Pushkin Antiques Ltd Historical Memorabilia

An antique early 20th Century cast iron government royal warrant, likely from a magistrate court or government building. Beautifully cast and hand-painted. A remarkable piece of hist...

Antique 20th Century framed enamelled London street sign, created for Strand, WC2 (Central London, Westminster). This sign showcases the icon...

Antique 20th Century enamelled London street sign, crafted for Harley Street, W1 (Central London). This sign features the classic red and bla...

An extremely rare ring that commemorates the naval hero, Horatio Nelson, who died in 1805 at the Battle of Trafalgar, fighting against the Napoleonic forces. Dr William Nelson, the admiral's brother, ordered 58 mourning rings for family and friends and every admiral and post-captain who fought at the Battle of Trafalgar . The ring is inscribed on the bezel ‘Trafalgar’; outside the hoop with Nelson’s motto in Latin, ‘Let him who earned it bear the palm [of victory]’, adopted by Nelson from a poem ‘Ad Ventos’ written in 1727 by John Jortin (1698-1770). Inside is the inscription ‘Lost to his country 21 October 1805, aged 47’. The initials N and B stand for Nelson and Bronte. Admiral Nelson was given the title of Duke of Bronte in 1799 by the King of Sicily and in 1801 became a Viscount. The two coronets above the initials refer to these titles. Tthe motto Palmam qui meruit ferat ("let him who has earned it, bear the palm") was added to his coat of arms in 1798 after the Battle of the Nile. Nelson was buried with full honours in St Paul's Cathedral. His cortege consisted of 32 admirals, over a hundred captains, and an escort of 10,000 soldiers. This ring is an example of only fifty-eight that were made by Nelson's jeweller John Salter in 1806. Thirty-one were for Nelson's close family and friends, the rest for pall-bearers and other dignitaries (see The Nelson Dispatch, vol.3 pt.XII, oct.1990). Three similar examples of this ring are held extremely prestigious museums in the capital. One is in the Greenwich National Maritime Museum in London, another in The British Museum in London and another in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, exhibited in the Jewellery Gallery, case 23, no. 8. The ring has a particularly special provenance, arguably like no other mourning ring of Admiral Nelson’s. The ring belonged to the Reverend Alexander John Scott. The Reverend Alexander John Scott (1768-1840) was a British naval chaplain. He was appointed to the flagship H.M.S. Victory in 1803 where he served as private secretary to Lord Nelson. He was with Nelson when when he was shot on the quarter-deck of the Victory at the battle of Trafalgar on the 21st October 1805. Scott attended his dying chief in the cockpit of the flagship, receiving his last wishes. He refused to leave Nelson's body until it was brought back to England and placed in the coffin to lie in the Painted Hall Greenwich. The ring, lock of hair and music book were passed down by the direct descendants of the Reverend Alexander John Scott's family and eventually gifted to the previous owners. The music book was a personal possession of the Reverend which gives watertight provenance of the person who owned the ring. It is not clear exactly what Admiral Nelson’s last words really were although Scott documents Nelson’s last words to be “God and my country“. However, it is also recorded that a statement during his last hours was "Thank God I have done my duty.” Perhaps these two statements uttered in the last moments sound similar when mumbled by a feeble dying man. Nonetheless, it is noteworthy is that Scott remained by Admiral Nelson’s side as he died and his version is probably the most reliable. The lock of hair is reputedly that of Lord Admiral Nelson. Without a DNA test there can be no conclusive proof of such. However, given that Reverend Alexander John Scott was with Nelson from the moment he was shot on the quarter-deck of H.M.S. Victory until the moment he was placed in his coffin, there is no reason to believe it is not a lock of Nelson’s hair. It is difficult to overstate the significance and rarity of Nelson’s mourning rings. With only fifty-eight made, the vast majority of them were given to close family members and only a few were given to close friends. A close friend who receives a morning ring...

