WICK ANTIQUES AT

MASTERPIECE

Charles set up Wick Antiques 25 years ago and has been trading in Lymington,Hampshire and London ever since. He specialises in 18th & 19th Century fine

furniture and works of art as well as the unusual and unique. In 1990 he marriedCaroline, who was trained at Christie’s and worked at Sotheby’s as a cataloguer

and auctioneer in the Japanese and Islamic departments, which explains thelarge number of Oriental works of art in this catalogue. The Wallrocks buy and sellinternationally as well as exhibiting at leading Antiques Fairs. Charles is a vettor for

19th Century furniture at the June Olympia Fine Art and Antiques Fairs and hasrecently been invited to join the advisory board of the LAPADA Berkley Square

Fair.

4

A Gold Lacquer Suzuribako

This writing box comprises a shaped rectangularbox and cover with applied silver rims and fittedwith a suiteki (water dropper) in the form ofmaple leaves, a knife, a skewer and two brushesall in nashiji with silver mounts. The entireensemble is decorated with a continuousmountain landscape of waterfalls cascadingover rocky outcrops amongst flowering cherries,red-leafed maples and pine trees and ripplingpast a thatched building, all on a Gyobu nashijiground. The hiramakie and takamakiedecoration has additional silver and goldkirigane blossoms, raden, cut foil inlays andnumerous uchikomi hollows in the rocks. Theblack lacquer storage box has a description ofthe contents and two red seals. Japanese, Meijiperiod, circa 1890.(See inside front cover for detail of inner cover)

Length: 9½ in; 24cmWidth: 10½ in; 27cm

For a tebako (document box) with a very similarlandscape in reverse see The Nasser D. Khalili

Collection of Japanese Art, Vol. IV, London,1995, No 120.

6

A Chess Table made for Mr Luke Trapp Flood byGillow of Lancaster

Luke Trapp Flood The origin of the intriguing decorationon this table is explained by severalletters and scraps of paper bearingink sketches for the designs; bothroundels and lozenges. All thecorrespondence appears to havebeen to Luke Trapp Flood of BellevueLodge, Chelsea and Mrs Flood,Denfield, Dorking with an envelopepost marked 1844. One letter is fromGeorge Jepson, dated January 24th1843, applying for the post ofChaplain at the ‘New Prison ofClerkenwell’. In addition there arerules for Chess, Back gammon and‘Crazy croquet’ handwritten by LukeThomas Flood.

Footnote:Luke Trapp Flood (b1809-) was theeldest son of Luke Thomas Flood(1775-1860), after whom Flood Streetwas named. Like his father, Luke wasa magistrate, a generous patron ofthe arts and a benefactor of manycauses; he attended meetings of theMill Hill Providence Institution, theNational School Committee, and waselected a Governor of the Queen

Elizabeth Grammar School, Barnet. In1841 he married Elizabeth (Bessie)Todd and they had six children,dividing their time between BellevueLodge, Chelsea, Dachet andBelmont, Mill Hill (presumably thelarge house built by James Paine inthe 1760’s which is presently Mill HillPreparatory School.)

These hand-written diaries, which areincluded with the table, cover theperiod August 1853- December 1864in seven volumes, 8vo, on 800 pages,of closely written script. They are veryfully written-up with details of visits,the hiring and dismissal of servants,purchases, train journeys, family andbusiness matters, visits to exhibitionsand two tours of Scotland in 1859 and1864. Prices are noted for anythingfrom pocket money for his sons atHarrow to the £15.15.0 for a goldwatch from Harrods. There is an entryrecording a visit to Brighton to a MrPepper about the commission of amonument, which is no doubt thestatue of Luke Thomas Flood for StLuke’s Church, Chelsea.

8

The ebony table itself has a shapedrectangular top inset with an intricatepenwork chess board within a silverframe and flanked by two inlaidacorn and oak leaf panels. The friezeis carved with a bold gadroonededge above a single small disguiseddrawer on either side. The turned endsupports are also deeply carved withflower heads and acanthus leaves.Stamped Gillow, English ,circa 1845.

Height: 29½ in; 75cmWidth: 45in; 114cmDepth: 26in; 66cm

Footnote:In her book Penwork, A Decorative

Phenomenon, Wetherby, 2008, pp 70-75, Noël Riley illustrates seven chessboards but they are all mounted onsingle pedestal tables and thedecorative elements seem to bemainly classical or floral rather thangeometric examples similar to these.However Figure 118, p92, shows adesign on paper, currently in theVictoria and Albert Museum,“probably intended to be glued to apanel and protected with varnish fora table top”.

