GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
EXTREMELY RARE LLOYD'S PATRIOTIC FUND PRESENTATION £100 PRESENTATION TWO-HANDLED STERLING VASE.Only 15 patriotic fund vases were awarded after the Battle of Trafalgar. Most are in institutional collections. This example is inscribed "FROM THE PATRIOTIC FUND AT LLOYD'S / TO WILLIAM HARGOOD ESQ. CAPTAIN OF H.M.S. BELLEISLE, / FOR HIS MERITORIOUS SERVICES IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE SIGNAL VICTORY, / OBTAINED OVER THE COMBINED FLEETS / OF FRANCE AND SPAIN, OFF CAPE TRAFALGAR. / ON THE 21ST OF OCTOBER 1805". The sterling silver vase measures 16" tall x 8-1/2" across, weighting about 121 troy ounces. The body of the vase is in two pieces; the upper section has an oak leaf border at the neck, the lower section has on one side raised relief Britannia holding winged victory. The other side shows Hercules slaying the Hydra, again in high relief, representing the gargantuan task of the outnumbered British Navy against the French and Spanish at Trafalgar. The lid is a full figured Britannia lion. Sir William Hargood (1762-1839) was a British Naval officer who served with distinction during the American Revolutionary War, French Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. H.M.S. Belleisle was in the thick of the fighting at Trafalgar, often fighting alone against numerous enemy ships. His actions should be read on line in provenance. H.M.S. Belleisle had 33 dead and 93 wounded, including Hargood who was severely bruised during the cannonade. There has not been a Trafalgar trophy available to the public in many years and this is an exquisite example in remarkable condition. Accompanying this trophy is the 2004 text Defiant But Dismasted at Trafalgar: The Life and Times of Sir William Hargood by Mary McGrigor. Hargood was a confidante of Lord Nelson and has a most intriguing naval history. SIZE: PROVENANCE: Valmore Forgett, Jr. Collection; The spectacular collections of Ray Bentley featuring the finest and rarest deluxe antique Winchesters in the world, 1990. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine. No discernible defects. Still in high polish with each piece with crisp London marker marks and proofs. The bottom ring base along with proofs "RUNDELL BRIDGE ET RUNDELL AURIFICES REGIS ET PRINCIPIS WALLIAE LONDINI FECERINT". 53091-236 JS (50,000-70,000)