A 19th Century rare timber corner cabinet, made from the oak salvaged from the Foudroyant, Lord Nelson’s flagship. A lead glazed door with maker's copper plate for 'Goodall, Lamb & H...

Antique 19th Century collection of seven dog collars, made from leather and metal. Some collars have metal studs and chains while others are smooth leather. A superb piece of history...

A superb 20th Century pair of vintage blue velvet chairs modelled after the chairs used by peers in Westminster Abbey during Queen Elizabeth's Coronation in 1952. Recreated for her jubilee in 1977, these chairs feature stunning blue velvet upholstery over sturdy wood frames. Crafted by William...

A late 20th Century English grooming brush with a solid silver handle on a silver stand to rest the brush. Comes in a beautiful original red presentation box, "Kent of London" as wel...

Registered as A K800, this pond yacht with a plank on frame hull, made in mahogany and cream painted plank lined deck. This classic A Class yacht would have been made in the 1960's b...

A rare meat slicer made by one of the most famous manufacturers: Berkel, Holland. This model is an H9 and comes in two parts, the base which can be removed from the main machine and ...

Antique 19th Century Austrian exceptionally rare solid silver gilt, enamel and rock crystal drinking horn, by Hermann Ratzersdorfer, Vienna, circa 1880s. The drinking horn is made of...

Antique 19th century Victorian freight truck used to transport feed to local dairies, this metal carriage has a solid oak top, original wheels and tilt lever, later sign written for ...

Antique 19th Century French gold mounted on mother of pearl, extensive traveling etui set, of elongated octagonal form, the gold mounted with polished mother of pearl panels and the lid applied with cast and enamelled floral decoration, the lid opens with a push-button. Inside enclosing the original gold and steel implements:, scissors, pen knife...

Antique early-20th Century Edwardian solid silver, blown glass and bound in sumptuous crocodile leather hip flask, unusually large, of rounded rectangular form, with a pull off cup, ...

Antique 19thC Victorian coach panel, hand painted, showing the emblem of The Great Western Railway Company. Founded in Bristol by Isambard Kingdom Brun...

Antique late-19th century Victorian burr walnut cased games compendium, the interior comprising a chess set, draughts, dominoes, dice, cribbage board with markers, leather bound boards for games, playing cards, droughts counters, a dice shaker...

A rare Louis Vuitton cabin trunk covered in leather. Dating to the early part of the 20th century, covered not in the world famous (but more common) monogram canvas but in a single piece of cow hide. These all-leather trunks were made by special order and Louis Vuitton used...

A pair of original gauche paintings by Charles John de Lacy, illustrating the interior of two different warships. These detailed cutaway technical drawings wer...

Garand M1 model rifle of enormous proportions, these rifles were made as “training guns“ as demonstrators for troops. Rather than showing individuals how ...

A Manchester United football shirt bearing the number eleven famously worn by Ryan Giggs during his career playing at Manchester United. Framed and sign...

Antique mid-18th century cast iron travel safe. Probably manufactured in France for storing money, important documents or jewellery. It would have been taken on long travels, perhaps on a long sea voyage or on the Orient express...

Antique mid-19th Century Victorian very rare cast iron scale model of the original meter used to measure the amount of gas used at the Crystal Palace, in Hyde Park during the Great E...

Antique 19th Century Italian Grand Tour marble relief depicting St George slaying the Dragon. England has always been one of the leading countries in terms of travelling and explori...

Antique early-20th Century British beautifully made rich mahogany oversized perpetual calendar made for a city bank, circa 1920's. A real conversation piece and a superb piece of his...

Antique 19th century Victorian solid silver presentation shovel, exceptionally large, the solid silver blade is engraved "Presented to Mrs Theobald, by the workmen of St Cuthbert's L...

This quirky valet is from the iconic 80's, it has a polished metal torso with brass details, the style echos of a "Gaultier Corset". The body stands above ...

Antique early 20th century American very unusual, novelty solid silver gimbal golf themed lighter, of unusual design, the ball gimbol shaped as a golf ball, mounted with a tusk and a...