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Stock: 15627

A set of 16 late Victorian rope edge salt glazed garden edging tiles, total run 12 feet.

English, late 19th century.

	width	height	depth
each	9" 22.8 cms	6" 15.3 cms	2" 5 cms
total run	144" 365.8 cms

Stock: 15625

A Victorian set of 24 salt glazed rope garden edging tiles, total run 18 feet.

English, late 19th century.

View our collection of: Antique, old vintage fountains, sculptures, garden furniture and statuary

	width	height	depth
each	9" 22.8 cms	6" 15.3 cms	2" 5 cms
total run	216" 548.6 cms

Stock: 15579

An ornate gilt six branch chandelier of small proportions in the Baroque taste, the central stem decorated with recumbent putti and crowned by an urn of fruit. The scrolling arms are similarly ornate, with acanthus leave detail and urnular fittings.

French, 19th century with restorations.

Provenance: Estate of the antiques dealer Jane Sumner.

View our collection of: Antique chandeliers.

	Diameter	Height
	20 1⁄8" 51 cms	31 1⁄8" 79 cms

Stock: 15547

A rare Scottish pine and composition chimneypiece by Richard Foster of Edinburgh.

The chimneypiece was designed with the coastal landscape of the East Coast of Scotland in mind and is profusely decorated in exquisite detail whilst maintaining the elegant restraint of a neoclassical chimneypiece.

The breakfront shelf rests above an undershelf studded with acorns and mushrooms which in turn is supported by two eagles on the endblocks. The eagles are modelled after a Roman Imperial Eagle in Horace Walpole’s collection, found in the gardens of Boccapadugli and displayed by Walpole at his Strawberry Hill Home. These details frame the remarkable frieze which is a celebration of the Scottish coast; profusely decorated with seaweed, shells, sea cucumber and crabs, all in high relief.

Most remarkable of all is the exquisite central tablet, which depicts Lady Emma Hamilton leaning on a ship’s anchor whilst gazing out to sea at the distant HMS Victory, the ship on which he would meet his heroic end. This scene is surrounded by a profusion of seashells and seaweed.

The underfrieze makes a departure from the coastal theme, and instead entwines thorny roses with the Scottish emblem of the thistle.

The jambs return to a more restrained neoclassicism, with engaged slender pilasters resting on plain footblocks. The original Kilkenny fossil marble slips are still present, which is a lovely feature.

Scottish, c.1805.

Provenance: Removed from an elegant Georgian house on the East Coast of Scotland, near Edinburgh.

Notes:

Chimneypieces of this manufacture were a speciality of Richard Foster of Edinburgh and his son and examples survive not only in Scotland but also in the United States and Canada, where he seemed to create a strong market for them in the late 18th century.
Richard Foster was born in Canonbie, the Scottish Borders, in 1755. At the age of fourteen, he was recorded as having a bank account in London, presumably as he was serving as an apprentice there, perhaps to the Adam Brothers as they too were in London at this time. In 1785 he returned to Edinburgh, working as a "joiner" and married to the daughter of a wealthy leather merchant. His chimneypieces were sold not only in Scotland, but in the USA, a bold move only a few years after American Independence was declared! This is perhaps why he avoided becoming a prominent figure in Scottish social and intellectual circles, as selling to Britain's former colonies would have been regarded as treachery in many cases.
The pine and composition chimneypiece he perfected made the rational principles and beauty of classicism affordable to the growing mercantile and professional class emerging in the 18th century. These clients wished to express their cultural understanding through objects that conveyed the principles they admired, the chimneypiece was one such highly prized object.
The Adam brothers (Robert and James) were well known for promoting their designs to the masses, and it is the pine and composition chimneypiece they made for the emerging middle class in Edinburgh that have become synonymous with the "Adam Style". However, Foster was a true master of the technique, and his designs are some of the most delicate and finely manufactured ever made.
In the 1770s, the technique of applying a cast composition onto pine really took off in Scotland, especially with the construction of many new houses, such as those in Edinburgh's New Town. The process of cast composition can be described as essentially a thermo plastic mix of chalk, glue size, and other additives heated up to a precise temperature then pressed into wood or brimstone moulds. These could then be applied to a simple pine surround and painted if desired. Foster was commissioned to make designs unique to clients, so there may only be a single example of a particular design, but these usually incorporate existing decorative motifs.

