribbon tasseled powder puff, and a mirror above. On the surface of the lid, which has a tab for lifting, is a stylised brass lion, a symbol of the British Empire, vitreous enameled in black, red and blue with the wording ‘British Empire Exhibition 1925 ’ There is a short rounded handle and the back has an engraved mark ‘Rd [registered] 689177’ for the patent number. While many were doubtless made (and there is another version with a more slender handle, with a ring at the end, and the background colourings of the lettering reversed) few of these compacts seem to have survived making this a desirable addition to a collection of British memorabilia.

Indian wooden toy model of a Horse with metal fitments, early C20th

Price: £25

This is an amusing wood model of a horse, its right leg raised and the head looking expectantly forwards, the finely grained wood with metal fitments in brass and copper representing the ears, muzzle, saddle, saddle bags and tail, all with fine detailing and small nail fastenings. Many examples exist of these wood and metal horse figures which are usually held to have been made in India at Jodphur, Rajastan, in the early C20th. Presumably more intended for the local colonial audience these pieces have an obvious and wider appeal. The smaller sizes were probably intended as toys and perhaps the original owner of this piece played with it a little too vigorously which might explain the damage to the right front leg!

10 Chromolithographs from Illustrated London News publication celebrating Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee 1897

Price: £85

This is a rare hand finished chromolithograph print taken from a publication that celebrated Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. The design and vivid colours harken back to the Victorian era.

Print 1: This print depicts the weddings of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and on the bottom depicts the marriage of Mary of Teck to the then Duke of York. The portraits surrounding these images are of the two brides and other royal family members. (numbered Plate 17)

Print 2: This print depicts the development in the modes of transportation during her reign. Clipper ship to steamer, carriage to train, walking and carriages to bicycles and automobiles. The portraits will be the inventors and visionaries of these developments. (numbered Plate XI)

Print 3: This print depicts the House of Commons with Prime Minister Salisbury and the House of Lords. The surrounding portraits are politicians of the day. The bottom centre is of Gladstone. (numbered Plate A)

Print 4: This print depicts the development of the Royal Navy during her reign. it starts with tall mast sailing ships (1836 fleet) and proceeds to steam ships (1853 fleet) and then finally to the most modern ships and even submarines (1897 fleet). The portraits are a bit random - but probably are naval officers and Royal family members. (numbered Plate IX)

Print 5: This print depicts three important battles during her reign. The portraits depict military officers and other influencers during these wars. (numbered Plate VIII)The portraits depict military officers and other influencers during these wars. (numbered Plate VIII)

Print 6: This print depicts the christenings of Victoria's first two children, Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise, Princess Royal and Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. The large portrait on the upper left is the Arch Bishop of Canterbury. (numbered Plate V)

Print 7: This print depicts the Queen's marriage to Prince Albert and the image below is a well known family portrait. The portraits are members of the Royal Family such as parents and possibly siblings. (numbered Plate IV)

Print 8: This print depicts Victoria's accession council, the opening of parliament and a royal procession. The portraits are very difficult to pinpoint but they would be politicians and influencers of the day. (numbered Plate III)

Print 9: This print depicts Queen Victoria's coronation in 1838. The top image is the ceremony followed by the procession with Buckingham Palace in the background. The portraits depict monarchs that came before here. Edward the IV is the large central top portrait. (numbered Plate II)

Print 10: This print depicts a later family portrait and three of her residences, Windsor, Balmoral and Osborne. The larger portraits are Edward Prince of Wales, George Duke of York and probably Prince Edward Albert.

A Ceramic Moneybox in the form of a Pig, Helensgate Ceramics, mid twentieth century

Price: £25

A ceramic moneybox, pink glazed and amusingly modelled in the form of a rotund pig with wide eyes and ribbon bow, the back with a slot to insert the coins and the base with a circular aperture to retrieve them, sealed with a plastic plug, probably original. A paper label affixed reading 'Helensgate Ceramics'. Little seems to be known about this firm but they clearly specialised in amusing animal figures and in particular moneyboxes. The piece has a mid twentieth century look to it and a circa date of 1960 seems reasonable. While less in use now, there are still some for whom 'cash is king'. If so, this would be a desirable acquisition!

