A fabulous Chinese Export Chinoisserie Black Lacquer and Gold Large Tea Caddy Chest of the Finest Quality, King George IIIrd, circa 1800's from the Estate of a 23rd Foot, Royal Welsh Fusiliers Peninsular War and Waterloo Officer George Fielding

An antique finest quality Chinese export hand gilded Chinoiserie tea chest caddy with hinged lid, and interior lidded pewter container, for the most precious tea, and made for the European market. Possibly made in Foo Chow.

Not only is the exterior stunningly decorated in the Chinoiserie style, the interior pewter container’s lid is exquisitely engraved to match, with another fabulous and highly elaborate oriental scene of figures and countryside. The lacquer shows scenes of a typical Southern Chinese scholar's garden with people in it, all done in black and gold. Surrounding these scenes are typical Chinese decorative motifs incorporating several auspicious symbols..

This is a superlative tea chest, and note that its exceptional size makes it a most rare type of tea 'chest' size caddy. It is hand crafted with hand painted chinoiserie gilt and ebonized black lacquer. It is painted on all sides with multiple figures, pagoda and palace gardens, with additional geometric and floral designs. It retains its original hand engraved pewter lidded tea casket; It has 2 carrying handles on the sides. It also has most satisfying heft in its weight. The lid’s gilding is worn as to be expected, but all the remaining 4 faces are in excellent near mint condition, as is the interior and the tea casket. The inner lid area contains the monogram of George Fielding, ‘G F’, a British army officer and a Peninsular War and Waterloo veteran, for whom it was commissioned. Captain George Fielding, of the 23rd Regiment of Foot, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo who was wounded at the battle, and who resided at Startforth Hall, Startforth, County Durham.

Captain Fielding served in the Peninsular War from Aug 1811 to April 1814, at Aldea de Ponte, Badajoz, Cuidad Rodrigo, Nive, Toulouse, & Orthez. He died in Bath in 1830.

Chinoiserie, so called from 'Chinois' the French for Chinese, was a style inspired by the finest art and design imported from China, Japan and other Asian countries in the 18th century. At its height in Britain from the mid 18th century, this fanciful style relied more on the designer's and craftsman's imagination than on accurately portraying oriental motifs and ornament.

In it earliest days the tea it contained would have been valued by today’s standard thousands of pounds so one can understand why its container should be so fine and a superb work of art in it’s own right. In England in the 1700s, tea was an incredibly expensive commodity. To keep it safe, people would store it in a tea Chest or tea box, which eventually became known as a tea caddy (the word caddy is derived from the Malay "Kati", a unit of weight by which tea was sold). As tea was too expensive to risk leaving in the presence of servants, the caddy in which it was stored would generally be kept in the drawing-room. Subsequently, the tea caddy became an important & fashionable accessory for the home. Tea Caddies were made in a huge variety of styles and materials..

In the manufacture of lacquer-ware the lightest kinds of wood are used. After planing, the surface is covered with a coating of grasscloth fibre and Broussonetia paper, and a mixture of pigs' or buffaloes' gall and pulverised old red sandstone serves as a priming. The article is then placed in a dark room, and a coating of the prepared lacquer laid on with a brush and allowed to dry; and according to the fineness of the ware these coatings are repeated from 3 to 15 times. When the hut coat is dry the articles are painted and gilded. The lacquer, sap of the Vemix vemieiaf used in Canton, is imported from Szechuen or Kiangsi. The gold colouring (a solution of gold leaf in glue water) is laid on with lye of potash ; red is native cinnabar, pink a varnish prepared from Carthamus and green is formed by a mixture of hartall and indigo. Nearly all the lacquer-ware is manufactured in Canton, but magnificent specimens, far exceeding the Canton ware in beauty, colour and fineness are turned out at Foochow. They are made by a single family, said to be of Japanese origin, who brought the secret over with them and have retained it ever since.

From: Catalogue of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs Collection
at the United States International Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1876
Inspectorate General of Customs, 1876

13.5 inches x 9.75 inches x 8 inches  read more

Code: 23900

A Wonderful 18th Century French Small-Sword of Parcel Gilt and Blued Steel A Simply Stunning Museum Grade Piece

A sword that is certainly worthy of a finest collection of all forms of object d'art, antiquities, antiques and militaria.
Likely made at Versailles, at the royal workshops, by a royal swordsmith of King Louis XVIth, such as the master swordsmiths of the king, Lecourt, Liger or Guilman. A very finest grade sword of the form as was made for the king to present to favoured nobles and friends. He presented a similar sword to John Paul Jones see painting in the gallery now in the US Naval Academy Museum.

