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A George III gold-cased hair locket with a blue enamel back and hair and seed pearl decoration incorporating the initials {MAE}, in the original red morocco leather case, circa 1795 .
Price: £1,950.00

The locket is also accompanied by a note stating that it was given to Robert and his relationship to Maryann Ellis whose hair is on the reverse. Mary Ann Ellis was born in 1775, the only child of Thomas Ellis of Rolleston (Devon) and Margaret. She married John Houlton at St. Paul's Church, Exeter on 2nd January 1799. Houlton was the heir of Joseph Houlton of Farley Castle in Somerset (now renamed Farleigh Hungerford and in the care of Heritage England) and was descended from a family of Trowbridge ironmongers who had bought the estate in 1702. Mary Ann was the mother of 14 children, of whom 12 survived into adulthood. She was widowed in 1839 and died in 1855.

An Edward VII Swiss made 9 carat gold pocket watch in engraved case imported into London in 1909 by Dimier Brothers, the dial carries the retailers stamp of A. Saunders of 809-817 George Street, Sydney and records that the movement is Swiss made.
Price: £450.00

A.Saunders was an up market fine clock and jeweller with a premise in 815-817 George Street in the late 1800s to early 1900s. The following is an excerpt from an article in The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday, 18 December 1897:

“Everyone knows Mr A Saunders, or if not Mr Saunders personally, they know his splendid premises, near the railway terminus. And there can be few citizens of Sydney, and probably not a single visitor from the country, who have not lingered before its spacious windows and enjoyed the sight of the untold wealth and beauty within. The windows are elaborately fitted up, but one hardly notices that fact so varied and numerous are the watches, clocks, and articles of jewellery that claim attention.

Resting on seas of glass they make a display second to none in the city and yet this display at Christmas time is hardly more noticeable than that made every day of the year. Mr Saunders is noted for his watch trade, and many thousands of the numerous leading makes he stocks are spread broadcast over Australasia and India. Reliable is a properly applied word to any watch sent out, for Mr Saunders prides himself that with his timekeepers of even the most modest cost (and they range from a few shillings to 100 guineas) there shall be no complaint. Gentlemen's levers of English, Waltham, and other makes are heavily stocked, and the same with the ladies' and those suitable for young folks, many of them being absolute works of art, and others looking as if fitted to stand the wear and tear of time for many generations.

Naturally watch chains and guards in great profusion are on show, and most inviting forms of Christmas presents they look. But just now attention is naturally directed to rings, brooches, bangles, bracelets, tiaras, charms, ornaments for the hair, pins, necklets, chatelaines, links, medals in gold and silver. There are cases upon cases of diamond goods, rings of solid gold with pure white double-cut diamonds, with sapphires and diamonds, diamonds and pearls, diamonds with rubies or opals, amethysts, etc. Bracelets of the latest styles, with pearl clusters with diamonds and rubies, sapphires, or in plain gold in beautiful designs Gentlemen's gold pins, with gems in such shapes as horseshoes star, crescent, shield, heart, etc.

Links of every sort- most beautiful charms and lockets, and a great feature of Mr Saunders's trade, of which samples are shown, are the gold medals, any design or pattern possibly required being made to order. Many large show cases are filled with sterling silver and electroplated goods.

Tea and coffee sets, tea kettles and urns, jam spoons, butter knives, fruit knives, and fish slices, and handsome presents can be made of cruets, flower stands, cake and fruit baskets, jam and butter dishes, carvers, racks, birthday cups, serviette rings, and scores of other beautiful articles - all tasteful and good. Mr Saunders issues a very complete catalogue of his various stock especially for those who cannot enjoy a sight of his place, but, good as it is, it can give but a faint idea of the really magnificent display made - a display that needs to be seen and cannot be satisfactorily described.”

A Victorian/Edward VII pair of leather horse accoutrements, both with applied silver badges for Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery (1847-1929), circa 1900.

Price: £325.00

Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery (1847-1929) is reputed to have said that he had three aims in life: to win the Derby , to marry an heiress, and to become Prime Minister-  he went on to achieve all three. He acceded to the Earldom in 1868 having matriculated at, but not graduated from, Christ Church Oxford. He held many official posts in Scotland from the time he entered the House of Lords including being: a commissioner to inquire into Scottish endowments in 1872 and Lord Lieutenant of Linlithgowshire in 1873 (until his death). These Scottish offices continued throughout Rosebery's life as he was also Lord Lieutenant of Midlothian from 1884 (again until his death). In addition to all of these Rosebery held the Lord Rectorships of the Universities of Aberdeen (1878-1881), Edinburgh (1880-1883), Glasgow (1899-1902) and St. Andrews (1911) as well as serving as a member of the Council on Scottish Education from 1881 until his death. In 1915 he added Captain General of the Royal Company of Archers to his many titles.

In 1878 Rosebery married Hannah de Rothschild, only daughter and heiress of Amschel Meyer de Rothschild owner of Mentmore Towers in Buckinghamshire, and from about the time of this marriage Rosebery began his British political career in earnest. From 1881 to 1883 he was Under Secretary for the Home Department, in 1885 he was Lord Privy Seal and First Comissioner of Works, in 1886 and from 1892 to 1894 he was Foreign Secretary. Rosebery reached his political pinnacle from March 1894 to June 1895 when he served as Prime Minister and Lord President of the Council (he remained leader of the Liberal party until 1898). Rosebery is the only British Prime Minister to have had horses win the Derby during his premiership.

These pieces date from between 1892, when Rosebery was created a Knight of the Garter and his death in 1929. Rosebery was unique among the Knights of the Garter, the most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain, as he was privately created a Knight of the Thistle by Queen Victoria in 1895. Others had been members of the Order of the Thistle but had to surrender it when they received the Garter.

A George III child's 22 carat gold ring (size E), made in London between 1786 and 1797 by John Hookham (registered 1792) or John Hedges (registered 1785) in associated leather case.
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Until 1798 the only standard of gold to be hallmarked in Britain was 22 carat and the marks applied were the same as those for Sterling silver (showing that the piece was of the correct standard). In 1798 this system was reformed with separate marks for silver, 18 carat and 22 carat gold. Although gold rings were subject to a duty of 8s per ounce after 1784 it is rare to find surviving hallmarked rings (other than mourning rings) from the late 18th century- this is due in part to the practical difficulties of hallmarking.

A miniature clothes brush with silver top, by Thomas and James Phipps London 1820.
Price: £290.00

A cigarette case with applied gold crest, by E. H. Stockwell London 1887, crested for BARING.
Price: £275.00

A Victorian steel rasp (probably for snuff or nutmeg) in its original leather case, circa 1840.

Price:

A George III pair of steel tweezers/ear scoop, circa 1770.
Price: £65.00