final matthew barton press release may 2011

8/7/2019 Final Matthew Barton Press Release May 2011

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Matthew Barton LtdSilver, Works of Art & Objects of Vertu

PRESS RELEASE

IMPORTANT CASKET HIGHLIGHTS AUCTION OFSILVER, WORKS OF ART AND OBJECTS OF VERTU

A MAGNIFICENT George V Gold Freedom Casket

enamelled with the arms of the County Borough of

Newport (Wales) will highlight Matthew Barton Ltds

auction of Silver, Works of Art and Objects of Vertu.

The sale will take place on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in

West Kensington at 25 Blythe Road, W14. It is

estimated at 18,000-22,000.

Made by S. Blanckensee & Son Ltd of Birmingham

and dated 1924, the rectangular casket is decorated

with Newport views of St. Paul's National School,

Commercial Street and Newport Harbour, while the rear has panels of St. Paul's Church and the

G.W.R. Chepstow Castle steam locomotive. The interior has crushed cream satin lining and

presentation plaque, also containing the scroll pronouncing 'The Right Honourable James Henry

Thomas' an 'Honourary Freeman of the County Borough of Newport', underside inscribed 'SUPPLIED

BY HOSKIN NEWPORT MON.'. The presentation inscription reads: Presented to the Right Honourable

James Henry Thomas M.P., His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, by a few friends

on his being made an Honourable Freeman of his native town of Newport, Mon., on May 8th 1924.

J.H. Thomas, in spite of leaving school at 12 years, had a remarkable career as a Trade Unionist and

Labour politician. By the age of 15 he was an engine cleaner on the Great Western Railways, passing

his fireman's exams three years later. He became an official of the Amalgamated Society of Railway

Servants and in 1913 helped organize the National Union of Railwaymen becoming its general

secretary in 1917 and presiding over the successful rail strike of 1919. With Union backing, he had

been elected to Parliament in 1910 as MP for Derby. He was appointed Secretary of State for the

Colonies in the incoming Labour government of 1924 under Ramsay MacDonald. In the second Labour

government of 1929 Thomas was made Lord Privy Seal with special responsibility for employment.

Appointed Secretary of State for the Dominions in 1930, retaining the position in Ramsay MacDonald's

controversial National Government (1931-1935): as a result he was expelled from the Labour Party and

the NUR, although the electors of Derby remained faithful when he stood as an independent candidate.

Thomas served as Secretary of State for the Colonies again from 1935 until May 1936, when he was


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forced to resign from politics because he had been implicated in

leaks to friends about the forthcoming Budget. Retiring from public

life to his home on the Sussex coast, he published his

autobiography 'My Story' the following year. According to his

obituary in The Times (22nd January 1949, p.6) he was 'always

effective on the platform, he had a special gift for after-dinner

speaking and succeeded in translating his homeliness into anasset. Members of all parties liked him for his humour, courage

and broad humanity...' The G.W.R.'s 4-6-0 Castle class locomotive

featured on the back of the casket had only just been completed, in

February of 1924. Ironically the Chepstow Castle's life also ended

in Newport when scrapped at Cashmore's, having been withdrawn

from service in 1962.

Also included in the sale is a large Edwardian Silver Presentation Pilgrim Flask, dating from 1906, which

was presented two years later by the Prince of Wales to G. Cecil Whitaker after his A Class yachtCicely

won the Regatta at The Royal Harwich Yacht club. The Regatta, in the 19th century had established

itself as the opening event of the season for the big yacht class. Most of the famous racing yachts

sailed there, includingBritanniaowned by Edward VII and his son, the Prince of Wales (later George V)

had been the clubs commodore since 1895. To win in 1908Cicely beat the German Emperor'sMeteor

among others. The flask is estimated at 4,000-6,000.

Following the success of Oriental Works of Art in

previous sales; an oval Sawasa ware Tobacco box,

dating from the early 18th century decorated with panels

of blossom, birds and pavilions on a granulated gilt

ground with a gilt interior is estimated at 500-700, while

a finely carved Chinese ivory casket carries expectations

in excess of 4000.

A lovely pair of George III silver square tea caddies by Lewis Pantin (London, 1772) are estimated at

5,000-7,000, while a rare Irish rococo silver basket, probably by Thomas Lynch of Galway carries an

estimate of 4,000-6,000.

Elsewhere in the sale is a group of 17 Billy & Charley

figures from the Anthony North Collection. Born in

Blackpool in 1942, North, became a curator in the

Metalwork Department at the Victoria & Albert Museum in

1964. He worked closely with the Keeper, Claude Blair,


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and remained there until he retired in 2002. Billies and

Charlies, otherwise known as Shadwell Dock

Forgeries, were produced in the mid 19th century in

variety of forms, often as badges, but also as figures,

vases, vessels etc., the majority made by the labourers

or navigators (navvies) Billy Smith and Charley Eaton.

An example from 1860 of a knight in armour and amodel of a Bishop Saint, are being sold together and

carry an estimate of 200-400

Among the 20th century pieces is a rare Danish Toast Rack designed by Oscar Gundlach-Perdersen for

Georg Jensen, 1933-4, which is

estimated at 700-1,000; while a set of

four Edwardian silver novelty menu

holders, by Levi & Salaman of

Birmingham, 1909 each finely modelled

as a seated Roosevelt bear is expected

to fetch 400-600.

The sale also includes glass and Scandinavian design continues to be evident. A Swedish oval glass

vase designed in 1955 by Vicke Lindstrand for Kosta Glasbruk decorated with two black trees shedding

their leaves is expected to fetch 1,000-1,500, while an opalescent Ceylan vase by Lalique decorated

with budgerigars is estimated at 4,000-6,000.

For further information on the auction, please call020 7806 5545 or visit www.matthewbartonltd.com

For Press Information onlyPlease contact Rachel AkedEmail: [email protected]

Tel: 07790 732448 April 2011

final matthew barton press release may 2011

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