Three near identical swords to this now reside in the Metropolitan A simply superb small-sword, with stunningly engraved chiselled steel hilt, overlaid with pure gold over a fish-roe background,, decorated with hand chiselled scenes in the rococo Italianate renaissance style depicting various hunting scenes, of hunting hounds and game birds. The multi wire spiral bound grip is finest silver, in with Turks head finials. The blade is in the typical trefoil form, ideal for the gentleman's art of duelling. The degree of craftsmanship of this spectacular sword is simply astounding, worthy of significant admiration, it reveals an incredible attention to detail and the skill of it's execution is second to none. Other similar swords are in also in the British Royal Collection and in Les Invalides in Paris. Trefoil bladed swords had a special popularity with the officers of the French and Indian War period. Even George Washington had a very fine one just as this example. For example of the workmanship in creating this sword for such as the King and Marie Antoinette we show the keys for the Louis XVI Secretary Desk (Circa 1783) made for Marie-Antoinette by Jean Henri Riesener, one of the worlds finest cabinetmakers, and whose works of furniture are the most valuable in the world. The steel and gold metalwork key for Marie Antoinette's desk, is attributed to Pierre Gouthoire (1732-1813), the most famous Parisian bronzeworker of the late eighteenth century who became gilder to the king in 1767. This sword bears identical workmanship and style to that magnificent key. This is the quality of sword one might have expected find inscribed upon the blade 'Ex Dono Regis' given by the King. Very good condition overall, with natural aged patination throughout. This painting, entitled John Paul Jones and Louis XVI, by the American artist Jean Leon Gerome Ferris depicts John Paul Jones and Benjamin Franklin at the court of Louis XVIth and being presented a similar sword now in US Naval Academy Museum.
39.1/4 inches long overall.  read more

Code: 23138

1924 LZ126 Zeppelin Medal . The Flight Of The LZ 126 (ZRIII) To America (USS Los Angeles, USN) Record 81 Hours Medal 1924. Dr. Hugo Eckener, High Grade Silver

1924 LZ126 Zeppelin Medal, stunningly bright condition.
By Lauer of Nuremberg. A silver coin/medallion issued to commemorate the arrival in the USA of Zeppelin LZ-126 from the manufacturer in Friedrichshafen, Germany. It was built in 1924 with the original designation LZ-126 and given over to the US as part of war reparations. There she was commissioned into the US Navy and redesignated ZR-III (USS Los Angeles). The Zeppelin remained in service until 1932 and was finally dismantled in her hangar in 1939, having been the longest serving rigid airship ever operated by the USN.
Made in .990 grade silver, 33mm in diameter with a portrait of Dr. Hugo Eckener on one side and Zeppelin in flight over land and sea. Inscribed with caption "Amerikafahrt Des LZ126 / ZRIII 1924" and with flight details from Friedrichshafen to Lakehurst. Dr. Eckener was manager of the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin during the inter-war years, and was commander of the famous Graf Zeppelin for the majority of its record-setting flights, including the first airship flight around the world, making him the most successful airship commander in history.

The airship's hull had 24-sided transverse ring frames for most of its length, changing to an octagonal section at the tail surfaces, and the hull had an internal keel which provided an internal walkway and also contained the accommodation for the crew when off duty. For most of the ship's length the main frames were 32 ft 10 in (10 m) apart, with two secondary frames in each bay. Following the precedent set by LZ 120 Bodensee, crew and passenger accommodation was in a compartment near the front of the airship that was integrated into the hull structure. Each of the five Maybach VL I V12 engines occupied a separate engine car, arranged as four wing cars with the fifth aft on the centerline of the ship. All drove two-bladed pusher propellers and were capable of running in reverse. Auxiliary power was provided by wind-driven dynamos.


