Midshipman Proctor’s Sword for Valour at the Battle of Copenhagen

A large elm tiller with a bronze helm and turned finial from the Brixham fishing trawler 'Provident', 1924 Provident details: Builder: J Sander...

Pair of antique English naval cannon each with a tapering three stage barrel flanked by plain trunnions, with a knob shaped cascabel button before a shaped rectangular raised vent and ending in a 3 1/2” bore muzzle, enclosing a removable conforming wood plug, circa 1800. Stood upon a naval type bronze-mounted four wheeled wooden carriage, including its wedge shaped quoin with knob handle. The Earls of Lonsdale, Lowther Castle, Cumbria, presumably by descent to Hugh Cecil Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale (1857-1944), until sold by his heir and brother, Lancelot, 6th Earl, as part of the contents of Lowther Castle, Maple & Co. Ltd./Thomas Wyatt, Tuesday 14 April 1947 and two following days, lot 558: ‘A pair of Old Gun Metal Cannons on teakwood carriages, 3ft. 6in. long’. Mrs. P.M. Adie-Shepherd, sold Christie’s, London, 29 May 1970, lot 96. Lowther Castle is a castellated mansion built by Robert Smirke between 1806 and 1814 for William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale (1757-1844). It was constructed on the foundations of the former 17th century family seat, Lowther Hall, but it was only in the early 19th century that it was afforded the name ‘castle’ in keeping with the Europe-wide fashion for romanticism and which was promoted by influential characters such as William Beckford at Fonthill Abbey, Wiltshire in England and by the writer Sir Walter Scott at Abbotsford, Roxburghshire, Scotland. While it’s not known when these naval cannon were acquired for Lowther they would have been entirely fitting in the castle or its approaches and it’s likely that they were in place soon after the castle was completed, or perhaps acquired later by the 5th Earl. A tantalising possibility is that the cannon were originally aboard the East Indiaman Lowther Castle which was active in the early 19th century. HUGH CECIL LONSDALE, 5TH EARL OF LONSDALE (1857-1944) AND THE DEMISE OF LOWTHER CASTLE In 1882 at the age of 25 Hugh Lonsdale (1857-1944) unexpectedly inherited the earldom and with it the extensive Lonsdale estate, including tens of thousands of acres of Cumberland and Westmorland and coalfields at Whitehaven. However, despite his spectacular inherited wealth – he was suddenly one of the wealthiest men in England, over the course of his lifetime he managed to decimate the family fortune. He led a full and colourful life, one of adventure and luxury. An early intrepid escapade took place in July 1888 when, as part of an expedition called the Scotch Naturalist Society, he set embarked on horse sleigh...

A mid-Victorian model of a field cannon, the bronze barrel set on an oak carriage with large iron-bound wheels, with traces of the original black, red an...

A fine pair of bronze cannon by McAndrew and Woore, set on their original brass bound black painted oak carriages with brass spider wheels, also with a p...

Continental (19th Century) metal sword with silver filigree handle wrapped in black rope with a small dolphin detail.

"Officer's Sword – France Or Austrian Netherlands – Circa 1770–1790 – Length 99 Cm" An elegant officer's sword, late 18th century (circa 1770–1790), probably French or Austrian Nethe...

North African Sword (Nimcha), Morocco, Early 19th Century This North African sword, known as a "Nimcha," is a remarkable piece originating from Morocco, dating back to the early 19th...

A Napoleon III sword in gilt brass. Handle is decorated with 2 mother of pearl plates. Urn shaped pommel. Knuckle guard transitioning into cross guard. Guard plate with eagle. Black ...