View our section showing full range of neo-classical chimneypieces

	Width	Height	Depth
External	78 13⁄16" 200.1 cms	62 5⁄8" 159 cms	7 7⁄8" 20.1 cms
Internal	52" 132 cms	45 1⁄4" 115 cms

Stock: 15534

A large and heavy polished brass chandelier in the Dutch Baroque Style, with six lights set on scrolling branches which are mounted on a bulbous globular stem.
English, c.1930.

View our collection of: Antique chandeliers.

	Diameter	Drop
	26 13⁄16" 68 cms	25 5⁄8" 65 cms
With chain		37 3⁄8" 95 cms

Stock: 15580

A patinated brass six arm chandelier in the French Baroque Style, the baluster stem crowned by putti masks, below which the sweeping acanthus adorned arms are attached. French, c.1950.

View our collection of: Antique chandeliers.

	Diameter	Drop
	25 3⁄16" 64 cms	21 11⁄16" 55 cms

Stock: 15576

A set of rare steel Art Nouveau fire tools topped with finely chased gilt bronze female figures or nereids swathed in seaweed. The figurative handles are very fine, and the chasing picks out beautiful detail on the straps of seaweed wrapping around the nude female figures. The tools have one flat side on the stem and the shovel has an elegantly pierced centre.

English, c.1900.

View our collection of: Antique Firetools.

	Width	Height	Depth
	6 1⁄8" 15.5 cms	30 1⁄8" 76.5 cms	3 7⁄8" 10 cms

Stock: 15622

A pair of large and decorative Victorian cast iron seated lions holding polished brass blank armorial shields. These would look fabulous as decorative objects on a surface, or on a hearth to dress the interior of a fireplace. The shields could even be engraved with a monogram.

English, c.1870

View our collection of: Antique sculptures, carvings, bronzes, plaques and tablets

	Width	Height	Depth
	5 3⁄16" 13.2 cms	13 13⁄16" 35 cms	5 11⁄16" 14.5 cms

Stock: 15458

An Elegant 30 hour Georgian longcase clock with an arched hood and small wooden ball finials. The arch of the hood is decorated with blind fretwork which frames the lunette engraved to denote the maker. The lunette and the rest of the brass dial is adorned by Baroque spandrels, which frame a chapter ring with engraved Roman and Arabic numerals, and at the centre of the dial is a subsidiary seconds dial and a date window. The glazed door is flanked by two plain columns, and this is echoed by the plain pilasters on the trunk. By Thomas Clark of Warrington.

English, early 18th century.

View our collection of: Antique clocks and clock garniture

	width	height	depth
	20 1⁄2" 52 cms	86 3⁄16" 219 cms	11" 28 cms

Stock: 15470

An antique Louis XV chimneypiece carved from beautifully veined Pavonazzo marble. The curved moulded shelf rest above a panelled serpentine frieze, which is flanked by scrolling endblocks and panelled console jambs.

French, mid 19th century.

Link to: Antique Rococo Chimneypieces inc Louis XV English Scottish Chippendale Rococo fireplace mantels.

	Width	Height	Depth
External	56 11⁄16" 144 cms	51 3⁄16" 130 cms	11 13⁄16" 30 cms
Internal	39" 99 cms	37 13⁄16" 96 cms

Stock: 15558

An exceptionally finely carved and very large alabaster group of the Judgement of Paris, depicting Paris seated and wearing his Phrygian cap, offering the Hesperidean apple to a lightly draped Venus, whilst the jealous figures of Hera and Athena consol each other. The scene is mounted on a rectangular plinth. Italian, mid 19th century.

Photograph before restoration.

Provenance: A collection within a fine Wiltshire Townhouse.

