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Click here to subscribeThe lid features an oval hand-painted enamel scene depicting a lively caravan of camels against the backdrop of an architectural masterpiece, possibly inspired by Isfahan's grand mosques and Persian bazaars. This vibrant enamel panel is framed by intricate hand-engraved floral and arabesque patterns. The box is hallmarked and signed at the base. The interior is luxuriously gilded, protecting the silver from oxidation. W: 16cm, L: 8.5cm, Weight: 412g
AN ARCHAISTIC SAFAVID-REVIVAL MURAQQA' FOLIO WITH A YOUTH IN A GARDEN Qajar Iran, 19th centuryOpaque pigments heightened with gold on paper pasted on board, depicting a slender youth standing by a tree, clad in Safavid fashion, the white turban held with a colourful band, the long sleeved mauve tunic lined in orange, the sash tied to the side, wearing heeled white shoes, gold cloudbands in the sky, framed within vertical borders of black ink Persian nasta’liq calligraphy (extracts from Jami’s Haft Awrang, Yusuf o Zulaikha), and horizontal borders of hemistiches extracted from the Bustan of Sa’di in fine black ink Persian nasta’liq script, interspersed by illuminated cartouches, set in blue and gold outer borders, the album (muraqqa') folio designed in a typical archaistic Safavid style beloved in the Qajar period.The central panel 17.2cm x 9cm, 34.5cm x 24.5cm including the borders 34.5cm x 24.5cm including the borders Qty: 1
A LARGE ILLUSTRATED FOLIO OF A QAJAR SHAHNAMA WITH RUSTAM Qajar Iran, 19th centuryOpaque pigments and gold on paper, the illustrated folio accompanied by four vertical columns of black ink nasta'liq Persian script, the chapter heading in red ink naskh script marking Bahman approaching Rustam and delivering Esfandiar’s message, the illustration featuring the epic Iranian hero Rustam clad in tiger-skin tunic resting by a stream, wine in hand, one leg stretched against a boulder, his plumed helmet lying in the foreground, the hero holding a whole lamb on a skewer on red coals, his steed, Rakhsh, supporting a pair of partridges in suspended animation, the scene observed by amazed warriors from beyond mountains, within blue, red, and gold rules, pasted on board, with a detached front off-white mount.The text panel 32.2cm x 19.5cm, the folio 41.5cm x 28.2cm, 48.8cm x 32.8cm including the mount The charming miniature of the epic warrior feasting between bouts of battle indicates the bazm-razm (feast-battle) motif does not always require a large gathering. The folio 41.5cm x 28.2cm Qty: 1
A ROYAL POLO MATCH Possibly Tabriz or Qazvin, Safavid Iran, mid to late 16th centuryOpaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, the fragmentary horizontal-format illustration depicting a royal polo match with a gold-clad princess on her white steed, snatching the ball from her opponent, a distinctively dressed prince, both wearing tall and heeled Central Asian boots, flanked by two players on each side, the characters on the left hand-side wearing tall cusped headdresses and fur-lined hats, the others with turbans, indicating a difference not only in attire but also origin, possibly a match between royals belonging to different parts of the Indo-Persianate world, the reverse bearing stamps of at least four seals, some with Persian characters, now rubbed off or hardly legible, pasted on a cream-coloured mount.The painting 11.5cm x 15cm, 23.7cm x 27.5cm including the mount The painting 11.5cm x 15cm, 23.7cm x 27.5cm including the mount Qty: 1
Two Persian pottery bottle vases, probably late 19th century. Each with a globular body rising to a long and straight neck, painted in underglaze blue, green and brown with birds among flowers and trees. Height: 29cm and 26cm.Rough edges around the mouth rim but otherwise in good condition.
Two Persian brass serving trays, early 20th century, one of round form with a lobed rim, the other of rectangular shape with rounded edges, both finely engraved with intricate foliate and figural decoration. Dimension: Round tray: 37 cm diameter; Rectangular tray: 58 × 37 cm.Green rust spots in several places on both, small areas of dents and distortions, the square try has a small rupture on the body, otherwise good.
