52th Bulletin, Christmas 2021
Greetings and welcome to the final Bulletin of the 2021
This time it is rather by chance than design that we are pleased to offer an interesting selection of items relating to the Crimean War (1854-55). These include relics preserved by the commander of the British Light Division, and a superb equestrian portrait of a Crimean War charger owned by the French Commander-in-Chief Marshal St. Arnaud. In other areas of interest, a rare Siren suited wartime bust of Churchill by Albert Toft, who was an important exponent of the New Sculpture movement, leads the field. A stunning piece of Royal Marines mess silver in the form of a table top terrestrial globe and an impressive Austro-Hungarian Imperial presentation portrait of Emperor Franz Josef I in the full fig of the Colonel-in-Chief of the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards provide that vital seasonal bling to our Christmas offering.
With much more besides recently added to the Armoury site we do hope that you will find something of interest. We will be open up to the close of play on 23 December. Final posting dates for pre Christmas delivery are listed below.
All that remains is to thank those of you who have supported the ASJ via our various channels throughout the year, and to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
James, Toby & George
Crimean War Relics of The Commander-in-Chief, 1854-55
A collection of Crimean War relics preserved by Lieutenant-General Codrington, Commander-in-Chief in the Crimea 1855-56, comprising: a ‘Bullet Flattened by striking a rope mantlet in a Russian Battery’; ‘Flint & steel lighter which belonged to the Russian General Todleben’; a manuscript note, inscribed ‘Articles lent to the Crimea Exhibition at R.U.S.I. 1936’ and ‘Purse which belonged to Colonel Yea & carried by him during the Crimean Campaign’.
1st Battalion Rifle Brigade - The Commanding Officer’s Charger, 1859
Oil on canvas. Equestrian portrait of ‘The Marshal’, a Barb or Berber horse, equipped with the review order horse furniture of a field officer of the Rifle Brigade, comprising black fringed bridle with silver fittings, hunting pattern saddle, black lambskin saddlecloth, rifle green head rope and chain, and black throat plume. Contained in its original giltwood and gesso frame with applied plaque, inscribed, ’A Barb Horse originally belonging to Marshal St. Arnaud, / the Commander-in-Chief of the French Army in the Crimea, / by whom it was sold to Field Marshal Lord Raglan, who sold it to General E.A. Somerset. General Somerset / rode it as a Charger whilst commanding the 1st Batt./ Rifle Brigade, and subsequently when Quarter Master General at Portsmouth. It was eventually given to / Colonel the Hon. F.C. Morgan, M.P. and died at Ruperra.’
Albert Toft - Portrait Bust of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, 1944
Patinated electrotype. Head and shoulder’s portrait of the the wartime leader attired in his famous ‘Siren’ suit and wearing a knowing expression of quiet determination.
Royal Marines Globe Centrepeice, 1892
Siver. Terrestial globe marked with continents raised on two foul anchors from a base with scallop border decoration and applied with a rope coil, the upper half fitted with bugle horn thumb piece above an equator ring decorated with laurel banding, to facilitate opening to reveal an interior dish. The corps motto ‘Per Mare Per Terram’ (By sea by land). Maker’s mark of Mark Willis. Hallmarked Sheffield 1892. Cased.
Emperor Franz Josef I - Colonel-in-Chief of 1st (The King’s) Dragoon Guards, 1900
Ormolu, enamel and silver frame with autograph signed full length studio portrait of Emperor of Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria-Hungary, wearing the uniform of the Colonel-in-Chief of the British 1st (The King’s) Dragoon Guards, the Garter star and Order of the Golden Fleece at his neck. The elaborate round back gold cord lace forming a triple Austrian knot. The Emperor’s right gloved hand rests on a table on which is placed his 1871 pattern plumed Dragoon Guards helmet bearing the twelve pointed Garter Star plate centered on the Queen Victoria’s Royal Crest. Signed by the Emperor in ink in the lower mount.