British Historical Medals from Various Properties 342
ALS from Daniel Maclise at 4 Cheyne walk, Chelsea, SW [London], August 6 1861, to Thomas Baring, Esq, MP, regarding his design for the International Exhibition Prize Medal, 1862 (Allen A10; BHM 2747), 4pp. Very fine
£80-£100
The text reads: “My Dear Sir, I came to dwell here a year ago and I find it a very pleasant change. I inhabit one of the Old Queen’s alm houses – positively a [——]staircase – and a back garden that has surprised me by a show of some roses. I am very glad you approve the designs for the medal executed somewhat hurriedly and I perfectly agree in your judgement that Britannia’s bellicose aspect should not be insisted on. I allow that I intended the fair Islander to be armed, but I had in him rather a designers [—] than any deep design in so treating the figure – all the other figures are bareheaded and it was felt to be a difference and source of distraction to place [a] helmet on her head. Nothing can be so easy as to draw another figure or head for the guidance of the engraver [——] trying to alter the figure in the drawing. Might it not answer to substitute the other kind of Helmet, not that indicator of war, but of a very different idea, wisdom. Minerva’s classic casque would perhaps answer my ends and yours, and be subject to no adverse interpretation – you know it is like this [sketch by Maclise follows] but I shall feel delighted to be quite at your disposal in the matter. I may mention that in error I made a drawing of the Queen for the reverse, placed in a wreath of Rose, Thistle, Shamrock, treated rationally, not heraldically, but I found the [——] had determined re Coats of Arms of the nations. I remain my dear Sir, very faithfully yours, Danl. Maclise”.
Daniel Maclise, RA (1806-70), Irish historical painter; b. Cork; moved to London 1827; entered the RA schools 1828 and first exhibited at the RA in 1829; elected RA 1840; designed illustrations for several books by Charles Dickens. This letter was written shortly before Maclise entered a lengthy period of ill-health, which caused him to decline the offer of the presidency of the RA in 1865; he died of acute pneumonia at 4 Cheyne walk on 25 April 1870.
Thomas Baring (1799-1873), joined the family bank, Baring Bros, in 1828, becoming a senior partner in the late 1840s; MP for Great Yarmouth 1835-7 and Huntingdon, 1844-73; chairman of Lloyd’s, director of the Bank of England, president of the Royal Institution and a close associate of Benjamin Disraeli
x 343 344 345
Missions of Sir Moses Montefiore, 1864, a copper medal by C. Wiener, conjoined busts of Moses and Judith Montefiore left, rev. Hebrew inscription in wreath, 68mm (BHM 2802A; E 1569). Rim knocks, otherwise very fine
£200-£260
Blackfriars Bridge and Holborn Valley Viaduct Opened, 1869, a copper medal by G.G. Adams, 77mm (W & E 1126.1; BHM 2906; E 1604); together with other European base metal medals (2) [3]. First very fine, others in varied state
£90-£120
Victoria, Letters Patent affixed to the Seal appointing James Hosken, Engineer, dated 20 January 1871, for 14 Years, renewed on 7 January 1874 and 12 January 1878. Letter very fine and crisp, Seal with minor circumferential knock at top; housed in original darkened metal case, diam. 173mm, and with original inlaid wooden box, lid with Royal arms in gilt [this slightly distressed]
£200-£300
James Hosken, engineer, 58 Fenchurch street, London, was awarded his Letters Patent for his invention described as “Improvements in automatic apparatus for controlling the flow of liquids from constant supply pipes or vessels”
346
Exhibition of Arts, Industries and Manufactures, Dublin, 1872, bronze award medals by J. Woodhouse (3), seated Victory crowning figures of Art and Industry, revs. wreath, named (Heales & Son; Mons. De Villers; Lady Molyneux’s Schools), all 54mm (BHM 2941; Allen Pt 5) [3]. First about very fine and on a thin flan, others very fine and better
£100-£150 347
Victoria, Letters Patent affixed to the Seal appointing Margaret Martin, Engineer, dated 21 August 1873, for 14 Years, no renewals on reverse of document. Letter very fine and crisp, Seal with minor edge damage at 2 o’clock, housed in original darkened metal case, diam. 173mm, and with original inlaid wooden box, lid with Royal arms in gilt and the label of Browne & Co, Patent Agents, 5 Southampton Buildings, London WC; research potential
£200-£300
Margaret Martin, 23 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin, was awarded her Letters Patent for her invention described as “Improvements in the construction of Balloons and other aerial bodies and in the means of navigating them so as to control the direction in which they shall move or travel”
348
Florence E. Lewis (†1917), painter and designer for Royal Doulton Exhibition of Paintings on China, 1878, a silver and enamel award, unsigned, cartouche on crowned rose, rev. similar,
named (Miss Florence Lewis), 47 x 29mm. Some enamel missing, otherwise good very fine; with loop and ring for suspension
£50-£70
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