Medallion is engraved '990' silver content to rim. Very nice condition.  read more

Code: 23601

A 19th Century English Boxlock Pistol By Smith of London

Circa 1830. Boxlock pistols were pocket pistols popular in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Effectively the first Derringers. The most unique feature of their design was the boxlock mechanism. Unlike most firearms which have the hammer located off to the side of the pistol, a boxlock pistol had the hammer located directly on top of the pistol. They were called a boxlocks because all of the working mechanisms for the hammer and the trigger was located in a box or receiver directly below the top mounted hammer. While the hammer obstructed the aim of the user, this system had the advantage of making the gun more compact and concealable than other pistols. The first boxlock pistols were flintlock and where later made in percussion lock. Unlike modern firearms, these pistols were not mass produced, but were hand made in gunsmith's workshops. As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables  read more

Code: 18558

A Scarce English Transitional Revolver Circa 1840 By Cook of London

The stepping stone between the 1830's pepperbox revolver, and the later first double action revolver patented by London's Robert Adams in 1851. Some of the most ground breaking work in the early design and manufacture of revolvers was undertaken in England long before the world famous American revolver makers, such as Colt and Remington, became famous for their fine pistols. This most interesting piece is fully, and most finely engraved, on the frame and grip, with a highly detailed micro chequered walnut butt. Good operating action, several areas of old surface pitting intersperced with areas of no pitting at all. Trapdoor percussion cap container in the butt. Made by one of England's 19th century makers and innovators of fine revolver pistols, of London. A classic example of one of the earliest English cylinder revolvers that was favoured by gentleman wishing to arm themselves with the latest technology and improvement ever designed by English master gunsmiths. They were most popular with officers [that could afford them] in the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny. A picture in the gallery is of Robert Adams himself, loading his patent revolver for HRH Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's Consort. He was also manager for the London Armoury and he made many of the 19,000 pistols that were bought by the Confederate States for the Civil War. The US government also bought Adams revolvers from the London Armoury, at $18 each, which was $4.00 more than it was paying Colt for his, and $6.00 more than Remington.The action on this beautiful gun is good very nice, and tight, but the surface has areas of old corrosion. As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables  read more

Code: 22364

1st 2nd Century Romano British Ellipsoid Glass Ring Mount Depicting the Impressed Head of the Sky God of Thunder Taranis {Roman,Jupiter} or Mithras {Roman, Mars} Of the East of England Mithraic Cult. From the Era of 'King' Caratacus

For a man of high status in Romano-British life, a status ring insert of the portrait bust of Taranis or Mithras, with his distinctive bearded profile. He was often found on Romano British brooches, discovered in archaeological digs in Britain, mounted upon his horse. This portrait could have once been set within a ring or a neck pendant. Naturally it could be set once more into a ring mount for current wear.

The wearing of an image of a god or goddess to ward off the evil eye can be traced back to Ancient Greece and the wearing of an image of the Gorgon or Medusa upon a ring or pendant. This practice travelled to Rome and indeed to Roman Britain

Archaeologist Michael Green says, ‘The enamelled brooch is a well-known type from the Catuvellaunian territory. It refers to the Mounted Sky God, whose Romano-Celtic name was probably Taranis {with his distinctive bearded profile}. He survived in local folk lore as Hiccafrith. The local war god was probably Camulos, after whom the Trinovantian capital of Camulodunum was named, at Colchester.’
Quite a few of horse and rider brooches depicting the Sky God Teranis or Mithras, have been found in the East of England, Ipswich, Thetford and one in Lincoln very similar to this portrait bust example, found near Ermine Street along which Roman cavalry travelled bound for Hadrian’s Wall. Two mounted, armed riders were also found as part of a hoard in Willingham Fen, Cambs (now in the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology).

The Catuvellauni were a Celtic tribe or state of southeastern Britain before the Roman conquest, attested by inscriptions into the 4th century.

The fortunes of the Catuvellauni and their kings before the conquest can be traced through ancient coins and scattered references in classical histories. They are mentioned by Cassius Dio, who implies that they led the resistance against the conquest in AD 43. They appear as one of the civitates of Roman Britain in Ptolemy's Geography in the 2nd century, occupying the town of Verlamion (modern St Albans) and the surrounding areas of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and southern Cambridgeshire.

Their territory was bordered to the north by the Iceni and Corieltauvi, to the east by the Trinovantes, to the west by the Dobunni and Atrebates, and to the south by the Regni and Cantiaci.