	Width	Height	Depth
	15 3⁄8" 39 cms	21 11⁄16" 55 cms	6 11⁄16" 17 cms

Stock: 15618

A French Rococo parcel-gilt and gesso overmantel mirror, with a scrolling rocaille and foliate decoration forming the crest of the ogee shaped frame. The rest of the frame has a lobed decoration with a beaded inner edge and terminates in acanthus scroll brackets to the base. This frames the elegantly bevelled original mirror plate.
French, c.1890.

View our collection of: Antique mirrors

	Width	Height	Depth
	33 11⁄16" 85.5 cms	53 13⁄16" 136.7 cms	4 1⁄4" 11 cms

Stock: 15616

A fine gilt bronze fire screen in the Louis XVI taste, the handle forming part of a ribboned design suspending drapery, and the outer frame cast to take the form of a bound laurel wreath, surmounted by fruiting finials. The lower decoration takes the form of a formalised scrolling acanthus design, with scrolling feet either side. French, c.1890.

View our collection of: Antique Firescreens.

	Width	Height	Depth
	20 7⁄8" 53 cms	28 11⁄16" 73 cms	9 1⁄8" 23 cms

Stock: 15615

A fine George III chimneypiece in Statuary and Siena marble. The inverted breakfront shelf sits above a boldly carved egg and dart undershelf, resting over the faux fluted frieze inlaid with fine Siena Marble and studded with two oval paterae.
The central rectangular tablet depicts three putti, one possibly Cupid as he holds a bow, the others grapple with a quiver of arrows. This scene is situated within ribbon tied drapery. The endblocks are also carved with putti, one holding a set of cymbal like instruments aloft and the other holding an unfurling scroll.
Supporting the endblocks are the three-quarter columns also inlaid with Siena marble and topped by elegant composite ionic capitals and resting on socle and block plinth bases.

English, c.1770. With restorations.

View our section showing full range of neo-classical chimneypieces

	Width	Height	Depth
External	74" 188 cms	62 5⁄8" 159 cms	13" 33 cms
Internal	46 7⁄8" 119 cms	39" 99 cms

Stock: 15613

A large eighteenth century neoclassical painting depicting female worshippers bringing offerings to an altar dedicated to the Goddess Minerva; identified by her shield and the owl at her side.

Italian, 18th century with some restorations and slight craquelure to the surface. Christie's stencil on the stretcher.

Notes: The canvas is likely to have been designed within an architectural scheme, and may have been set into the wall to form part of an overmantel. Canvases of this type were first installed in Venetian palazzi, as frescoes were not practical with regular flooding, and such canvases could be removed if necessary.

	Width	Height	Depth
Frame	69 11⁄16" 177 cms	49 13⁄16" 126.5 cms	1 3⁄16" 3 cms
Canvas only	63 3⁄16" 160.5 cms	43 1⁄4" 110 cms

Stock: 15536

A large Regency plaster figure, by Humphrey Hopper, painted with a simulated bronze patina, on a circular base and holding the fitting for a torchere. The figure is mostly likely to be a depiction of a Vestal Virgin given her hooded robes.
English, early 19th century. Unsigned.

View our collection of: Antique sculptures, carvings, bronzes, plaques and tablets

		Height
		43 1⁄4" 110 cms
		9 13⁄16" 25 cms

Stock: 15600

A set of eleven transfer printed Aesthetic Movement tiles, with a foliate design in sepia and ochre. Embossed factory marks verso.
English, late 19th century.

	Width	Height	Depth
	6" 15.3 cms	6" 15.3 cms	0 5⁄8" 1.5 cms

Stock: 15604

A collection of late 19th Century transfer printed tiles, comprising a series of ten tiles, printed with central concentric floral designs, on a Japanese inspired hatched background. Very much of the Aesthetic Movement style. Embossed with factory mark verso.
English, c.1890. Notes: Webbs Tileries of Worcester made many of their own designs but also supplied blank tiles to companies such as Wedgwood.

	Width	Height	Depth
	6 1⁄8" 15.5 cms	6 1⁄8" 15.5 cms	0 3⁄8" 1 cms

Stock: 15601

A late 19th Century Aesthetic transfer printed set of tiles, depicting an with urn brimming with flowers, printed in dark brown. Unmarked, possibly The Decorative Art Tile Company.
English, c.1890.

