106
A fine quality early 20th century, late Boer War era sterling silver and antelope horn table
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Description
A fine quality early 20th century, late Boer War era sterling silver and antelope horn table lighter, once belonging to Major General Alexander Whitelaw Thorneycroft of the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Featuring a ridged, twisted and polished horn section, fitted with a scalloped collar, and a grenade style spherical lighter fixed upon a rotating gimbal. Fully hallmarked for London 1902, with the makers mark for Joseph Braham. The spherical part of the lighter is also engraved ‘A.W.T. from JM 20th June 1903’, which is the date he married his wife, Rebecca Francis Crozier. Notes: Alexander Whitelaw Thorneycroft (1859 - 1931) had a distinguished military career, and was first commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in February 1879. He saw service in the later stages of the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879, and the First Boer War of 1881. A promotion to Lieutenant followed in 1881, followed by Captain in 1887. By the commencement of the Second Boer war, Alexander had been promoted to Major (Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel), and with the British Government preempting a Boer uprising, Major Thorneycroft was sent to South Africa to raise a corps of troopers. This hastily raised corps became known as Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry, and saw service during the Relief of Ladysmith, and the Battle of Spion Koh. During Spion Kop, Maj Thorneycroft found himself to be the most senior officer still alive, or that wasn’t incapacitated. An award of the Companion of the Order of the Bath followed in 1901, on account of his Boer War service. By November 1902, Thorneycroft was promoted to Colonel, and was back in the U.K serving as Adjutant-General of the 7th Infantry Division in Dublin. Colonel Thorneycroft retired from the army in 1912, retiring to Blandford Lodge in Berkshire, and died there in 1931 at the age of 72. Provenance: the item was acquired in 1931 by a relative of the current owner, who with his wife had acted as housekeeper for Col Thorneycroft at Blandford Lodge. As was fairly commonplace for the time, the couple were offered an item each from the Colonel’s items, and this lighter was one of the items acquired. The lighter has remained in the family since 1931. Approximately 60cm length. Condition: generally good. Good all round patina to the silver, and clear hallmarks. The gimbal mechanism works exactly as I should by always keeping to the lighter part level. A small area of chipping to the underside of the horn section, towards to pointed end, but this is not visible when sat upon a desk, and does not detract at all. There’s a tiny little pinhead dent to the spherical lighter section, but again this doesn’t detract.
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A fine quality early 20th century, late Boer War era sterling silver and antelope horn table lighter, once belonging to Major General Alexander Whitelaw Thorneycroft of the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Featuring a ridged, twisted and polished horn section, fitted with a scalloped collar, and a grenade style spherical lighter fixed upon a rotating gimbal. Fully hallmarked for London 1902, with the makers mark for Joseph Braham. The spherical part of the lighter is also engraved ‘A.W.T. from JM 20th June 1903’, which is the date he married his wife, Rebecca Francis Crozier. Notes: Alexander Whitelaw Thorneycroft (1859 - 1931) had a distinguished military career, and was first commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in February 1879. He saw service in the later stages of the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879, and the First Boer War of 1881. A promotion to Lieutenant followed in 1881, followed by Captain in 1887. By the commencement of the Second Boer war, Alexander had been promoted to Major (Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel), and with the British Government preempting a Boer uprising, Major Thorneycroft was sent to South Africa to raise a corps of troopers. This hastily raised corps became known as Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry, and saw service during the Relief of Ladysmith, and the Battle of Spion Koh. During Spion Kop, Maj Thorneycroft found himself to be the most senior officer still alive, or that wasn’t incapacitated. An award of the Companion of the Order of the Bath followed in 1901, on account of his Boer War service. By November 1902, Thorneycroft was promoted to Colonel, and was back in the U.K serving as Adjutant-General of the 7th Infantry Division in Dublin. Colonel Thorneycroft retired from the army in 1912, retiring to Blandford Lodge in Berkshire, and died there in 1931 at the age of 72. Provenance: the item was acquired in 1931 by a relative of the current owner, who with his wife had acted as housekeeper for Col Thorneycroft at Blandford Lodge. As was fairly commonplace for the time, the couple were offered an item each from the Colonel’s items, and this lighter was one of the items acquired. The lighter has remained in the family since 1931. Approximately 60cm length. Condition: generally good. Good all round patina to the silver, and clear hallmarks. The gimbal mechanism works exactly as I should by always keeping to the lighter part level. A small area of chipping to the underside of the horn section, towards to pointed end, but this is not visible when sat upon a desk, and does not detract at all. There’s a tiny little pinhead dent to the spherical lighter section, but again this doesn’t detract.
