antiques
by Brian Goodion-Blanks OF BEARNES HAMPTON & LITTLEWOOD, AUCTIONEERS AND VALUERS
Antiques T
he recent solar eclipse is a reminder of man’s fascination with the stars and planets and his endeavours to comprehend them. Astrology has been an important and practical part of history for centuries and a recent consignment to the Scientific Instrument section of the forthcoming Maritime Auction of 1st
July
2015, reminds us of this. This late 18th century orrery by W Jones of London has a delicate system of gears that rotate an ivory earth with moon around a central gilt sun with an indicator pointing to the seasons, month and star signs (estimate £3,000 – £4,000).
Tableware from the Royal Service of the Royal Yacht Victoria & Albert III.
£400), still brings out the child in all collectors. The detailing of the model is in keeping with the RMS Queen Mary herself, with elegant decking and detail to attention in her funnels and masts. Pond yachts and model boats were a popular pastime with many children and adults in the late 19th and early 20th century and many parks still have a small boating pond even to
Understanding the planets and stars has helped
mariners navigate around the globe with sextant and compass for centuries and the Maritime Auction is in part a celebration of the ‘Golden Age of Sail’. Along with the many navigational and scientific instruments
Late 18th century orrery.
already consigned to the auction, are a number of other Maritime and Nautical themed antiques that make the auction a popular event on Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood’s calendar. This scale model of the RMS Queen Mary made for Hamleys of London (pre-sale estimate of £300 -
Scale model of the RMS Queen Mary. “Collectors will be enthralled by its original condition
despite it showing signs of perhaps a few unsuccessful voyages.”
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this day. Collectors will be enthralled by its original condition despite it showing signs of perhaps a few unsuccessful voyages. The auction has a touch of Royalty with the inclusion of several pieces of tableware from the Royal Service of the Royal Yacht Victoria & Albert III. Decorated with the Royal cypher and entwined within a maritime themed decoration, the service was made by Spode and supplied by the prestigious firm of Thomas Goode of London. HRY Albert & Victoria III was launched in 1899 and finally ready for service in 1901. Expenditure for her was increased as it was
pointed out that both the Russian Tsar and German Kaiser had larger yachts. Her launch was delayed as the constant updating of her fittings led to redevelopment of her hull and the addition of extra ballast. This extra weight caused her to fall while in dry dock, delaying her launch even further whilst repairs were carried out. Serving four sovereigns she was finally decommissioned in 1939 and served as a depot ship during WWII.
For further information please contact
Brian Goodison-Blanks on 01392 413100 or
www.bhandl.co.uk
St Edmund’s Court, Okehampton Street, Exeter EX4 1DU
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