9

10

Cupid by Pompeo Marchesi

Text

Footnote: C P Marchesi, more usually known asPompeo Marchesi, (born Saltrio, nearMilan, 7 August 1790; died Milan, 6February 1858) was a Lombardsculptor of the neoclassical school.He studied at the Accademia diBelle Arti in Milan under the aegis ofGiuseppe Franchi (1731–1806) and in1804 won a scholarship to studyunder Antonio Canova, in Rome.Returning to Milan in 1811 he wasquickly enlisted to create works forMilan Cathedral, including numerousstatues of saints, eg. the ProphetsEzekiel and Amos (1810–11) for thefaçade. He was also professor ofsculpture at the Accademia andexecuted a large number of groups

from a colossal statue of St. Ambrose,for the duomo, to Terpsichore andVenus Urania for the Arco dellaPace. Foreign commissions includedportrait statues of Charles EmmanuelIII in Novara, Goethe in Frankfurt andtwo statues of the Emperor Francis Iof Austria.

Height: 26½ in; 67.5cmWidth: 18in; 46cm

A Superb Bronze of a Golden Pheasant

The bird is standing with raised wings and anabundant tail. It is patinated with speckledblack and gilt plumage and reddish chest feath-ers. On a root wood base, signed. Japanese,Meiji period.

Height: 12in; 30.5cmLength: 27¼ in; 69cm

Footnote:See Laura Bordignon, The Golden Age of

Japanese Okimono, p.248 for a very similarpheasant by Masatsune-chu.

12

14

An Italian Micro Mosaic Table

The circular top shows a pair ofcourting doves in a luxurious bouquetof flowers including roses, morningglory, hibiscus, pansies, hydrangeaand tulips against a black groundwithin a blue and gilt strapworkborder punctuated by lozengesenclosing butterflies and beetles. Thefine details of every flower and insectare minutely worked in colouredstones. Rome, circa 1825.

The mahogany base is in the Empirestyle and has three classical female

term legs joined by a solid stretcherand bearing ormolu mounts. French,19th century.

Height: 29¼ in; 74cmDiameter: 31in; 79cm

Footnote:For a very similar example seeJeannette Hanissee Gabriel, Micromosaic: The Gilbert Collection, p.133.

16

A Regency Shell-work Floral Arrangement

This delicate work of art is composed of a richabundance of naturalistic flowers made fromcoloured shells and arranged in an openworknavette vase. The vase is applied with gold foiland raised on a rectangular shell-encrustedplinth, with ormolu scroll feet. All in a protectiveglass dome. English, circa 1815.

Height: 22in; 56cmWidth: 16in; 41cmDepth: 8in; 20cm

18

This unusual and versatile Regency mahogany extending dining table isconstructed in four sections and has a reeded edge to the roundedrectangular top. The tilt-top end sections are raised on turned pillars withquadruple splayed legs. The two drop-leaf central sections have detachableleaves and 16 tapered square supports which open with a gateleg action.With brass cappings and castors. English, circa 1810.

Fully extended length: 20ft; 6.20mHeight: 29in; 74cmWidth: 62½ in; 159cm

Provenance:The Dean and Chapter of Durham CathedralThis exceptional dining table was formerly in Durham Cathedraland was probably made for the Prior’s Hall, in the Deanery, when itserved as a dining room. The Prior’s Hall is a 19th Century room witha medieval ante-room, formed within part of the monasticbuildings attached to the Cathedral church and is now used forconferences, lectures and meetings. Latterly this table was used formeetings of the Trustees of the Lord Crewe Trust. (Nathaniel, LordCrewe was Bishop of Durham from 1674 until 1722.)

A Dining Table from Durham Cathedral

20

A Set of Fourteen Regency Dining Chairs

This set of Regency mahogany chairs comprises two carvers and twelveside chairs. Each chair has a drop-in seat within a curved seat rail aboveturned and reeded legs. The backs have rope twist cresting rails andebony strung splats. English, circa 1815.

Footnote:The reeded legs and quality of both the craftsmanship and the timberwould suggest that these chairs were manufactured by the firm of Gillow.

22

A Pair of Ivory and walnut Figures,

These charming statuettes show an elegantcouple dressed in the height of 18th centuryfashion. The lady wears a high frilled bonnetwith a large bow under her chin, elbow gloves,high heeled shoes and carries a fan and areticule. The gentleman has an even higherberibboned hat, large ruffles at the neck andwrists, similar heeled shoes and sports a walkingcane. The lady’s dress and the gentleman’s suitare both carved in walnut with stained blackstripes and carved floral designs still showingtraces of the original painted gilt decoration.French, circa 1860.