Cruet set in the form of three Friar Tuck Monks on a Tray, Hummel, West Germany, 1960s

Price: £55

The portly figures of ‘Friar Tuck’ Monks seen here are perhaps rather appropriate for a set intended for the serving of condiments : salt, pepper and mustard. The three similar figures are amusingly modelled with benign expressions, the smaller ones pierced at the top for salt and pepper with plastic stoppers underneath and the larger in two parts, here complete with the original spoon. This set comes from the ‘Hummel’ range produced by the German ceramic manufacturers Goebel. Founded in 1871, the company began to enjoy enormous popularity in the 1930s when Franz Goebel, grandson of the founder, began an association with a Benedictine nun Berta Hummel who later took the name sister Maria Innocentia Hummel. Hummel had produced a range of postcard drawings of figures which Franz Goebel realised he could turn into porcelain figurines. Production started in 1935 and was immediately successful. Sister Hummel died in 1947 but the association with her covent continued and figures in her distinctive style were produced for many years thereafter. Dating is established by the format of the mark, which went through many variations. Here we see a ‘V’ with a bee within at the top and the wording W.Germany. The German word ‘hummel’ means ‘bee’ and the ‘V’ stands for ‘Verkaufsgesellschat’ or ‘Distribution Company’. This bee has sharp angular wings set parallel to the tips of the ‘V’ which was the format used between 1960 and 1972. In addition all ‘Hummel’ pieces were marked with the model number which can be seen clearly here on the base of the mustard pot, ‘S 183’. For some, the Hummel figurine might be an acquired taste but few can fail to admire the whimsy here and this set would add spice, so to speak, any dinner table conversation.

Cruet set in the form of three Friar Tuck Monks on a Tray, Hummel, West Germany, 1960s

Price: £55

Novelty ceramic Wall Vase in the form of a Gretsch Guitar, English, 1950s

Price: £25

This is a fun ceramic wall vase in the shape of a guitar with an opening at the top for flowers or perhaps pens or stationery items and a string cord, which may well be original, for suspension. The shape is taken from one of the designs produced by the famous American guitar manufacturers Gretsch who began the manufacture of electric guitars in the 1950s, eventually reaching tremendous popularity in the 1960s after the Beatle, George Harrison, used one of their models during the band’s first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. This piece predates that and was most likely made in the 1950s. There is no mark for the manufacturer beyond ‘Made in England’ but it is possible that this is an example of Brentleigh ware, a firm which produced ceramic novelty pieces such as the pair of shoes to be seen elsewhere in this sale.

Novelty ceramic Wall Vase in the form of a Gretsch Guitar, English, 1950s

Price: £25

Kiralpo ware Dressing Table Set, marked, 1930s

Price: £35

This is a dressing table or vanity ware set comprising a tray with a ring holder and two jars for cosmetics all decorated with similar designs of birds and flowers within blurred edge pink borders, the glaze with a slight craquelure. Most likely there would have been in addition a pair of candlesticks. The tray has a gilt mark comprising a circle surmounted by a crown with the words ‘KIRALPO WARE’ ‘ENGLAND’ between two dots and within this a shield device with the letters ‘K&Co’ ‘E’.

Kiralpo ware was one of the trade names used by Kirkland and Co, earthenware and ceramic manufacturers based at the Albion Pottery, Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, England who traded from 1891 to 1938 when the business was bought and renamed by Mr A.E.Gray. The format of the mark gives a dating between 1928 and 1938 with ‘E’ standing for Etruria. Kirkland and Co made various modest but colourful decorative items to furnish the home. In a 1907 guide they are described as ‘general earthenware, fancy goods, and majolica manufacturers’. Their designs were not sophisticated but obviously had a popular appeal and this set with its bold transfer decoration of birds set within a rather vivid pink border is typical of their work.

LOT 12

A pair of stamp collage Postcards, Alsace and Nice, framed, early C20th

Estimate: £40 – 60

12d 7h 29m

£0.00

A pair of stamp collage Postcards, Alsace and Nice, framed, early C20th

Price: £45

These are a fine example of collage pictures where the image is made up or mainly made up from fragments of stamps. The technique was used in various parts of the world including America and China but we obviously have French work here. The artist, whose signature appears on both pieces, has chosen to represent two ladies dressed in local costume, that of Alsace and Nice. The first is seen holding flowers which fits with a rural location and the second standing on a rock looking out to sea which suits a maritime one. The heads and hands are painted and the costumes made from stamp fragments. Eagle eyed philatelists might be able to date these pieces form the stamps used but the amateur has to rely on the style and ‘feel’ of the representations and we are probably looking at the 1920s or 1930s. The frames and mounts, though, are likely to be slightly later. The appeal is obvious and while there may be other parts of France represented in the same way, this pair of pictures are most likely ‘one off’ and would be an individual addition to the decoration of an interior.

