A Pair of 19th Century Duelling or Officer’s Pistols topped Tennants Auctioneers’ Militaria and Ethnographica Sale when they sold for £7,800 (plus buyer’s premium). The pistols were made by Joseph Manton of London, one of the leading gunsmiths of his age, and were sold in a fitted mahogany case with Manton’s original paper label.
A small private collection of World War I and World War II propaganda and recruiting posters and signs sold well throughout. The top lot of the collection, selling for £1,200, was an Early 20th Century Enamel Advertising Sign for ‘The Passing Show’ magazine. The sign depicted Lloyd George seated reading the magazine whilst his steward restrains members of his War Cabinet with an inscription stating ‘Hush!! He’s Busy’.
Medals continued to sell well, and the leading group in this sale came with provenance from Forcett Hall, North Yorkshire. The group of three Victoria Campaign Medals, which sold for £1,000 against a £200-250 estimate, were awarded to N.G Fraser. The group comprised the India General Service Medal 1854, the India Medal 1896, and the Queens South Africa Medal. Interestingly, the clasps on the two India medals had been professionally, but incorrectly transposed, perhaps for display purposes. Also of note was a Bronze Medal Commemorating the Visit of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron to South Africa and South America in 1908; with fourteen clasps the medal sold for £850.
Finally, a 19th Century Indo-Persian Steel Shield sold well above estimate at £500. The convex circular shield was highly decorated with applied brass flowerheads and tendrils, and applied steel quatrefoil entwined serpent and gold koftgari decoration.
The sale achieved a total hammer price of £62,100 with an 95% sold rate for 256 lots.
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