Height: 18½ in; 47cmMaximum width: 10in; 25cm

24

A Portrait of a Lady by J C Aviat, 1898

This three-quarter length oil on canvas depicts asociety lady standing by a mantelpiece wearinga white lace dress and holding a fan. Her wasp-waist is accentuated by a pink sash with anelaborate bow. French. Signed Jules Aviat 1898.In the original frame.

Height: 61in; 155cmWidth: 46in; 117cm

Footnote:Jules-Charles Aviat was born in Brienne-le-Chateau on 21 June 1844. He was at varioustimes the pupil of Hébet, de Bonnat andLafrance and by the 1870s had become anoted genre and portrait painter. He exhibitedat the Salon many times between 1876-1924and at the Universal Exhibitions in Paris 1900 andBrussels 1910. Between 1884-1910 Aviat wasfortunate enough to have amassed aconsiderable amount of prize money for hispaintings, the greatest being 495 francs in 1888.One of his most famous paintings, La Mort deMarat , 1880, now hangs in the Musée desBeaux-Arts in Rouen.

26

A Kyoto school Bronze Figure of Kannon

The bodhisattva is standing upright with a lotusfrond in her left hand and wearing drapedrobes. She is portrayed with a serenecountenance and demurely downcast eyeswhile her elaborately coiffed hair supports aformal headdress. Meiji period, circa 1910.Signed with two seal marks and with two fittedwooden boxes, one inscribed.

Height: 15¼ in; 39.5cmDiameter of base: 4¾ in; 12cm

Provenance:Within the box are two papers, one ahandwritten family tree of the Takamura familyof bronze workers and the other certifying thatthis figure was made by the father andgrandfather of Shoshiki (Matsushiki) Takamura,himself a mastercraftsman in this family of skilledartists.

Footnote:A bodhisattva is a Buddhist deity who hasreached the brink of Enlightenment but chosento remain on earth to help mankind.

28

A Victorian Library Cabinet

This walnut cabinet has a shaped, stepped topabove a central glazed door enclosing fourMoroccan leather drawers with cedar linings.Flanked by eight smaller disguised drawers, theornately carved corner pilasters ope to revealdecoration throughout in walnut, amboyna andkingwood veneers. English, circa 1845.

Height: 36in, 91.5cmWidth: 35in; 89cmDepth: 22½ in; 60.5cm

Footnote: The exceptional quality and unusual design ofthis piece would suggest that it wascommissioned from a leading firm of cabinetmakers such as Gillow or Holland and Son by awealthy patron. Typically cedar linings wereused for preserving deeds and importantpapers, which would further indicate that thiscabinet was for a gentleman’s study or library.

30

A Jardinière by Alexandre Sandier

This monumental Sèvres royal blue and giltmajolica jardinière comprises a wide bowlsupported on a vase flanked by three classicalfemale terms with paw feet and set on a flutedwhite marble column. The richly mouldeddecoration shows putti and classical maidensbearing amphora against plaited swags andstrapwork, all with overpainted giltornamentation. French, circa 1910.

Height: 60in; 153cmDiameter: 29in; 75cm

Footnote:Alexander Sandier (1843-1916) began his careeras an architect and decorator in New York butreturned to Paris in 1882 where he wasappointed artistic director of the Sèvresporcelain factory from the 1897 until his death.He was noted for the introduction of designs inthe Art Nouveau style and a new palette ofstrong, dynamic colours. Under his direction thecompany developed a line of vases namedafter French cities which were exhibited at bothL’Exposition Universelle (where he was a judge)and La Sociéte des Artistes Françaises 1900.

32

A Writing Table attributed to Gillow

This partners’ table has a shaped rectangularleather inset top above four disguised friezedrawers. It is raised on turned, tapering andreeded legs with brass castors. English, circa1820.

Height: 30½ in; 78cmWidth: 43in; 137cmDepth: 34in; 36cm

A Goncalo Alves Open Bookcase

This rare Victorian double-sided bookcase is ofshaped rectangular form withtwo shelves. The top is enclosed by a piercedormolu gallery and the fluted supportsterminate in brass castors. English. Circa 1880.

Height: 28in; 71cmWidth: 24in; 61cmDepth: 15¾ in; 40cm

33

34

An Ivory of Omori Hokohichi

In this superb Tokyo school group the beardedwarrior wears a flowing robe and grasps a swordat his side, as he strides over reed-boundstepping stones in a river. On his back he carriesa beautiful young girl with a parasol andwearing a fringe of orange-blossom in her hair.Their faces are full of expression and the robeshave incised textile designs. On a rootwoodstand. Inscribed Fort Portal. Japanese, Meijiperiod, circa 1880.