Caratacus is named by Dio Cassius as a son of the Catuvellaunian king Cunobelinus. Based on coin distribution Caratacus appears to have been the protégé of his uncle Epaticcus, who expanded Catuvellaunian power westwards most likely from his palace in Verulam, the heartland of the Catuvellauni, into the territory of the Atrebates. After Epaticcus died in about AD 35, the Atrebates, under Verica, regained some of their territory, but it appears Caratacus completed the conquest, as Dio tells us Verica was ousted, fled to Rome and appealed to the emperor Claudius for help. This was the excuse used by Claudius to launch his invasion of Britain in the summer of 43. The invasion targeted Caratacus' stronghold of Camulodunon (modern Colchester), previously the seat of his father Cunobelinus. Cunobelinus had died some time before the invasion. Caratacus and his brother Togodumnus led the initial defence of the country against Aulus Plautius's four legions, thought to have been around 40,000 men, primarily using guerrilla tactics. They lost much of the south-east after being defeated in two crucial battles, the Battle of the River Medway and River Thames. Togodumnus was killed (although both Miles Russell and John Hind argue that Dio was mistaken in reporting Togodumnus's death, that he was defeated but survived, and was later appointed by the Romans as a friendly king over a number of territories, becoming the loyal king referred to by Tacitus as Cogidubnus or Togidubnus) and the Catuvellauni's territories were conquered. Their stronghold of Camulodunon was converted into the first Roman colonia in Britain,

One can see the very same profile head upon a Romano-British brooch, from the same period, in the British Museum. It is the god Teranis or Mithras on horseback. Aka as Roman gods, Jupiter or Mars

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1915-1208-119

Size 14mm

Two pictures in the gallery, one a photo of Trajans column of the scene of the Roman Legion standard bearers at the Battle of the River Medway, and a painting of Caratacus and his Brother proceeding to battle the Romans at the River Medway.  read more

Code: 25494

A Most Scarce Early 17th century Jamdhar Katari Dagger From the Mountains of Nepal And the Hindu Kush,

An most early and rare Nepalese dagger classified as the Jamdhar Katari. 17th century, and developed as a fighting weapon in the 17th century. With a thin slightly swollen double edged blade 23.5cms long, painted with red devotional designs (sandlewood oil) on one side, iron hilt with swollen grip and slightly down-turned pommel and guard. Tip lacking. GC
For reference see Egerton Nos. 344 and 345 for similar.

Another very similar Jamdha Katari is in The Met Collection Fifth Ave. New York, [Accession Number:36.25.820] Donated to The Met by the legendary George Cameron Stone [Author of the seminal work A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor: in All Countries and in All Times, known as 'Stone's Glossary'] in 1935.

It was regarding another most similar example we had, about which Mark Hawkins engaged in a most interesting conversation with the now late US President Ronald Reagan [in the 1970's]. President Reagan displayed a knowledge of this particular weapon, in his conversation with Mark, that was surprisingly extensive and certainly impressive.  read more

Code: 22528

Superb Tsuba Signed Choshu Koku Hagi ju Kawaji Go {no} Ju Tomochika. A Retainer of The Mori Daimyo

The westerly province of Chōshū (Nagato) was the home of eight or more important families engaged in making sword-furniture, of whom the parent was the Nakai group, originally established in the neighbouring province of Suō. The indication “of Hagi” (Hagi no jū), so frequently added to the signatures on Chōshū work, may not perhaps in all cases imply the artist’s actual residence at the Nagato capital.

The early work was influenced by Umetada Miōju (Group XI), who spent some time at the Suō capital, Yamaguchi, as well as by members of the Shōami group (XII); thus, examples by the Nakai often show incrustation of the softer metals on the iron ground. Chōshū guards are usually in iron of a rich black patina, with sharp, powerful and carefully modelled relief, either solid or perforated. There may be a sparing enrichment of gold, but this is unusual.

After the Tokugawa family had reconstituted Japan’s central government in 1603, the head of the Mōri family became the daimyo, or feudal lord, of Chōshū, the han (fief) that encompassed most of the western Honshu region. Although the Tokugawa tolerated the existence of the Mōri in Chōshū, the two clans remained hostile toward each other. Chōshū warriors played the leading role in the overthrow of the Tokugawa government in 1867, after which Chōshū men dominated the new government until the end of World War II. Nevertheless, throughout the Tokugawa period (1603–1867) the Mōri family indoctrinated their warriors with hatred of the Tokugawa family and respect for the emperor, whose power the Tokugawa usurped. When Chōshū warriors led the fight to overthrow the Tokugawa in 1867, they did so under the banner of restoring power to the emperor.