Japanese white metal Tobacco Box, Liner and Cover, mark to the base, Early C20th

Price: £25

A white metal box and cover, with an interior liner, of rounded rectangular form, tapering inwards towards the base, each of the four sides finely decorated with repousse work dragons amidst flames on a finely detailed punchwork ground within a key pattern border, the cover similarly decorated and the inner liner plain with a knob handle, the base with an incised diamond shape mark. The presence of the inner liner suggests the storage of tobacco here so that we have a striking smoker’s accessory displaying no small amount of skill in its manufacture. Similar marks are seen elsewhere but the identity of the manufacturer is unknown. Dating is most likely to the early twentieth century towards the end of the Meiji era (1868-1912)

Two Beakers : Wedding of the Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, 1981

Price: £15

The wedding of ‘Charles and Diana’ in 1981 was the occasion for a flood of commemorative items celebrating what seemed at the time to be such a happy and auspicious event. Chinacraft Ltd are retailers of decorative chinaware with shops in London, at one time occupying prestigious premises in Regent Street. These beakers were a commission by them from the pottery manufacturers Caversall China, based in Stoke on Trent. The polychrome transfer decoration has oval framed portraits of the couple on the face with floral wreaths and an inscribed scroll and a depiction of Highgrove on the reverse, the private home of Prince Charles. 5000 were produced and these are numbered ‘86’ and ‘228’. For some reason, the portraits chosen of the couple seem less than cheerful which unfortunately, if accidentally, was to be prophetic of events to follow.

Pair of Ceramic Goblets : the Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981

Price: £20

A pair of ceramic goblets blue glazed with a bulbous body above a spreading foot, the front with silhouette portraits of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer within a circle of wording commemorating their marriage below the Prince of Wales feathers, the reverse plain and the interior gilt. Inside the foot is the mark for Prinknash Pottery in gold. The Prinknash Abbey Pottery was started in 1942 by the Benedictine monks there when they found a seam of clay during some building work. Situated in the abbey Granham in Gloucestershire their pottery continued production until 1997 when it was sold to the Welsh Porcelain Co. Their blue glaze commemorative wares stand apart somewhat with something of a ‘regal’ feel.

Ceramic Tankard celebrating the Marriage of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in 1986

Price: £10

A ceramic tankard of bell form and with a shaped loop handle glazed in blue inside and out, the front with titled silhouette portraits of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson between the royal coat of arms and the reverse with an image of Westminster Abbey and wording marking the event of their marriage in 1986. The base has the mark for Prinknash Pottery in gold. The Prinknash Abbey Pottery was started in 1942 by the Benedictine monks there when they found a seam of clay during some building work. Situated in the abbey at Granham in Gloucestershire their pottery continued production until 1997 when it was sold to the Welsh Porcelain Co. Their blue glaze commemorative wares stand apart somewhat with something of a ‘regal’ feel.

Cup Commemorating the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary in 1935

Price: £55

A bone china loving cup with two handles decorated with modelled roses and thistles made by the Paragon China works to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary in 1935. George V acceded to the throne in 1910 and was crowned the following year. He was to see the Silver Jubilee of his reign but died early the following year. The twenty five years of his reign were commemorated in various ways and this cup is an example. Portraits of the King and Queen are on the front and the royal coat of arms on the reverse. Above are the words ‘To Commemorate The Silver Jubilee Of Their Reign’. As the celebrations continued during that year, few could have anticipated the turbulent events that were to follow, leading to the start of the second world war four years later.

The Paragon China Company, formerly the Star China Company (see Lot XX), produced high quality gift items from 1920 to 1971, at first independently and then in alliance with other companies, finally being absorbed by Royal Doulton in 1972 who kept the ‘Paragon’ name until 1991. Commemorative wares were a speciality and this cup is a fine example.

Mug Commemorating the Coronation of Edward VIII in 1937

Price: £25

This bone china mug, with straight flaring sides and a moulded handle, was made to commemorate an event which never took place. Due to be crowned on the 12 May 1937, Edward, the eldest son of King George V, who died in January 1936, abdicated in December of the same year in order to pursue his plan to marry the American divorcee, Wallis Simpson, and was succeeded by his brother, known as ‘Bertie’, who became King George VI. Plans for the coronation were well advanced and the same date was kept. But the makers of commemorative wares had already started production and accordingly ‘coronation’ souvenirs for the never to be crowned King Edward are found today. This piece was made by the firm Roslyn China whose mark appears underneath and was decorated in typical style with transfers depicting the King and the Union Jack on the front and a lion beneath the royal crown on the reverse. The wording ‘Long Live our King’ seems poignant now although Edward did outlive his brother, dying twenty years after him in May 1972.