Height: 26in; 62cm

Footnote: The legend of Omori Hoko(h)ichi has manyversions, but this okimono appears to show theone where the great hero offers to carry abeautiful lady across a ford. Half way across, hecatches sight of their reflection and realizes thatshe is, in reality, a witch, whereupon he puts herto death with his sword.

A Tooled-leather Lamp Table

This unusual Charles X table has a small roundtop with an aquatint inset under glass within anormolu gallery. The engraving shows the ThreeGraces stealing arrows from Cupid as he sleepscurled up against a rock. The table itselfcomprises a frieze drawer in the central drumabove a facetted straight support on threecabriole legs with brass castors. It is decoratedthroughout in gilt-tooled red leather withclassical motifs and borders including armorialtrophies, sphinxes and honey bees. French,circa 1825.

Height: 30½ in; 77cmDiameter: 12in; 30.5cm

36

39

A Fine Bronze Eagle

This imposing bird is shown perched on agnarled rootwood stand. It is leaningforward watching for prey with its wings fullystretched. The eyes, beak andtalons are gilded. Signed. Japanese, Meijiperiod, circa 1890.

Height with stand: 31in; 79inWidth: 25¼ in; 64cm

38

A Bronze Lion

The snarling animal is naturalistically modelledwith a rippling mane and lips drawn back toexpose sharp teeth. The eyes have shakudo

and gilt pupils. Seal mark Kousai. Japanese, Meijiperiod, circa 1880.

Height: 10in; 25cmLength: 16in; 41cm

40

A Lacquer Suzuribako and Bundai

The writing box has a fitted silver-edged cover showing a waka

(poem) by Motoori Norinaga ofraden characters in a cloudscape.The interior continues the theme, witha dramatic morning sky above rollinghills sprinkled with snow and the topsof fir trees in the foreground. Thedecoration is rendered in goldhiramakie, takamakie, silver kirikane

and some Gyobu nashiji. The utensilsinclude a silver suiteki(water dropper)in the form of a seal, a removablebrush rest, an ink stone and a sumitori

(ink holder), a knife, a skewer andtwo brushes with silver mounts chasedwith cherry blossoms. The underside isalso in nashiji. Signed under theinkstone Uzuki and in a red sealFujiwara.

Length: 10½ in; 27cmWidth: 9½ in; 24cm

Footnote:Motoori Norinaga (21 June 1730–5November 1801) was a Japanesescholar of Kokugaku (National

Revival) during the Edo period. He isprobably the best known and mostprominent of all scholars in thistradition. Having studied medicineand Chinese and Japanese philologyin Kyoto, he opened a medicalpractice in Matsuzaka for infantswhile devoting his spare time tolectures on the Tale of Genji andstudies of the Nihon Shoki (Chroniclesof Japan). Although overshadowedby his activities as a Kokugakuscholar, Norinaga spent 40 years as adoctor and was seeing patients until10 days before his death in 1801.

Asked about the Japanese Spirit,

I would reply

That it is

Like Wild Cherry Blossoms

With a subtle fragrance in the Morning Sun.

By Motoori Norinaga

42

The matching writing table also showsthe sky above hills on a roiro groundwith a swirl of mura nashiji mist on thefoothills and a meandering rivergleaming in the valley. There arethree further characters inlaid into theriver beside rafts of floating logs andcherry blossoms drifting on the breezeabove. The legs are edged in silverand decorated with cloud bandssimilar to those on the suzuribako andthe underside of the table is in nashiji.The corners bear silver mounts whichcorrespond to those on the writingutensils. Signed Uzuki. Meiji period,circa 1890.

Length: 25½ in; 64cmWidth: 14¾ in; 37.5cm

Footnote:The condition of this matching set ofwriting accoutrements is superb. This isentirely attributable to the care andattention paid to the storage and

packing of all the separate items.The utensils have individual silk bagsand there is abundant cotton wooland tissue paper wadding. The itemsare all wrapped in silk squares andquilts and fitted into a tightly fittingblack lacquer storage boxes. Bothroiro boxes are inscribed in gilt with adescription of their contents and onehas a collector’s label.

44

A Pair of Tables Attributed to Donald Ross

These satinwood wood side tables are English inthe French Louis XV style have freize drawersand are decorated with parquetry trellis inpurpleheart to the top, frieze and stretcher. Thesquare tapering legs are applied with ormolumounts. Circa 1870.