	Width	Height	Depth
	6" 15.3 cms	6" 15.3 cms	0 1⁄4" 0.8 cms

Stock: 15599

A set of twelve pictorial tiles by John Moyr Smith for Minton. The tiles depict the Idylls of the King, poems about King Alfred written by Tennyson and were first manufactured in 1876. Some of the tiles depict the following characters; Guinevere, Vivien, Gareth, Geraint, Enid et al, whilst others show scenes such as the death of Arthur.

English, c.1876.

	Width	Height	Depth
	6" 15.3 cms	6" 15.3 cms	0 1⁄4" 0.8 cms

Stock: 15542

A large and ornate gilt bronze lamp, modelled as a putto holding the lamp fitting aloft whilst kneeling on a hexagonal base embellished with foliate Rococo decorations.

French, c. 1880.

View our collection of: Antique candelabras, candlesticks and lamps

		Height	Width
		20 7⁄8" 53 cms	9 13⁄16" 25 cms

Stock: 15594

A pair of bronze twin handled campana urns in the classical style, with a low relief decoration reminiscent of a Greek Vase. Italian, 20th century.

		Height
		12 3⁄16" 31 cms
		9 1⁄8" 23 cms

Stock: 15539

An interesting Arts and Crafts fire basket, the back panel depicting the Day of Judgement within a medieval scene complete with a hilltop castle. God appears from swirling clouds, holding a ladder on which an angel pulls up the souls of the redeemed. In the foreground a crowd gathers around a hole where a man is being plunged into the depths of hell. This figure is intended to be licked by the flames of the fire in the grate, adding to the dramatic effect. The stylised sunflower brass andirons turn slightly outwards and are mounted on tapered legs.

English, c.1890.

	Width	Height	Depth
External	22 3⁄8" 57 cms	39" 99 cms	13" 33 cms
Back panel	17 11⁄16" 45 cms

Stock: 15589

A large pair of French Baroque andirons, cast in bronze and partially gilded. The bronze finials are strung with gilded rings and chains and the bulbous bronze centre of the andirons are supported by three gilded and scrolled legs which are mounted on a serpentine base. French, late 19th century.

	Width	Height	Depth
	9 3⁄8" 24 cms	18 1⁄8" 46 cms	5 7⁄8" 15 cms

Stock: 15587

A pair of antique giltwood wall brackets in the Rococo taste, with a serpentine shelf resting on scrolling acanthus leaves. Perfect as a candle bracket or for small ornaments. Italian, c.1890.

View our collection of: decorative antiques and furnishings

	Width	Height	Depth
	8 7⁄8" 22.5 cms	9 3⁄8" 24 cms	5 1⁄8" 13 cms

Stock: 15586

An early 19th century pierced steel fender with three rosettes and beaded edges.
English, c.1820.

View our collection of: Antique Fenders, Firescreens and Nursery Guards

	Width	Height	Depth
	52 13⁄16" 134 cms	6 1⁄4" 16 cms	15" 38 cms

Stock: 15582

A grand French Louis XVI gilded overmantel mirror with a cartouche forming the crest, from which emanate sprigs of loosely ribboned laurel. The rest of the frame is decorated with a tightly bound laurel design, very much in the French tradition. The gilding has been deliberately distressed to partially reveal the warm red ground.
French, c.1880.

View our collection of: Antique mirrors

	Width	Height
	49 3⁄16" 125 cms	66 7⁄8" 170 cms

Stock: 15577

A pair of late 19th century bronze tazzas, profusely decorated and supported by stylised winged griffin like creatures with the faces of women and clawed feet.
They would look wonderful as part of a table display or stands for fruit or confectionary.

Probably French, c.1880.

View our collection of: decorative antiques and furnishings

	Width	Height
	8 11⁄16" 22 cms	10 5⁄8" 27 cms

Stock: 15574

A very decorative maiolica vase hand painted with a Roman battle scene to the bulbous body. The statement handles have been modelled into winged putti grotesques, much like a figurehead on the bow of a ship. Signed by the renowned Cantagalli workshop in Florence. Italian, late 19th century.