74mm  read more

Code: 25489

A Ist Gulf War Souvenir, A Russian Scud Missile Launcher 'Level' Site. On its Original Tripod And Instrument Transit Case.

In overall excellent condition, and it’s original metal transit case for the instrument. It’s optics are truly incredible, in fact as good as anything that can be made today for the purpose of a ‘level’ instrument {somewhat similar to a theodolite}

A war trophy of the first gulf war, a Russian Scud Missile Rocket Launcher Level Site on adjustable tripod stand. Originaly designed for use with the USSR Red Army 'Frog' nuclear rocket. The Scud missiles targeting Israel were relatively ineffective, as firing at extreme range resulted in a dramatic reduction in accuracy and payload. Extensive property damage was caused, and according to Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Damage to general property consisted of 1,302 houses, 6,142 apartments, 23 public buildings, 200 shops and 50 cars." It was feared that Iraq would fire missiles filled with nerve agents such as sarin. As a result, Israel's government issued gas masks to its citizens. When the first Iraqi missiles hit Israel, some people injected themselves with an antidote for nerve gas. It has been suggested that the sturdy construction techniques used in Israeli cities, coupled with the fact that Scuds were only launched at night, played an important role in limiting the number of casualties from Scud attacks.

Missiles were a vital part of the old Cold War. Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) threatened to hurl nuclear payloads from one side of the globe to the other, obliterating humanity, a real war to end all wars.

Before a Scud level site it was made for the Russian USSR Frog rocket. Further down the scale of destructiveness, tactical missiles were an important part of the Soviet arsenal. Following Joseph Stalin’s death in 1952, Nikita Khrushchev came to power. A great believer in rocketry and nuclear weapons, he cut back on conventional forces while boosting the USSR?s missile systems.

It led to a proliferation of vehicle-mounted ballistic missiles for use in tactical rather than global engagements. The first tactical missiles added to the Soviet arsenal under Krushchev were the Free Rocket Over Ground (FROG) series.

FROG-1 entered service in 1955. An IS-2 tank chassis was modified to become the basis of the launch vehicle. On it was mounted a ten-meter-long rocket powered by a solid fuel engine. It could carry a conventional 1,200-kilogram high explosive fragmentation warhead. In keeping with Khrushchev’s faith in nuclear solutions, it could also carry a tactical nuclear warhead.

The vehicle had a maximum road speed of 41 kilometers per hour, which went down to 30kph while carrying the 3,200-kilogram weight of the rocket.

The rocket had a range of nearly 26 kilometers. Half the rockets fired by FROG-1 landed within 700 meters of their target point.

One replaced bolt on the tripod.  read more

Code: 21696

Over 2,000 Antique & Vintage Service Military, Maritime, Police & Fire-service Uniform Buttons Just Aquired.,Boer War, WW1, WW2 and ERII

All original and some jolly interesting ones. All pretty much collected in the 1960’s.

We will be selling them individually, but just in the shop, and for just a nominal price at one price fits all {some rare ones must be worth £10+ each or more}. Often, just as souvenirs for visitors.

Sadly they are impractical to sell online for delivery as even just a 1st class letter stamp is now ruinously expensive at £1.65, so they would not be prudent to sell online simply for the cost of packing and sending, let alone the half hour one way walk to our city’s main branch Post Office. Which is now located in a back room of the basement of our local WH Smith’s newsagents. Average queue wait, from a single attended counter, up to 35 minutes!. Our former magnificent edifice, that was once our main Royal Mail Brighton Post Office, somewhat reminiscent of the size of the British Embassy in Paris, with around 20 fully attended counters, servicing Brighton and its environs now two hundred and fifty thousand souls, is now part of a restaurant chain.
By the late 19th century, 130 Years ago!, there were between six and twelve mail deliveries per day in London, permitting correspondents to exchange multiple letters within a single day. Now we count ourselves lucky to get a single delivery a day, {if at all} with many letters arriving up to a week late. However, our regular ‘postie’, Mark Garoghan, is as devoted to his job as he was decades ago, when he first trod the streets of Brighton {for the past 47 years}. Our praise of him, and his loyalty to his profession, knows no bounds.  read more

Code: 25488