Height: 27¾ in; 70.5cmWidth: 16½ in; 42cmDepth: 14½ in; 37cm

Footnote:The London firm of Donald Ross had premises at13 Denmark Square, Soho during the thirdquarter of the 19th century. Ross appears tohave made a speciality of the ‘dottedmarquetry trellis’ popularised by Garnier andSene in 18th century Paris. The firm exhibited atthe Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. It isknown that Donald Ross supplied furniture toimportant furniture retailers like the Lancasterand London firm of Gillow and Edwards andRoberts, 21 Wardour St, ‘Antique and ModernCabinet makers and Importers of AncientFurniture’.

46

A Gothic Revival Stoup

This beautiful holy water vessel comprises aslender silver figure of the Madonna holding agilded lily and ruby encrusted bible. She wearsdraped robes with a gem-set clasp and a tri-lobed crown embellished with seed pearls andcabochon stones. The figure is set within anopenwork niche of silver-gilt fleurs-de-lys trellisbelow an ogival baldachin also set withprecious stones and supported by lapis lazulicolumns above a conical lapis lazuli stoup.Stamped, Coffignon Frres, Paris, circa 1860.

Height: 14in; 37.5cm

48

An Impressive and Important Ivory Charger

This magnificent ivory dish has a central lobedoval field with a ribbed curvetto and an ornaterim comprising panels of bacchanalian revelries.This in turn is framed by reclining figures andhandles composed of scallop shells shelteringputti playing musical instruments. The variouselements are secured by ormolu mounts in theform of satyr-head scrolls and winged femalemasks. The central field is carved throughout inhigh relief with a large array of carousingcharacters grouped around a central thronewith numerous satyrs and fawns frolicingamongst olive trees and playing musicalinstruments for the entertainment of Goddessesand Muses. South German, 18th century.(See the cover for full image)

Length: 37½ in; 95cmWidth: 30½ in; 78cm

Footnote:

50

An Large Ivory Tankard

This monumental tankard is carved from a singlesection of tusk with a continuous high-reliefbattle scene. The central commander wears acrown and a long beard and appears to bedismounting from a chariot. All around himhorsemen with lances, swords and macesstampede over fallen horses and massacre theirenemies. The finial shows a kneeling Romansoldier and the handle comprises the heroHeracles in combat with another solider. Thehinged rim, cover and flanged foot ring areworked in silver-gilt with repoussé panoplies ofwar within shell-work scrolls on a stippled ground.German, mid 18th century.

Height: 18½ in; 47cm Width: 11¾ in; 30cmDepth: 8in; 20cm

52

A Mahogany Dining Table

This Regency twin pillar dining table has a shapedrectangular top of exceptional colour. Theturned baluster supports have four outswept legsterminating in paw feet with brass castors. Thereis one original leaf which can be inserted toextend the table or, alternatively, a smaller leaffitted onto one end makes the table into abreakfast table. English, circa 1815.

Height: Width:Depth:

54

A Pair of Cary’s 21-inch Terrestrialand Celestial Library Globes

Each glove is surmounted by a brass scale in acircular mahogany stand with four arched sup-ports on a baluster and ring-turned column. Thetripod legs terminate in block feet and castors.One is inscribed "Cary's New Terrestrial Globe ex-hibiting the tracks and discoveries made byCaptain Cook.... together with every other im-provement collected from various navigators tothe present time", and the other "Cary's Newand Improved Celestial Globe on which is care-fully laid down the whole of the stars and nebu-lae... the whole adapted to the year 1800 andthe limits of each constellation determined by aboundary line", "London, made and sold by J &W Cary, Strand, March 1st 1815, with additionsand corrections to 1823," and "made and soldby J & W Cary Strand 1799". (Compasses re-placed).

Height: 48in; 122cm

Provenance: The Freemason's Hall, Bournemouth

56

A Pair of Shibayama and Gold Lacquer Tusk Vases

Each of these large ivory vases is decorated atthe mouth and foot with bands of textile designsand symbols of good fortune in gold andcoloured lacquer. The central fields have largepanels of shibayama inlay in coral, stainedbone, tortoiseshell and mother of pearl againstan incised ground. One vase shows a whitecockatoo on a branch and a floralarrangement in a hanging bamboo. The otherhas a grey raven peering into a stream, and astanding arrangement of flowers also in abamboo container. Raised on shaped woodenstands painted in gilt with masks and textilepatterns. Japanese, Meiji period, circa 1880.

