Fellows and Sons | Established 1876

The significance of provenance

All

Upcoming in our Antiques, Silver & Collectables sale on Monday 27th February is a 1940’s silver mounted oak Freedom Casket for the City of Carlisle (Lot 340).

Photo Number 1

Traditionally caskets have been used for the safe custody of articles of value such as Scrolls of Honorary Freedom, Freedom of Entry, Addresses of Welcomes or Congratulations or other similar gifts; often they are produced in wood, silver or Perspex or a combination of the three. Many silver caskets are decorated with engraved or enamelled Coat of Arms or monograms. The example on offer in the sale is a replica of the fifteenth century Common Chest of Carlisle which opens to reveal a presentation plaque and Honorary Freeman scroll named to Herbert Atkinson Esq., J.P.

Photo Number 2

The scroll reads; ‘Presented with the Honorary Freedom of the City by the Mayor Aldermen and Citizens of the City of Carlisle to Herbert Atkinson. Esq. J.P. A Member of the City Council for Twenty-Eight Years and Mayor in 1932-33, in Appreciation and Acknowledgment of his Distinguished Services to the Local Government of the City 2nd April, 1951.’

The Freedom of the City is bestowed to individuals by a city council who the city wishes to pay tribute. Hebert Atkinson was the Mayor and alderman of Carlisle and chairman of Carlisle Education Committee, alongside his wife Olive Atkinson; both of their jewels which were presented on the termination of their year as Mayor and Mayoress are also included in the forthcoming auction (Lot 837).

Photo Number 3

These two 9ct gold and enamel jewels each bear the Carlisle coat of arms and come with fitted cases personally embossed; the Mayoress’s example is set with single-cut diamonds.

A large proportion of the value of these type of caskets is dependent on the provenance of the individual recipient with whom it was presented; which entail commands the high prices achieved at auction. The same could be said of any item which provides an interesting insight or snippet of history. Lot 789 in the upcoming sale offers a thought-provoking reminder of the transportation of British convicts to Australia and Tasmania during the late eighteenth and first half of the nineteenth century.

The Great Britain/Australia convict token, is a 1797 Soho Cartwheel Twopence whose reverse has been erased and then stipple engraved with the following message:

M.C . IF ON THY FACE FOR A NAME SHAME AND REPROACHES BE I’LL HAIL REPROACH AND WELCOME SHAME IF THOU REMEMBER ME. A KEEPSAKE FROM THOMAS HAMMOND TRANSPORTED FOR LIFE APRIL 1841“.

Photo Number 6

Hammond was twenty-seven years old when he was convicted, a carpet weaver from Kidderminster, born in Bewdley, Worcestershire. He was convicted at Northampton Quarter Sessions of burglary and stealing £1.1.0, coal, spoons and bacon. He arrived in Van Diemen’s Land, Tasmania on the 19th February 1842 and was sent to work with a gang at Flinders Bay. These otherwise low denomination copper coins are important for learning and understanding personal details about the convicts who were often only represented by official government records. This example is sure to entice the bidders as it is accompanied with family letters and documentation relating to Hammond.

If you would like more details of any of the lots in our Antiques, Silver & Collectables auction on Monday 27th February please view our online catalogue or contact us directly and we will be happy to help.

Viewing Times

23 February 2017 10am – 4pm

24 February 2017 10am – 4pm

25 February 2017 11am – 4pm

27 February 2017 8.00am – 9.30am