August Medals, Militaria & Firearms Auction - Viewing by Appointment - Live Web Broadcast & Bidding - Postage and Safe Click/Collect Only
Sale Date(s)
Lots: 1-
Venue Address
Heage Lane
Etwall
Derbyshire
DE65 6LS
United Kingdom
PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE UNABLE TO POST FIREARMS – ALL FIREARMS MUST BE COLLECTED
Important Information
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
PLEASE NOTE:
THE BUYERS PREMIUM IS NOW 26.5% + VAT OF THE HAMMER PRICE AND INTERNET SURCHARGE ON THE SALEROOM.COM IS 5% + VAT
WE ARE UNABLE TO POST FIREARMS – ALL FIREARMS MUST BE COLLECTED
THE SALEROOM IS CURRENTLY CLOSED AND WE ARE NOT OFFERING PUBLIC VIEWING. HOWEVER, APPOINTMENTS CAN BE MADE TO VIEW OR PARTICIPATE IN THE AUCTION BY CALLING THE RELEVANT AUCTION HOUSE PRIOR TO THE SALE.
PAYMENT IS BY BANK TRANSFER AND CARD PAYMENT VIA WORLDPAY. (NO PAYMENT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON LOCATION)
COLLECTION IS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE
WORLDWIDE POSTAGE IS AVAILABLE ON MANY ITEMS. PLEASE CONTACT OUR POSTAGE TEAM. postage@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk
Transfer of Lots Between Sites For Postage or Collection
We offer a transfer service for lots purchased at our auction houses – Etwall (head office) London, Banbury, Royston, Tunbridge Wells and Bishton Hall, Staffs.
For both postage and collections requests, a transfer fee is payable, this depends on the location of the item but usually starts at £10 plus VAT per invoice unless between Etwall and Bishton which is from £5 (+VAT).
These fees are in addition to the postage and packing fees. This service does not include furniture and we are unable to transfer this between sites.
Buyers Premium is 26.5%.(+vat)
Internet surcharges - .Charges vary with each bidding platform, currently this is 5% (+VAT) on Saleroom.com. Please check each sale before proceeding to bid. Information available at hansonsauctioneers.co.uk
Minimum Lot Charge £6 (+vat)
Payment of items and Storage Charges
Timely collection of items is imperative as storage space is limited.
Furniture: Lots must be paid for and collected within 3 days after the furniture sale, items remaining after this timescale will incur a storage fee of £50 +VAT per week.
General items: must be paid for and collected within 5 working days of the end of the sale, after that storage charges will apply which will vary between £10-£20 + VAT per week dependent upon volume of items/space required to store.
Hansons advises that the auctioneer will commence and advance bidding at levels and increments he considers appropriate and is entitled to place a bid or series of bids on behalf of the Seller up to the reserve on the lot, without indicating he is doing so and whether or not other bids are placed.
AUCTION: At www.the-saleroom.com or www.hansonslive.co.uk . Note - additional bidding fees apply to the-saleroom.com. Hansons Live offers free online bidding.
BIDDING METHODS: live online with a visual video feed at the above two platforms
WATCH THE AUCTION (NO BIDDING): Twitter - @HansonsAuctions , Facebook - @HansonsAuctioneersUK or YouTube - Hansons Auctioneers
ENQUIRIES/IMAGE REQUESTS/CONDITION REPORTS: must be received in good time and no later 12pm the day prior to each auction by email to the relevant office.
ABSENTEE BIDS: must be received no later than 12pm the day prior to the auction by email with your full name, billing address & phone number to the relevant office.
PHONE BIDS: bookings must be requested by 12pm the day prior to the relevant auction by email request to the relevant office. Limited lines available and offered on a first come basis. We cannot guarantee phone bid availability, especially those made at short notice.
Thank you for reading the above and we wish you all ‘happy bidding’.