Ulisse Cantagalli was born into a family of potters in Florence. He was obsessed with replicating the fine tin glazed maiolica of the Italian Renaissance, and when he took over the family's factory in Florence he began to specialise in producing reproductions of these exquisite pieces, and also produced his own designs in this style.

View our collection of: decorative antiques and furnishings

		Height
		24 3⁄8" 62 cms

Stock: 2711

A pair of high backed, deep buttoned leather and mahogany Gainsborough style chairs. The leather has acquired a lovely patina and is fixed in place with decorative with stud work and is supported by square legs and an H stretcher.

English, early 20th century.

View our collection of: Antique furniture

	width	height	depth
	26" 66 cms	45" 114.3 cms	24" 61 cms

Stock: 15561

A rare Regency drop leaf occasional table in solid mahogany, the twin demi-lune drop leaves opening over and folding around an unusual central cylinder, which is mounted on a squat columnar shaft terminating in four lappet carved legs with scrolled feet and their original castors.
English, c.1810.

Link to: Antique furniture

	Diameter	Height
	32 11⁄16" 83 cms	28 11⁄16" 73 cms

Stock: 15560

A late 18th century, mahogany longcase clock by Joseph Grey of Durham. The case is enriched with satinwood crossbanding, bordered by ebony and box wood stringing. The moulded, inlaid trunk door is flanked by a pair of reeded quarter pilasters over the the generously moulded plinth, on ogeed feet.
The brass arched top dial with gilt pierced spandrels, silvered chapter ring with Roman hours and Arabic minutes has a matt centre with a subsidiary seconds dial and date aperture. This is flanked by a pair of reeded columns with brass Corinthian capitals, beneath a swan-neck pediment with brass finals and central brass eagle. The four pillar eight day movement strikes the hours on a single bronze bell.
English, circa 1760.

View our collection of: Antique clocks and clock garniture

		Height	Width
		90 3⁄16" 229 cms	10 5⁄8" 27 cms

Stock: 15559

A pair of very finely carved 19th century alabaster figures of muses, in classical dress, each standing on circular pedestals intricately carved with flowers and beading. The figures after after Antonio Canova's, Dancers, or his Danzatrice con le manu sui fianchi and his danzatrie col dito al mento. Italian, c.1850.

View our collection of: Antique sculptures, carvings, bronzes, plaques and tablets

		Height
		19 11⁄16" 50 cms

Stock: 15557

A pair of 19th century Meiji period Imari bottle vases, with handpainted red and blue fan and circular reserves of oriental pheasants and paulownia. A very decorative pair, perfect as single stem vases.

Japanese, mid-19th century. #

View our collection of: decorative antiques and furnishings

	Diameter	Height
	6 11⁄16" 17 cms	12 3⁄16" 31.1 cms

Stock: 15508

A good example of an early twentieth century time recorder clock in an oak case, serial number 51947. The glass door panel bears the words, "National Time Recorder Co. (Patentees) Blackfriars London. S.E.". The clock face with Roman numerals is set within a wood frame and bears the name "National Time Recorder Co. Ltd. Aquinas St, Stamford St. London EC1". beneath which is a small metal plaque stating "Local service, The National Time Recorder Co Ltd. Phone: Central 3655 . This Time Recorder is in full working order.
English, circa 1935.

Notes: Time Recorders like this one would have been used to record the times workers came in and out of their place of work. The National Time Recorder Co. Ltd (incorporated in 1917, company number 146424, though possibly founded around 10 years earlier in 1907) was one of the two largest UK manufacturers of time recorders. The head office and factory was originally based in Blackfriars London, and moved to the Lagoon Works in St Mary Cray (Orpington) Kent in 1951, on the site of the Blue Lagoon swimming pool which had been damaged during the war. Other branches were established in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Sheffield. [Source: World Clocks]

	Width	Height	Depth
	12 1⁄2" 31.8 cms	42" 106.7 cms	11" 28 cms