Height: 17in; 43in (including stands)Width: 8in; 20cm Depth: 6½ in; 16.5cm

58

An Anglo-Chinese Centre Table

This rare hardwood table has a panelled marbletop framed within brass-inlaid hardwoodsurrounds. The six reeded legs are centred on acarved boss and raised on a further shapedbase with reeded feet and the original Englishcastors. For ease of transport the wholeensemble divides into three pieces, of which thecentral section folds away. Circa 1840.

Height:Width:Depth:

60

A Clock Garniture by Dumaige

This superb bronze, black marble andormolu garniture comprises a centralclock set in a stepped cylindricalbase with winged griffon bracketsand surmounted by two girls dancingover a tambourine and playing thetriangle and small cymbals. Twocompanion dancers raised onseparate square bases play thetambourine and castanets. Thewhole ensemble is worked in bronzeand marble with ormolu mounts in theclassical style. The dancers haveGrecian hairstyles, robes and sandalswhile the buttons, scarves andmusical instruments are highlighted ingilt. Signed on the base Dumaige

sculp, and on the clock. French, circa1860.

Height: 31in; 79cmWidth: 20in; 51cmDepth: 10in; 26cm

Footnote: Etienne Henri Dumaige (1830-1888)studied sculpture under Féuchèreand Dumont. He exhibited at theSalon from 1863-1886 in marble,plaster, terracotta and bronze,including portrait busts of Molière(1872), Rabelais (1873) andDesmoulins (1882). However he wasequally renowned for his statuettes ofdancers including works entitledSalome and Esmeralda. For a similar clock in ‘le goût Grec’ byHoubedine of Paris exhibited in theParis Exhibition, 1867 see JonathanMeyer, Great Exhibitions, 1851-1900,Antique Collectors Club 2006, p. 177.

62

Venus and Cupid

This large ivory group shows Venus with wingedCupid sitting astride her shoulder. She isportrayed with an elongated figure partiallydraped and gazing up at Cupid. To stop himfalling, she is holding one of his feet andcupping her right arm protectively above hishead. Cupid is holding her arm and leaningforwards to stare into her eyes. On a woodbase. Italian, circa 1750.

Height without base: 25in; 64cmDiameter: 5½ in; 14cm

64

The Kings Weston House Commodes

This pair of North Italian commodes inthe manner of Maggiolini haverectangular tops above threedisguised drawers, all raised onsquare tapering legs. The decorationcomprises panels of rosewood,olivewood, sycamore and box inlaidwith insects, dragonflies and flowerscentred on birds. The sides havetrailing floral garlands around aclassical profiles. 18th century.

Height: Width: 130cmDepth: 60cm

Provenance: Sir Francis Beaufort-Palmer andthence by descent.

Footnote:Sir Francis Beaufort-Palmer, (1845-

1917) was a direct descendant ofRear Admiral Francis Beaufort (1774-1857) the Royal Hydrologer whoinvented the Beaufort scale of windstrength. Sir Francis Beaufort-Palmer,an eminent lawyer, was also a keencollector of early art and anauthoritry on 15th century Spanishpaintings. He amassed the largestprivate collection of such paintings allof which were bought by WilliamHesketh Lever (The Lever Collection)in 1919. Weston House was built between1710-1725 by Sir John Vanburgh forEdward Southall and then passed onthrough several generations untilPhilip John Miles bought it in 1833. Hegenerously allowed his relatives,including the Beaufort-Palmers, to livethere with him.

66

A Pair of ‘Cape Town’ Plates

Each of these shallow porcelain dishes has adelicately scalloped rim and is painted inpolychrome enamels with four Dutch warshipsriding at anchor in Cape Town harbour withTable Mountain behind. Floral sprays in thefamille rose palette embellish the rim. Chinese,circa 1730.

Diameter: 9in; 23cm

Footnote:For a similar single plate, see F. Hevouêt & Y.Bruneau, La Porcelaine des Compagnies desIndes à Décor Occidental, Paris, 1986, p.38, fig.2.5 and for five other versions, see p 39, fig. 2.6-2.10. Another example appears in LunsinghScheurleer, Chinese Export Porcelain – Chine deCommande, London, 1974, fig. 242.

68

A Silver and Shibayama Kodansu attributed to Masayoshi

This spectacular silver kodansu is ofrectangular form with a hinged doorand carrying handle, decoratedoverall with a profusion of chasedand embossed kiku and applied withivory and gold hiramakie panelsvariously shaped as fans, maple-leaves, blossoms and gourds. Eachpanel is further decorated inshibayama encrustations of mother ofpearl, lacquer, bone, stained woodsand semi-precious stones depicting arich variety of floral arrangements,carp in a stream and birds includingdoves, a kingfisher, hens, an egretand a mandarin duck. The dooropens to reveal butterflies and aflower ball on a nashiji groundopposite three drawers with silverhandles decorated in togidaishi withan overall pattern of overlappingmaple leaves and prunus blossom.

