This Charles Robert Ashbee (1863-1942) silver cup and cover for the Guild of Handicrafts, c.1901, is one of the highlights at Lyon & Turnbull’s Decorative Arts: Design since 1860 auction to be held in Edinburgh on April 26.
Standing 15in (37.5cm) tall, both the planished cup and cover feature floral and foliate openwork decoration, and are set with green chrysoprase cabochons. The cup, cover and base have stamped makers’ marks, GofHLtd, and are hallmarked London 1901.
Often used as sports prizes in the late 1890s and early 1900s, Ashbee produced these decorative trophies as a reflection of his passion for competitive sports and his dislike for mass-produced trophies.
Estimate £3000-5000.
One of the highlights in Stacey’s specialist Toy Sale on April 26 is this rare c.1920s Steiff Benjamin bear, measuring 2ft (60cm) high. In golden mohair, with a pronounced muzzle and hump on his back, he is featured on the cover of Ho Phi Lee’s book The Romance of Dolls and Teddy Bears which is also included in this lot.
Estimate £2000-3000.
One of the highlights of Charles Miller’s 319-lot Maritime and Scientific Models, Instruments and Art sale on May 2 is this 12in (31cm) high brass steam whistle, recovered from the wreck of the SS Forfarshire and now mounted on a wooden display board.
The Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Company was one of the oldest firms in the British coastal trade, and the ill-fated Forfarshire was built in 1836. On September 5, 1838, she left Hull heading to Dundee but ran aground with engineering problems in the Farne Islands. Many on board perished but 13 passengers survived, famously rescued on September 7 by Grace Darling and her father, who made several journeys back to the wreck to save the survivors.
It is catalogued with a provenance, ‘recovered and identified by recreational divers in 1978 and allocated Droit Number 229/12 by the Receiver of Wreck in July 2014’.
Estimate £2500-4000.
A fine micromosaic rectangular plaque depicting the Colosseum is available from London dealership and LAPADA member, the Mayfair Gallery. Set in a thin gilt metal frame and on a slate backing, this Italian plaque, dated c.1800, is 2½in (6cm) high x 3¼in (8cm) wide.
Available at £4800.