A large Persian pottery baluster vase, probably late 19th century. brightly painted in underglaze blue, green and brown with tulip flowers growing from the ground, and a band of floral motifs around the neck. Height: 35cm.There is a dent and another thin baking line to the foot rim probably caused by manufacturing, otherwise good overall condition with no issues.
JOHN THOMAS SETON (BRITISH 1738 - 1806) PORTRAIT OF MR AND MRS JOSEPH CHAMPION, WITH AN ELEPHANT IN THE LANDSCAPE BEYOND Oil on canvas 88 x 69cm (34½ x 27 in.) Painted in Calcutta, circa 1780. Provenance: The Collection of William Drummond of Hawthornden, near Edinburgh The Collection of Roger Warner Burford, acquired by the present owner in 1977 Literature: M. Archer, India and British Portraiture 1770-1825, p.108-109, ill. plate 63 John Thomas Seton (circa 1735 - circa 1806) was a Scottish painter who travelled to India in 1776. Prior to this, Seton was taught in London by Francis Hayman, where he also studied at the St Martin's Academy. In his twenties, Seton went on the Grand Tour to Italy, travelling to Rome where he helped to buy paintings for Lord Bute's collection. On his return, he settled in Edinburgh where he painted the portraits of Scotland's high society figures of the day. It is unclear what the exact motivations were for Seton to go to India, but the Scottish community in India was substantial, and in her book, Mildred Butler suggests Seton may have believed he was going to a home from home. At this time Tilly Kettle, was achieving notable success in India. Between 1761 and 1772, Seton exhibited at the Society of Artists, which means he was almost certainly familiar with Tilly Kettle's portrait of the Nawab of Arcot and his sons, which was exhibited in 1771. Bearing this in mind, a move to the continent must have seemed a promising gamble for an struggling artist working in Britain such as Seton. Leave was granted to Seton in November 1775, and by August 1776, Seton had arrived in Calcutta, about five months after Kettle had left. Seton's reputation grew quickly, and in 1780, he was commissioned to paint the present lot; a wedding portrait of Joseph Champion and his wife, Ann Forbes. The pair are depicted sitting on a bench, which opens on to the Indian landscape, where an elephant can be seen with his rider in the background to the left. The wedding took place on 12 May, and both Mr and Mrs Champion are depicted holding palm-leaf fans to combat the hot weather. The portrait must have pleased the Champions as three years later Joseph commissioned to further, half-length, portraits of himself and his wife (these were sold at Christie's, 17 March 1978). Champion was a company servant who had been posted to India in 1778. A year later he was made Paymaster to the Cavalry Brigade, and the following year, in 1780, he and Ann were married. Champion showed a keen interest in Persian literature, publishing three books on the subject; Poems Imitated from the Persian; The Poems of Ferdosi, and Essays Characteristic of Persian Poetry. These works were all published in India, and demonstrate Champion's enthusiasm for and knowledge of Persian poets and poetry, in contrast to works of Classical Greek, Roman and English poets which were often the focus of the Western world. An anonymous reviewer in The Monthly Review, August 1790, described Champion as the 'Persian Homer'. (New Catalogue, pp.329-31). In 1784, Champion became a member of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. He also wrote his own poetry; in 1786 he published a compilation entitled Poems addressed to Mrs Champion, by her affectionate husband, dedicated to his wife, who was described as 'the most handsomest woman that ever left Europe of India' ('Obituary of Considerable Persons; with Biographical Anecdotes', The Gentleman's Magazine 61, June, 1792, p.576). Ann died in October 1791, at the age of twenty eight, and this seems to have induced Joseph to suffer a mental breakdown. In 1792, after sailing back to England, the Calcutta directors of the company wrote to the Court of Directors asking for a subsistence allowance for him during the 'suspension...of his mental facilities' and no loss of rank should he return to his duties (Fort William XI, p. 470). Champion appears not to have returned to India, and according to pension