Cup : the Silver Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1972

Price: £25

A bone china loving cup with two silver decorated lion handles made by the Paragon China works to commemorate the Silver Wedding (1947–1972) of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1972. The front has the royal coat of arms between a lion and a unicorn and the reverse a cipher, intertwined ‘E’ ‘P’, within a wreath below a crown and sceptres, the blue scroll work reading ‘Love and Unanimity in Married Life’. Lettering in puce at the top and sides celebrates the Royal Wedding in Westminster Abbey in 1947.

Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee China Mug, 1977

Price: £10

A china mug, the white glazed concave body flaring towards the top and bottom, each edged with moulded decoration and the base of a wavy design forming eight feet, a simple loop handle to the side. The front with transfer decoration depicting the Queen in a roundel with flags and wording commemorating her Silver Jubilee in 1977, the reverse with similar decoration displaying ‘EIIR’ within an oval frame, a crown and the wording ‘1952 1977’ ‘Jubilee’, the base with a crown and a printed mark, slightly indistinct, ‘English’ ‘Bone China’. These mugs were originally sold with deep red colour fitted boxes but few of these survive. Most are marked as here but some carry a different mark ‘St George Fine Bone China Made in England’ below an image of the knight holding a sword and this may be the manufacturer here.

Teapot and Cover : Golden Jubilee Queen Elizabeth II, 2002

Price: £10

A ceramic teapot and cover transfer decorated and with gilt detail, the front with a single and the reverse with a double portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, both sides inscribed ‘Golden Jubilee’ ‘1952-2002’. While crowned in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne on the death of her Father, King George VI, in 1952. 2002, therefore, marked fifty years of her reign and various souvenirs were produced in commemoration her Golden Jubilee of which this piece is one. This teapot was sold either as an individual item in a matching box or as part of a set of four items, packed in polystyrene and fitted also into a box (see image 5). In both cases the boxes were marked ‘Limited Edition Collectable’ but the numbers produced might have been rather greater than the wording implies.

Porcelain Mug : Buckingham Palace 1997

Price: £10

A bone china mug, slightly flaring at the rim and base and with a modelled loop handle, richly decorated in gilt with swags and floral wreaths, the front marked ‘Buckingham Palace’ and the reverse ‘1997’, the base with a circular floral wreath surrounding a crown and the wording ‘Buckingham Palace’ ‘1997’. This mug is one of a series produced from 1993 to 2010 for sale in the Royal Collection souvenir shops. Each year was given a different design and all were dated. The manufacturer is unkown. The design and decoration of the ‘1997’ model seems particularly pleasing.

Cup : Marriage and Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, 1911

Price: £10

A china cup with flaring sides and a simple loop handle, transfer decorated with portraits of King George V and Queen Mary in beaded frames with flowers, the union jack and royal standard flags, the royal coat of arms and inscribed scrolls commemorating the royal marriage in 1893 and coronation in 1911, the reverse marked ‘In Commemoration’ below the royal crown. The base has an indistinct mark which appears more clearly on other pieces and can be read as ‘England’ ‘The Paragon China’ below a crown and a cipher with interlinked letters which read ‘S C Co’ for ‘The Star China Company’, China manufacturers at the Atlas Works, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England from 1899 to 1919 who introduced the trade name ‘Paragon China’ in 1903.

Production of this piece was presumably contemporary with the coronation in 1911 and many similar pieces were made by other factories at the time, more often in a straight sided mug shape. The form here suggests that there might have been an original saucer but none seem to have survived.

Two Wood Boxes : Marriage of Charles and Diana, Birth of Prince William, late C20th

Price: £15

These two wooden round boxes, doubtless intended for trinkets, announce their purpose on the respective covers, to commemorate (i) The Marriage of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer on 29th July 1981 (ii) The Birth of Prince William on 21st June 1982. Both have the initials of the subjects inset on the covers and the first has an incised mark underneath (see image 6). If these were produced commercially, no other examples seem to exist, which just possibly suggests that they were the work of a skilled amateur or trial pieces for a range which was never produced.