The insides of the drawers andunderside also of nashiji. Japanese,Meiji period, circa 1890.

Height: 11½ in; 29.5cmWidth: 8in; 20cmDepth: 12in; 30cm

Footnote:For a very similar example byMasayoshi, see The Nasser D. Khalili

Collection of Japanese Art, vol. IV,London 1995, No.194. These twocaskets are remarkably similar both inform and decoration. The shapesand arrangements of the panelscorrespond, as do the decorativethemes within. The interior decorationon the drawers is also the same butthe Khalili kodansu has water wheelsand waves inside door as opposed toa flower ball.

70

A Table attributed to Holland and Sons

This superb centre table in amboyna,with thuyawood, tulipwood andsatinwood marquetry inlays has acircular top raised upon a tripodbase. The pedestal comprises threeturned columns joined by a solidstepped stretcher and terminating inoutswept legs with recessed castors.The decoration is predominantlycomposed of contrasting bandingand stringing in exotic timbers with acentral field of burr-veneers within alaurel wreath border embellished withivory berries. The legs and frieze arealso adorned with ormolu mountsincluding a central urn on thestretcher and classical masks,acanthus leaves and paterathroughout. London, circa 1860

Height: 29in; 74cmDiameter: 52in; 132cm

Footnote: For a table with a similar base byHolland and Sons exhibited in theLondon Exhibition, 1862 see Jonathan

Meyer, Great Exhibitions, 1851-1900,

Antique Collectors Club 2006, p. 122. Originally founded in 1803 by StephenTaprell and William Holland, a relationof the architect Henry Holland, thefirm of Holland & Sons became oneof the most successful furnituremaking companies in the 19thCentury. The firm worked extensivelyfor the Royal Family, being grantedthe Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria,for the decoration and furnishing ofOsborne House, Sandringham andMarlborough House. By 1859 theyemployed some of England's leadingdesigners and participated in all ofthe International Exhibitions from 1851to 1878.Holland and Sons also executed overthree hundred separate commissionsfor the British Government, includingwork at in the Palace of Westminster,the Victoria and Albert Museum.

72

Cupid with a Rose

The God of Love is depicted here, in ivory, as awinged child proffering a bloom plucked from alarge wicket basket of roses he is carrying on hisback. He holds his bow and quiver behind him.Set on a turned ebonized plinth with a ribbonround the drum. French, circa 1860.

Height: 20½; 52cmDiameter: 8¼ in; 21cm:

74

A Pair of Dragon Vases

These large porcelain vases are decorated in amost original and unusual manner. Each one hasa dragon with gaping jaws and bulging eyesrendered in underglaze green, which has beencrackled to simulate scales, and in gilt andbronze emphasising the flaming nostrils andmanes. The dragons coil round the vases but arealmost completely obscured by sprayed andspeckled silver clouds. The rims are gilded andthe bases overpainted with black enamel.Japanese, early 20th century.

Height: 36in; 91.5cmDiameter: 15in; 38cm

7676

A Strut Clock by Vasel

The ormolu case of this rectangularclock is profusely incised with scrollingfoliage round the stepped frame. Ithas small feet, a hinged carryinghook and pivoted strut on the back.The silvered face has large centraldial and two smaller subsidiary dialsfor day and date all on a chasedfloral ground. The Swiss movement ismarked Doxa and W Vasel, London.

Height: 7in; 18cmWidth: 5in; 13cm

Provenance:H J Morgan of Montague SquareLondon WI and Godalming, Surrey.

Footnote:The great clockmaker Thomas Cole(1800-1864) invented the strut clock,so called because of the hingedsupport at the back of the clock, inthe mid-19th century. These clocksbecame enormously popularbecause they were so much moreportable and slimmer than the

traditional square carriage clock. W.Vasel was an important Victorianclockmaker who was recorder atseveral addresses in London from1886-1907.

H J Morgan was a very influentialfigure in the world of motor cars andracing. He began by co-founding‘The Steering Wheel Club’ in Mayfairand continued with many positions ofauthority in the British AutomobileRacing Club (B.A.R.C), British RacingDriver’s Club (B.R.D.C.), Order of theRoad, Guild of Motoring Writers, theBrooklands Society, The Junior CarClub until it became the B.A.R.C andthe British Motor Racing CircuitOwners Association. In addition hewas Clerk of the Course at a host ofimportant races including Brooklands(1937-39), all J.C.C meetings,Donnington Park, Crystal Palace,Goodward and Aintree for the BritishGrands Prix of 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961& 1962.