books at the India Office Library in London, the firm continued to pay an allowance to his guardians until his death, which is believed to have been around 1813. Condition Report: The canvas has been lined. Some very light surface dirt. Light craquelure throughout. There is some evidence of very light paint loss scattered throughout, including to the sitters' faces, however this is barely noticeable and is the paint surface now appears to be stable. Some small patches of overpaint are visible in a raking light, including to the tree area above the elephant. Inspection under UV light reveals scattered retouching throughout, as well as a heavy varnish. Country of origin: IndiaCondition Report Disclaimer
Pair: Petty Officer H. W. Hopkins Royal Navy, who was killed in action when H.M.S. Formidable was torpedoed and sunk by U-24 off Lyme Regis on 1 January 1915 Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (162720 H. W. Hopkins. P.O. 1 Cl. H.M.S. Perseus.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (162720 H. W. Hopkins. P.O. H.M.S. Scylla.) nearly extremely fine (2) £180-£220 --- Henry William Hopkins was born in Sandwich, Kent, on 20 March 1875 and enlisted on the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 16 September 1891. Serving in a wide variety of ships and shore based establishments, he was advanced Petty Officer First Class on 8 January 1907, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 4 February 1908. He served in H.M.S. Perseus from 19 December 1911 to 19 September 1913, and consequently in H.M.S. Formidable from 24 June 1914, serving in her in the early months of the Great War. He was killed in action in 1 January 1915, when Formidable was torpedoed and sunk by U-24 off Lyme Regis; out of a crew of 780, there were fewer than 200 survivors. Hopkins is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Sold with a copy of the book ‘Before the Bells have Faded - The Sinking of H.M.S. Formidable January 1, 1915’, by Mark Potts and Tony Marks; copied service record; and other research.
Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (J.15774. J. H. Avery, Ord. Sean. H.M.S. Dartmouth.) pitting, polished and worn, therefore fair £70-£90 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- John Henry Avery was born in Devonport on 9 July 1895 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 26 January 1912. He served in H.M.S. Dartmouth from 14 March 1913 to 30 June 1915, and again from 1 October 1915 to 2 June 1916, and was advanced Able Seaman.
A rare Second War ‘Norway V.C. action’ D.S.M. group of five awarded to Seaman C. E. Newman, Royal Naval Reserve, for gallantry aboard H.M. Trawler Arab when subjected to thirty-one air attacks in five days at Namsos; her skipper Lieutenant Richard Been Stannard, R.N.R. was awarded the Victoria Cross, whilst members of her crew received a D.S.O., a C.G.M., and two D.S.M.’s Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (C. Newman. Smn. R.N.R.) impressed naming, mounted on original investiture pin; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, these last four unnamed as issued in named card box of issue addressed to ‘Mr C. E. Newman, 31 St James Road, Hastings’, extremely fine (5) £3,000-£4,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- D.S.M. London Gazette 16 August 1940: ‘For bravery and devotion to duty in certain of H.M. Trawlers employed on the coast of Norway - Seaman Charles Newman, R.N.R., H.M.S. Arab.’ The following awards were given to the crew of the Arab, all announced in this same London Gazette: Victoria Cross - Lieutenant Richard Been Stannard, R.N.R. Distinguished Service Order - Sub-Lieutenant Ernest Thomas Lees, R.A.N.V.R. Conspicuous Gallantry Medal - Second Hand David George Spindler, R.N.R. Distinguished Service Medal - Mr James Nicholson, 2nd Engineer, R.N.R., and Seaman Charles Newman, R.N.R. M.I.D. - Seaman Charles Hossack, R.N.R.. The citation for Stannard’s V.C. states: ‘For outstanding valour and signal devotion to duty at Namsos. When enemy bombing attacks had set on fire many tons of hand grenades on Namsos wharf, with no shore water supply available, Lieutenant Stannard ran Arab’s bows against the wharf and held her there. Sending all but two of his crew aft, he then endeavoured for two hours to extinguish the fire with hoses