Captain Coghlan’s Duelling Pistols by Twigg of London

The large and interesting silver gilt trophy of Captain George Welstead, purchased with prize money from the East India Company, 1805, in the form of a footed cup with a separate cover, with two arched scrolling acanthus handles, incised and chased with a band of scrolling vines and a continuous thick garland of flowers suspended by two tied bows around two cartouches, one with a later applied panel showing the coat of arms of the East India Company (a shield surmounted by a helmet, flanked by lion supporters each holding a British standard, motto ‘Auspicio Regis et Senatus Angliæ’), the other with six putti driving a cart pulled by a pair of lionesses, the cover with a collar of pointed leaves and the Welstead family crest (a hind trippant), the foot with an inscription stating ‘A remembrance of the East India Company’s Present, to Captn G. Welstead, of four hundred guineas. June 11, 1805′. Assay marks for WH, London, 1795. English. Condition: repairs to old damage on the stem. Provenance: The collection of Carl De Santis, sold at Christie’s, 17th March 1999, lot 91 Sold subsequently at Sotheby’s 4th November 2011, lot 253 This is a fascinating documentary item. It is not, in itself, a presentation piece of plate. The wording makes it clear that Welstead was presented with money so he must have chosen to buy this piece with some of his prize to remember his success in the future. This also explains why the vase, probably bought second hand, predates the inscription by 10 years and has a later panel with the East India Coat of Arms applied to one side. Unfortunately, the precise reason for the award of 400 Guineas to Welstead in 1805 is not recorded. At this point he was captain of the East Indiaman Euphrates and it is recorded in Shipbuilding & Shipping Record: A Journal of Shipbuilding, Marine Engineering, Dock, Harbours & Shipping, Vol. 68, pp. 134 & 162, that Lloyds of London presented him with a “silver tureen” for successfully refloating the vessel when she had run aground in the Hooghli river. It is quite likely the HEIC rewarded him for this same event. Welstead received several gifts of silver during the course of his incredibly successful career, including having a bespoke presentation centrepiece commissioned for him through a subscription by the grateful officers on his ship circa 1825. A superb design drawing for an extraordinary chinoiserie silver centrepiece, made by the firm of Green, Ward & Co-rivals to Rundell Bridge and Rundell...

A Teak Model of the Stern of HMS Howe, Presented to Captain Assheton Gore Curzon Howe in February of 1892 A teak model of the stern of HMS Howe adorned with brass cannons and deck f...

Captain Sir George Collier’s presentation silver entree dishes and covers by Richard Cooke, London 1803, each plain rectangular with gadroon borders, covers with detachable vine twist handles, the covers engraved: ‘Presented by the Old Madras Insurance Company to Captn. Collier, Commander of His Majestys Sloop ‘Victor’, for his persevering & gallant conduct in chasing for two days, partially engaging & ultimately sinking the French National Corvette ‘La Fleche’ of superior force while advantageously anchored at the Mahé Islands.’ Dimensions approx.: 150 x 290 x 200mm / 6 x 11 ½ x 8 inches Total weight approx.: 3513 grams / 112 oz. troy. Footnotes: These silver dishes were presented to Captain Sir George Collier KCB (1774-1824) for destroying the 22-gun French corvette La Flèche whilst commanding Victor, 18 guns, in the Seychelles on 5 September 1801. After escorting troop transports into the Red Sea ahead of the British invasion of Egypt, Victor fell in with La Flèche off Diego Garcia. After an initial engagement, the corvette escaped to windward only to be found again four days later. A short but fierce action ensued during which the corvette caught fire, grounded on a coral reef and sank before a prize crew could secure the ship. As reward, the Admiralty made Collier post captain and gave him command of Leopard, 50 guns. Born in London, Collier entered the Royal Navy in 1784. As a midshipman, he was wrecked off Madagascar in 1792 surviving among the natives of that island for six months before being rescued by a passing Portuguese brig. Unfortunately, the brig was immediately captured by a French privateer and for two more years, Collier was confined as a prisoner of war on Mauritius. Returning to service in 1795, he was given his first command in Suffolk Tender. Following the Peace of Amiens, Collier commanded the Sea Fencibles at Liverpool. After accompanying the expedition to Copenhagen in 1808, for which he was knighted for delivering the admiral’s dispatches, he saw action, and was wounded, supporting the military Campaign in Spain. After the war, Collier was made commodore on the African station where he was employed suppressing the slave trade with such rigour that he was elected an honorary member of the African Institution, founded by William Wilberforce...

The openwork gold fluted pendent mount is channel set with an oval cornelian seal engraved with the coat of arms and crest of Hood with the arms of Periam in pretence for Captain Alexander Hood RN (1758-1798) who married Elizabeth Periam of Butleigh. English, circa 1790. Captain Hood (1758-1798) was a cousin of Samuel Hood, Viscount Hood, and of Alexander Hood, Viscount Bridport. His younger brother was Sir Samuel Hood who captained Zealous at the Battle of the Nile...