77

A Model of HMS Ardent

This fine shipyard model of the firstArdent Class Torpedo Boat Destroyerhas a wooden hull and silvered deckfurnishings including three guns, aconning tower, guard rails and ananchor with chain. In the originaldisplay case. Bearing a silver plaqueinscribed

HMS ARDENT – BUILT BY THORNYCROFT, CHISWICK,LONDON – 1893206 TONS 4500 HP200FT LOA WATER TUBE BOILERS19FT BEAM SPEED 27 KNOTS7FT DRAFT COMPLIMENT – 46-53

Height: 15 ¾ in; 40cmWidth: 37in; 94cmDepth: 8in; 20cm

Footnote: HMS ArdentThe ship’s motto was “Death ratherthan disgrace”. The Torpedo BoatDestroyer HMS Ardent was launchedon the 16th October 1894. She ispictured here in Malta while

attached to the Mediterranean Fleetduring the 1890s as tender to theflagship HMS Ramillies, with the ideaof being used among other things, forthe training of the stokers of the Fleetin the management of water tubeboilers. The Ardent, to fulfil her specialpurpose, carried a 12 pounder quick-firing gun and five 6 pounders. Inaddition she had two torpedo tubesand was manned by 45 officers andmen. The ship was broken up in 1911.

78

A Cabinet attributed to Viardot, 1860

This important cabinet in the Orientalist taste iscomposed of a double tier central section ofdrawers and cupboards surmounted by astepped pagoda like top with further smalldrawers and a double-storey outswept roof.Crouching dragons guard three tiers, while bellshang from the topmost eaves. The cabinet ismade variously of kingwood, padouk,mahogany and rosewood with inlays in motherof pearl and ebony with brass stringing. Thedecoration comprises a pair of swans with avase of flowers above a bell dated 1860, on thecentral fall-front, and high relief carved figures ofChinese deities and auspicious birds, all within avariety of formal borders. The interior includessliding drawers, a mirrored recess with a chequerfloor and numerous further small drawers. Thewhole piece is raised on a plinth with grotesquelion dog feet. French, dated 1860.

Footnote:Gabriel Viardot (1830-1906) is justlyfamous for his exuberant pieces in the‘Orientalist’ taste. Advertising himselfas ‘Créateur des Meubles dans leGenre Chinois et Japonais’, heexhibited widely, beginning with theGreat Exhibition of 1851 in Londonand was both participant and jurorfor the 1867, 1878 and 1889 ParisExhibitions. His firm was mostsuccessful at exhibitions and wonfour medals in Paris; silver in 1867 and1878, gold in 1899 and 1900 andfurther gold in Antwerp 1884.Beginning his career as a wood carver, he took over the family firm at

rue du Grand-Chantier in 1861 andby 1885 employed over 100craftsmen. Later he moved to 36, rueRambuteau where his showroom sold‘objets d’art et de fantasie’ andfinally he settled at 36, rue Amelot.Moving in artistic circles, whichincluded Monet and Debussy, Viardotwas an integral part of thefashionable movement towards‘French Japonism’. One of his finalcommissions was a U-shaped deskgiven to the French PresidentGeorges Clemenceau by oriental artcollector Clémence d’Henne.

80

82

A Gold Lacquer Table Screen

This beautiful gold lacquer and ivory two foldtable screen is decorated in superb shibayama inlaysof mother of pearl, tortoiseshell, ivory andprecious metals on a nashiji ground. The twomain panels depict an interior with a bijin in aswirling kimono and huge obi turning to smile at asculptor sitting cross legged before a sculptureof Hotei. The room is full of decorative detailsincluding floral arrangements, a wall hanging, aparrot on a swing, a drum, a small table and afan. The smaller panels below are decoratedwith a peony and fan and a flower ball. Thereverse shows gilt quail amongst autumnalleaves on a roiro ground. All within an incisedivory frame with silver hinges and mounts. Signedon a mother of pearl tablet ?? . Japanese, Meijiperiod.

Height: 13½ in; 34.5cmWidth: 15½ in; 39.5cm

Footnote:For a very similar frame of plum blossom viewingalso by ??? see Laura Bordignon, The Golden

Age of Japanese Okimono, p. ??.

FAIRLEA HOUSE111-113 MARSH LANE

LYMINGTONHAMPSHIRESO41 9EE

www.wickantiques.co.uk