Pair of Staffordshire style Vintage Busts of Children, C20th

Price: £75

A pair of polychrome ceramic busts of children, a boy and a girl, both dressed in blue and wearing country style hats, each set on a pedestal base with blue and red ‘veining’ in imitation of marble, the glaze with a feint craquelure and the bases countersunk and pierced. Others may well disagree but, usually described as Staffordshire, or occasionally Continental, these busts were more likely made in China. The enamel work is typical of twentieth century Chinese pieces and the faces of the pair do not have a convincingly European look. More importantly the paste of the foot is closer to Chinese work than Western and even the form of the base is not found on European pieces either. Nevertheless, these two youngsters make an amusing and decorative pair whatever their history.

VE Day, 50th Anniversary Commemorative Mug, 1995

Price: £10

On Tuesday 8th May 1945, the Allies of World War II accepted the unconditional surrender of Germany’s armed forces. Celebrations broke out everywhere, particularly in London where the Prime Minister Winston Churchill joined the royal family in an appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace before cheering crowds. The day was known as ‘Victory in Europe Day’ or ‘VE Day’ and has been celebrated on its anniversary in the years thereafter. Special commemorations took place 50 years later and this mug is one of the souvenirs produced at the time. Depicted are the US President Franklin D Roosevelt, who died shortly before on April 12th, Winston Churchill and General Montgomery who accepted the surrender of the Germans in 1945, all prime movers in the victory that was achieved. The form of the mug loosely recalls Georgian tankard shapes which is not inappropriate for a souvenir commemorating British endeavour.

Queen Victoria Golden Jubilee Jug, 1887

Price: £10

1887 marked fifty years of Queen Victoria’s reign and her Golden Jubilee was commemorated by a wide variety of gift items including this jug form with transfer decoration in ‘grisaille’ colourings. The manufacturer is not known but was presumably one of the Stafforshire potteries. The form chosen, a flat circular body with a ridged face, the handle and spout with crisp modelling and a short spreading foot below, is quite unusual and does not seem to have parallels with other commemorative wares. The Queen’s head is shown in semi profile, with her titles above and an ivy wreath, symbolising everlasting life, below. On the reverse is the imperial crown.

Wedgwood Calendar Plate, 80th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, 2006

Price: £10

From the 1970s to the early 2000s the Daily Mail newspaper commissioned a series of ‘Calendar Plates’ from the celebrated manufacturers Wedgwood to be offered for sale to their readers. The themes chosen were varied, but in 2006 the Queen’s Eightieth Birthday was the subject and this blue and white decorative plaque produced. The central image of the smiling Queen is surrounded by the twelve calendar months and there is a brief description on the reverse. These plates were issued in boxes coloured in the distinctive ‘Wedgwood Blue’ and this example retains its original packaging.

Mintons Coronation Plate, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth 1937, boxed

Price: £25

This was a rather deluxe souvenir amongst the many produced to commemorate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on May 12th 1937. It was made by the famous porcelain manufacturers Mintons, who specialised in high quality pieces, particularly dinner services. The plate shows many distinctive features of their work with fine quality enamelling and gilding (see images 5 and 4). Marked with an inscription on the reverse beneath the Mintons trademark, this plate was number ‘89’ of a limited edition of 1000. It comes complete with its original presentation box which unusually has the coat of arms of Oman (see image 10) stamped in gilt on the underside of the lid implying that it might have been a gift to the Omani royal family at the time.

Two Avon Perfume Bottles, Lady and a Girl, 1970s

Price: £20

These are two from the series of perfume bottles in the form of ladies or young girls issued by Avon in the 1970s. The first represents a figure in 1920s dress and is sometimes found with a label (missing here) which reads ‘Roaring Twenties’ followed by the name of a perfume. The second is a country girl complete with its label which reads ‘Avon’ ‘Nearness’ but the same model is found with other labels, indicating that both these containers were used for more than one brand of perfume. These bottles were an amusing marketing ploy which doubtless contributed to many successful sales.

Two Avon Perfume Bottles, Lady and a Girl, 1970s

Price: £20

Desktop Model of a Typhoon Bomber Plane, Modern

Price: £45

This is a scale model of the celebrated Typoon Bomber plane, a single pilot aircraft used to great effect by the British during the Second World War. It is made from polished aluminium with an integral stand and is produced by the firm Widdop and Co under the brand name Harvey Makin. Definitely one for the man cave!

