Antiques

PROVENANCE

Richard Bromell, ASFAV, Charterhouse Auctioneers

Most items we auction have provenance or a tale to tell. The tale can be of travel, romance, happiness, of history, sorrow or loss. Now we have fully re-opened, people can bring in their antiques and collectibles to our salerooms for a free valuation during normal working hours. With these items, we are often told about the tales behind the items, with some tales holding more water than others.

Recently, a lady called in with a porcelain tea set, and with it came a tale to tell. It belonged to her great-great-grandfather. He sailed the seven seas in the merchant navy for decades and brought the tea set home from China during the Boxer Rebellion in the 1880s. This, of course, was all very interesting, but for me the tale had a few issues.

At school, I always enjoyed history. My love of history certainly contributed to my interest in antiques and then a career as an auctioneer. As my children like to point out, I was at school a long, long time ago, but at least I still remember some of what I was taught.

I am sure by now, my fellow historians reading this, will be shouting from the roof tops the Boxer Rebellion, although in China, was not in the 1880s, but 1899-1901. However, this was not the only fault I found in the tale. The largest fault was of course the tea set was Japanese and dated to the 1920s.

And then there are items with impeccable provenance such as a chair, a small oak box and a book entered into our two-day 8th & 9th July auction. The chair is unusual to say the least. It is made from antlers and decorated dogs heads on the arms and on the back. My first reaction was it dated to the mid-19th century. Thankfully my dating was spot on as the owner showed me an oil painting dating to circa 1850 hanging on the wall which featured not only the children of Field Marshal Lord Viscount Henry Hardinge painted in a room at the family estate South Park, Penshurst, but also the antler chair I was looking at!

Field Marshal Lord Viscount Henry Hardinge entered the army at 13, saw service in India, fought with Wellington throughout the Peninsular campaign and was British Commissioner at Blucher’s headquarters at Waterloo. Having had his left hand shot off at the battle of Ligny, he was not present for the battle of Waterloo two days later, after which Wellington presented him with a sword from Napoleon. He was appointed Governor General of India 1844-48, and finally Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty’s Forces in 1854.

The antler chair had passed down through the family to the owner. The provenance is impeccable, and to make it even more watertight, if that is possible, also in the auction from the owner is an oak box. Bound in brass, to keep it safe when travelling and with a Bramah lock to keep the contents safe from prying eyes, the box also has a silver-coloured metal plaque inset in the top inscribed ‘Letters from Lt Gen Lord Viscount Hardinge’. Accompanying the box is a book written by Charles Viscount Hardinge titled ‘Rulers of India’ with a personal dedication from the author.

Proper provenance indeed.

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