from the forecastle. He persisted in this work till the attempt had to be given up as hopeless. After helping other ships against air attacks, he placed his own damaged vessel under shelter of a cliff, landed his crew and those of two other trawlers, and established an armed camp. Here those off duty could rest while he attacked enemy aircraft which approached by day, and kept anti-submarine watch during the night. When another trawler near-by was hit and set on fire by a bomb, he, with two others, boarded Arab and moved her 100 yards before the other vessel blew up. Finally, when leaving the fjord, he was attacked by a German bomber which ordered him to steer East or be sunk. He held on his course, reserved his fire till the enemy was within 800 yards, and then brought the aircraft down. Throughout a period of five days Arab was subjected to 31 bombing attacks and the camp and Lewis gun positions ashore were repeatedly machine-gunned and bombed; yet the defensive position was so well planned that only one man was wounded. Lieutenant Stannard ultimately brought his damaged ship back to an English port. His continuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy was magnificent, and his enterprise and resource not only caused losses to the Germans but saved his ship and many lives.’ H.M. Trawler Arab, originally a Hull trawler requisitioned by the Navy was sent by the Admiralty, under the command of Lieutenant Richard Been Stannard, as part of the 15th Anti Submarine Striking Force and had the task of sweeping the fjords for enemy submarines and to land supplies at the small fishing port of Namsos. On 28 April 1940, when enemy bombing attacks had set on fire many tons of ammunition and stores on the wharf, Lieutenant Stannard ran Arab’s bows against the wharf and held her there. Sending all but two of his crew aft, he endeavoured for two hours to extinguish the fire with hoses from the forecastle. He persisted in this work till the attempt had to be given up as hopeless. Stannard later received orders to evacuate French troops from a landing stage at 23.59 hours and transfer them to a troop-ship which was completed at 03.30. Following this Arab made for a small bay. In the vicinity were two sister trawlers, H.M.S. Gaul and Aston-Villa. On 1st May Gaul received a direct hit and was sinking, her crew making for the shore. Stannard placed Arab under shelter of a cliff, landed his crew and with those of the other vessels established a camp, where they were frequently attacked. When the trawler Aston Villa was hit Stannard, with two others, boarded Arab and moved her out of danger. On leaving the fjord on 2nd May Arab was attacked by a German Heinkel 115 bomber which ordered them to steer east or be sunk. Stannard held his course and, when the aircraft made her final run in to bomb the trawler, Arab’s Oerlikon gun brought the plane down. Throughout the five day action Arab was subjected to 31 bombing attacks. Lieutenant Stannard then brought Arab back to Scapa arriving on 6th May and on 16th August was awarded the V.C., and Newman his D.S.M. Charles Edwin Newman was born in Hastings, Sussex, on 25 March 1915. He joined the Navy on 19 March 1940 (Official No. JX.184489) and as Ordinary Seaman joined H.M. Trawler Hazel on 10 April but transferred to H.M. Trawler Arab on 21 April 1940. In November 1941, still serving in Arab, he changed branches to become a Stoker 1st Class (new Official No. KX.148617) and continued in Arab until 19 December 1942. He was held on the books of Europa, R.N.P.S. base at Lowestoft, for the remainder of the war, but from June to October 1945 saw service in the Virginia, yacht of 712 tons, at Columbo, Ceylon, Bahrain, Persian Gulf and Bombay. Sold with the recipient’s Royal Naval Patrol Service sleeve badge (1st type without the integral loops for stitching) with brooch pin; original Certificate of Service of Charles Edwin Newman listing his D.S.M. 16. Aug. 1940; Petty Officer’s first class embroidered arm badge; naval cap badge and shoulder board; photo of recipient; “His Majesty’s Minesweepers” booklet, HMSO 1943; “Junior Mirror” newspaper Jan 18th 1956, which introduces a section/feature “Our VC Heroes” of which No. 1 was the V.C. to Richard Stannard and during which Seaman Newman played his part, paper AF; together with copied research.