Vintage Leather Map Case, probably 1940s

Price: £45

Although resembling a rather oversize wartime identity label holder, this leather case, with a large clear celluloid covered open panel, a flap at the back with a fastening button and a long shoulder strap with loop attachments seems to have been intended as a map holder. Similar examples can be found dating back to the First World War and many have a grid printed onto the celluloid. This particular piece probably dates to the Second World War and is most likely Russian or German. It remains in excellent condition with the fine quality stitching and celluloid panel intact and the strap with minimal wear, making it a desirable acquisition for a collectors of militaria from that era.

Steiff Hedgehogs : Macki and Mucki, 1950s/1960s

Price: £120

The German toymakers Steiff are synonymous with luxury soft toys and especially their ‘Teddy’ bears named after Theodore Roosevelt. Their range is considerable and even encompassed a small family of hedgehogs Mecki and Micki and their children Macki and Mucki who appear in this Focus auction as amusing and striking examples of a long and distinguished tradition of toy making.

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The firm Steiff was begun by Margarete Steiff in 1880. A seamstress by training Margarete recognised a strong demand for some fabric elephants which she had made and intended for use as pincushions but soon became adopted as toys. Many other animals followed and a felt factory was founded in Giengen, Germany, in 1893 soon to be followed two years later by the first consignment of her wares to Harrods, London. In 1897, Margarete’s nephew Richard joined the firm and went on to design the first plush bear with movable arms and legs for which a substantial order was received of 3000 examples in 1903 from an American buyer who sensed a growing demand for these animals as a result of the US President Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt being shown in a photograph with a young cub in The Washington Post of the previous year. By 1907 a little under one million of these bears were being produced and turnover went on to increase substantially. Steiff bears can be purchased today and the earlier examples are actively sought after by collectors.

In the 1930s, Steiff began to collaborate with the Walt Disney company and characters from their films were reproduced starting, unsurprisingly, with Mickey Mouse and going on to include some of the most famous creations even up to the present day with ‘Nemo’ and ‘Woody’ from Toy Story being recent and popular additions.

The Hedgehog family, comprising Mecki and Micki with their children Macki and Mucki first appeared in 1951 and continued in production until the 1990s. These four characters are often found, sometimes with the characteristic round Steiff tag bearing their name and with the wording ‘Steiff–Original–Marke’ with an arrow pointing to a teddy bear’s head, but other hedgehog models which can be regarded as ‘cousins’ were made for a brief period in the 1960s. The nuclear family, though, comprised these four and they are sometimes illustrated together on postcards. Some of the round tags have additional wording ‘nach Diehl Film’ (‘from/after the film [maker] Diehl’) which refers to a German film company set up by three brothers Ferdinand, Hermann and Paul Diehl in 1937. They specialised in the ‘stop motion’ technique which involves the minute movement of model figures which, when photographed and with the images displayed in quick succession, allows the illusion of movement, now familiar today in the films featuring Wallace and Gromit.

Mecki and his family were popular characters in some of the films the Diehl brothers made and first made their appearance in 1949 designed as mascots for a German periodical called ‘Hor Zu’ which began publication in 1946 and covered radio and television news. Some of the tags attached to members of the family allude to this and Macki’s here reads at the back ‘Redaktionsigel von Hor Zu’ (‘the hedgehog editor of Hor Zu’). This explains the blue stain on Mucki’s skirt which is clearly meant to represent ink. Other members of the family also display marks on their clothes as a sign of being hard at work. Sensing the popularity of these characters, Stieff negotiated an exclusive right to produce dolls of them in 1951 and the hedgehogs became a staple of their output. The Diehls’ last film was made in 1970 and the hedgehogs featured in more than one over the years, becoming much loved characters in Germany during the 1950s and 1960s.

The techniques of production of the figures varied over time as did the attached labels. The earliest were made from 60% wool and 40% cotton with the faces formed from rubber like latex over a straw filling. Such example of these as survive are in rather poor condition. The very latest versions, made from 1968 to 1990 have a different form of chest name tag and a different ‘button’ label. (From the earliest times, Steiff toys had a yellow rectangular label listing the materials used and the country of origin and sometimes the price, attached by a small button marked ‘Steiff’. Unfortunately, these are missing here but the chest tags are intact and in good condition which does not always occur.) Dating of these two examples is therefore midway and probably to the late 1950s or early 1960s and they survive in near pristine condition making them an excellent addition to a collection of Steiff soft toys and a fine memento of almost iconic companions to so many children in post war Germany.

Indian wooden toy model of a Horse with metal fitments, early C20th

Price: £25