WW102-439 Day Two.qxp_Layout 1 09/06/2017 12:47 Page 92
A PRIVATE COLLECTION OF S. MORDAN Sampson Mordan senior, (1790-1843) patented his first propelling pencil in 1822, upon which the fortunes of the firm were based, He entered his first mark alone on 26th June 1823 and another with his partner, Gabriel Riddle, on 30th April 1824. This partnership was dissolved in 1836, and Sampson continued trading as S. Mordan and Co, until his death in 1843. The company was left to his sons, Sampson Mordan junior and Augustus Mordan. S. Mordan junior died in Paris on 9th May 1881, and he left his share of the business to his brother Augustus. In 1898, the year in which the firm was converted into a limited liability company under name of S. Mordan & Co, they absorbed the similar business of Thomas Johnson. As well as their City Road Factory they had showrooms off Regent Street. S. Mordan & Co. Ltd ceased trading in 1941 following the destruction of their factory in a bombing raid. As well as pencils, Mordan produced such wide and varied array of items, and as this collection clearly shows, often with a slant towards the novelty.
λ 741. An Edwardian silver card case, by S. Mordan and Co, London 1904, rectangular form, hinged cover, with a slideaction dispensing device, inscribed, length 8.2cm, plus a William IV silver lancet case by Mordan and Riddle, London 1833, and a parcel-gilt aide memoire, marked S. Mordan, approx. weighable 2.1oz. (3) £150-200
742. A late-Victorian silver cigarette / card case, by S. Mordan and Co, London 1898, rectangular form, the gilded interior with two sprung-hinged pierced foliate clips, inscribed, the exterior with initials, length 9.3cm, approx. weight 3.5oz. £80-120
743. A William IV silver snuff box, by S. Mordan and G. Riddle, London 1834, rounded rectangular form, gilded interior, the front inscribed ‘S. Mordan and Co, Makers’. length 7.2cm, approx. weight 1.1oz. £150-200
744. A late-Victorian miniature silver book case and magnifier, by S. Mordan and Co, London 1893, rounded rectangular form, hinged cover, with a ring attachment, fitted with the smallest English dictionary, cover a.f, length 0.4oz. £80-100
745. A late-Victorian silver cigar case, by S. Mordan and Co, London 1892, rectangular form, fluted decoration, gilded interior, inscribed ‘Robert Hassell from James Motion, Oct 1892’, length 11.6cm, approx. weight 6oz. £100-150
746. A Victorian silver ‘trick’ vesta box, by S. Mordan, London 1889, rounded rectangular form, hinged cover with a monogram, length 5cm, plus a Victorian silver vesta case, by S. Mordan, London 1881, rectangular form, engraved decoration, approx. weight 1.4oz. (2) £100-150
747. A Victorian silver vesta case, by S. Mordan and Co, London 1891, oblong form, fluted decoration, wing attachment, length 5.5cm, plus an Edwardian silver vesta case, by S. Mordan and Co, Chester 1908, rectangular form, inscribed ‘THE STRAND MAGAZINE XMAS 1908’, approx. weight 2.3oz. (2) £100-150
748. A Victorian silver hunting vesta case, by S. Mordan, London 1885, rectangular form, engraved with mounted huntsman and hounds, the reverse initialled and dated, within foliate scroll decoration, length 5cm, approx. weight 0.7oz. £100-150
749. A Victorian silver whistle / vesta case, by S. Mordan, London 1884, oval cylindrical form, fluted decoration, the hinged cover with a striker, with a ring attachment, length 6.6cm, approx. weight 0.4oz. £150-200
92