Five Napoleonic lots to view and bid for at Chorley’s

A series of lots coming up at Chorley’s from July 22-23 fit are likely to appeal to enthusiasts, or offer an entry point for those just entering the field.

The auction features items from Paxford House of Chipping Camden, which was in the possession of the Odling Family for almost a century. It features Asian antiques, books, furniture and various historic curiosities.

Coquilla nut cup

The late 18^th century Napoleonic coquilla nut cup, commemorative of the Battle of the Pyramids, is carved with a central letter N within a wreath. According to the catalogue it was as a powder flask. However, it comes with a box bearing a plaque that says (in French) that Napoleon used the cup to drink from during the 1798 battle. It has an estimate of £600-800.

View and bid for this commemorative cup here.  

Heroic bronze

This bronze of Napoleon as a student has an estimate of £1200-1500 at Chorley’s auction of the Paxford House collection.

Those interested in Napoleon himself may want to go for this bronze depicting Napoleon at military school. He is heroically posed as a young intellectual, positioned by a globe and holding a book. Made after a figure by later French artist Louis Rochet (1813-78), it has an estimate of £1200-1500.

View and bid for this bronze here.

‘The Corsican Monkey’

This pearlware jug of ‘John Bull shewing the Corsican monkey’ has an estimate of £300-500 at Chorley’s auction of the Paxford House collection.

Plenty of collectables out there cast Bonaparte in a less heroic light. This English pearlware jug includes a scene of ‘John Bull shewing the Corsican monkey’. Here Napoleon is depicted as a monkey astride a bear in a piece of grotesque period satire. The jug has an estimate of £300-500.

View and bid for this pearlware jug here.

Wellington's cabinet

This cabinet from the collection of the Duke of Wellington is offered with an estimate of £3000-5000 at Chorley’s auction of items from Paxford House.

There are also items relating to Wellington, such as this curiosity cabinet that belonged to him. The 17^th century Italian table cabinet is set with lapis lazuli and contains several drawers including some secret drawers. It is thought to have been acquired by the Duke during his time in Rome and is now offered for £3000-5000.

View and bid for this cabinet here.

Wellington chest

This Regency rosewood Wellington chest has an estimate of £500-700 at Chorley’s auction of items from Paxford House.

For a more affordable alternative there is also an example of a Wellington chest, named for the famous leader. This Regency rosewood example has six fitted drawers and a secretaire drawer with a dummy two-drawer front and has an estimate of £500-700.

View and bid for this Wellington chest here.