53rd Bulletin, Spring 2022
Greetings and welcome to our Spring Bulletin
Welcome to our Spring Bulletin headlined by a portrait of Napoleon in exile, executed by an artistically minded Royal Navy captain as a memento of his face to face meeting with the one time Master of Europe. The story around the portrait tells of the politicking of the mini court that surrounded the former emperor, of the animosity between the captive and his gaoler, and the beginnings of the interest in his fate. A second portrait on offer takes us to the prisoner of war camp of Stralsund, Germany in December 1916 where a handful of British officers were held before being joined by many hundreds more caught up in the German Spring Offensive of 1918. Also this time we are pleased to offer a rare Napoleonic era Jolly Boat decanter stand as owned by naval officers both at home and at sea, and an excellent George V equestrian silver figure of a First World War trooper of the Berkshire Yeomanry that would happily grace the grandest of dining tables. As ever, there is much more besides on our recently updated website. Just click below to find out more.
All the best
J, G & T
The Emperor in Exile - A Portrait by Captain Charles Shaw, R.N., 1820
Oil on canvas. Three-quarter length portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte looking right and pointing left with his right hand, attired in bicorne adorned with national cockade and uniform of the Garde Nationale, set against a background the swirling mist and clouds, reminiscent of climatic conditions at Longwood, his captive home on St. Helena.
Oil on canvas. Three-quarter length portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte looking right and pointing left with his right hand, attired in bicorne adorned with national cockade and uniform of the Garde Nationale, set against a background the swirling mist and clouds, reminiscent of climatic conditions at Longwood, his captive home on St. Helena.
Highland Officer Prisoner of War Portrait, 1916Oil on canvas. Head and shoulders portrait of an officer of the Gordon Highlanders uniformed in service dress and glengarry. Inscribed lower left ‘Clark’ and ‘Stralsund’ lower right. Inscribed verso ‘December 1916’.
Stralsund of the present portrait’s title was a First World War POW camp situated on the Dänholm islands in the strait between the coastal town of Stralsund on the north German shore and the island of Rügen.
Royal Navy - A Georgian Officer’s Jolly Boat Decanter Stand, 1800
Silver on copper. A double decanter stand in the form of clinker-built jolly boat, inset with circular depressions for decanters and stoppers, fitted with a rope-ring attachment to the prow, the stern thwart fitted with a coiled line and miniature anchor. The underside fitted with an oak base housing four brass castors for ease of movement around the dining table.
Silver on copper. A double decanter stand in the form of clinker-built jolly boat, inset with circular depressions for decanters and stoppers, fitted with a rope-ring attachment to the prow, the stern thwart fitted with a coiled line and miniature anchor. The underside fitted with an oak base housing four brass castors for ease of movement around the dining table.
The Berkshire Yeomanry - An Equestrian Regimental Presentation Figure, 1936
Silver. Equestrian figure of a mounted trooper of the 1/1st Berkshire Yeomanry in foreign service pattern uniform worn during the 1916 campaign in the Western Desert and during the British advance on Jerusalem in 1917. Raised on a stepped ebonised wood plinth applied with the White Horse of Uffington badge of the Berkshire Yeomanry to one side and a Star & Crescent regimental collar badge to the other. Maker’s mark of James Dixon & Son, Sheffield.
Silver. Equestrian figure of a mounted trooper of the 1/1st Berkshire Yeomanry in foreign service pattern uniform worn during the 1916 campaign in the Western Desert and during the British advance on Jerusalem in 1917. Raised on a stepped ebonised wood plinth applied with the White Horse of Uffington badge of the Berkshire Yeomanry to one side and a Star & Crescent regimental collar badge to the other. Maker’s mark of James Dixon & Son, Sheffield.