Terms & Conditions
Terms and Conditions of Business for Buyers
Care is taken to ensure that any statements as to authorship, attribution, origin, date, age, provenance and condition are reliable and accurate, but all such statements are statements of opinion and are not to be taken as statements or representations of fact. Hansons reserve the right, in forming their opinion, to consult and rely upon any expert or authority reasonably considered by them to be reliable. All clients are advised they are entering into a contract with Hansons Auctioneers and Valuers under English Law and Jurisdiction.
PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE UNABLE TO POST FIREARMS – ALL FIREARMS MUST BE COLLECTED
1. The Buyer
The highest bidder to be the buyer. If any dispute arises, the auctioneer shall have absolute discretion to settle it and to put any disputed lot up again for sale.
2. Buyer Identification
Buyers are requested to furnish references in advance of the sale in order to avoid delay in clearing purchases. Goods will not be cleared until such references have been processed or cheques cleared. Hanson’s reserve the right not to approve any online bidder when their registration credit check is not successful and who cannot provide references. Hansons will not accept commission bids for any buyer that has an outstanding invoice.
3. Buyer’s Premium
PLEASE NOTE THE BUYERS PREMIUM HAS INCREASED TO 26.5% OF THE HAMMER PRICE
The buyer shall pay the hammer price together with a buyer’s premium at the rate of 26.5% plus VAT. Please note that there is a minimum purchase charge of £6 plus VAT. Internet bidding incurs an additional surcharges of 5% on The Saleroom.com. Please make yourself aware of charges before proceeding to bid.
VAT is charged on Hanson’s services NOT on the goods and is payable at the standard rate set by the UK government.
Any royalties eligible to be paid to a qualifying artist under the ‘Droit de Suite’ legislation will be added to the buyers invoice
4. Payment
Immediately on the fall of the hammer, all lots shall be at the sole risk and expense of the respective purchasers
Methods of Payment
Debit card or credit card using a link via Worldpay which will be sent after the sale or up to £250 can be taken over the telephone. Alternatively a Bank Transfer can be made details of the bank are on the invoice and covering email. Payment in person at Etwall can be made but cash is not accepted.
Personal cheques will only be accepted at the discretion of Hanson’s Accounts and on the understanding that NO goods will be released until bank clearance of the cheque has completed.
All Bidders need to pay and arrange collection of smalls within 5 working days of the auction. Furniture buyers need to pay and collect within 3 working days of its sale day.
Failure to pay for goods within 15 working days of the auction will result in the sale being rescinded. The defaulting buyer will also be blocked from bidding at future Hansons auctions.
6. Collection / Shipment of Goods
All small goods must be paid for and collected within five working days following sale.Furniture must be paid for and collected within 3 working days. If after the alloted time the item has not been collected then a storage charge of £1 per lot for smalls and £5 per lot for furniture per day will commence, the item will also no longer be insured. Hansons shall then contact the buyer in writing to confirm that this additional charge is now in place and further to that if paid for item(s) are still not collected within another 3 weeks of the date on the letter, the items will be placed back into the next auction without reserve with the buyer becoming the vendor. All Hansons terms and conditions will now apply to the new vendor of this item. A cheque will be sent out 20 working days after the sale, this will be minus our saleroom and storage charges.
7. Postal Service
Hansons Auctioneers do offer a postal service for clients within the UK who are not able to attend the auction or unable to collect. We are not professional packers or shippers, though we will try our best to pack items in a correct way which will ensure items arrive safely. However Hansons Auctioneers do not insure items posted and therefore will not be held responsible for making any claim for damage. There are some items that due to their nature, size or weight we cannot post out, but we can recommend couriers who you can arrange to pick the item up from our saleroom. They may also be able to insure some items which we are unable to insure. For full details see ‘Postage of items’ under ‘Our Services’ on the Hansons website.
8. All buyers / couriers must check their purchases prior to departure from the auction. Hansons will accept no claims for loss or damage thereafter.
9. Third Party Liability
Every person at Hansons Auctions shall be deemed to be there at his own risk. They shall have no claim against Hansons in respect to any accident which may occur or injury, damage or loss howsoever caused.
10. Rights of Admission
The right is reserved to refuse admission to the auction premises and may be used by Hansons without giving a reason.
11. Selling Rate
Lots are sold at approximately 80 lots per hour