Three: Colonel E. Grey, Commissariat Department, late Suffolk Regiment India General Service 1854-95, 3 clasps, Sikkim 1888, N.E. Frontier 1891, Waziristan 1894-5 (Lieutt. E. Grey. S. C.); India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (Captain E. Grey. Comst. Dept.); Delhi Durbar 1903, silver, unnamed as issued, contact marks, very fine (3) £700-£900 --- Edward Grey attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and was commissioned into the Suffolk Regiment around 1880. He later transferred into the Commissariat Department, Indian Army, and served in various campaigns in Tibet and around the North West Frontier. A noted scholar and linguist, he accompanied Archduke Ferdinand of Austria on a visit from Germany to Japan as his personal translator from German to Japanese and is noted as having knowledge of Chinese, Persian, Hindustani, Pashtu, Urdu, Hindi, Tibetan, French, German and Italian. Retiring to Kent in 1910, during the Great War, he was discreetly employed at home censoring telegrams at the Central Telegraph Office in London. He died, aged 75, in Folkestone, Kent, in November 1935. Sold with a copied local newspaper obituary referring to the unconfirmed additional award of ‘The Chinese V.C.’, possibly the Order of the Double Dragon.
An inter-War ‘North West Frontier of India Operations 1930-31’ O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Colonel V. C. Cassidy, Royal Indian Army Service Corps The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E., (Military) Officer’s 1st type, breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1930; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. V. C. Cassidy.); India General Service 1908-35, 3 clasps, Waziristan 1919-21, Waziristan 1921-24, North West Frontier 1930-31 (Capt. V. C. Cassidy, S. & T.C.); War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued, mounted court-style for wear, lacquered, good very fine (8) £300-£400 --- O.B.E. London Gazette 26 June 1931: ‘For valuable services rendered in the field in connection with military operations on the North-West Frontier of India during the period 23 April to 12 September 1930.’ Vivian Clemons Cassidy was commissioned into the Indian Army and served during the Great War as a Captain in the Supply and Transport Corps, attached South Persia Rifles, in South Persian from 27 July 1917 to 26 July 1918. Reverting to the Indian Army Service Corps, he saw further service in Waziristan, and then on the North West Frontier of India 1930-31, being appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his service in the latter conflict.
CROWN DERBY; a pair of large and impressive twin handled lidded octagonal vases in the Persian style, shape no. 557, finely decorated in gilt with floral detail, height 39cm (2).Condition Report: Areas of loss to the gilding to each of the vases and covers, one of the finials on the covers has been broken and reglued, otherwise good condition.
Curzon (George N.). Persia and The Persian Question, 2 volumes, 1st edition, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1892, monochrome illustrations, ex-libris books plate to the front pastedown of volume 1, volume 1 half-title detached, modern endpapers to volume 2, some toning & spotting throughout, publishers gilt decorated green cloth, slightly rubbed to head & foot, 8vo, together with:Thackeray (William Makepeace), The Virginians. A Tale of the Last Century, 2 volumes, 1st edition, London: Bradbury & Evans, 1858, engraved illustrations, ex-libris bookplates to the front pastedowns, some heavy spotting to the half-titles & frontispieces, some light marginal toning & spotting throughout, uniform contemporary green half calf, boards & spines slightly rubbed, volume 1 lacking partial spine label, 8vo, plusManchee (Thomas John), The Origin of the Riots of Bristol, and the causes of the subsequent outrages:..., 1st edition, Bristol: printed by & for T. J. Manchee, 1831, 40pp, ex-libris bookplate to the front pastedown, modern endpapers, some toning & wear, modern cloth spine to boards, spine toned, slim 8vo, and other 19th Century travel & miscellaneous literature, including The Prince of Wales Tour: A Diary in India;..., 2nd edition, by William Howard Russell, London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, 1877, publishers gilt decorated red cloth, 8vo, many contemporary leather bindings, some original cloth, overall condition is generally good to very good, 8voQTY: (6 shelves)
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