Frederick Chapman: ‘Naval Architecture War Vessels’, circa 1770

A Royal Naval ship’s elm companionway board, of rectangular form with an arched top and two sturdy brass rings, naively carved with a crowned coat of arms flanked by a lion and unicorn...

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...

Wilson Chilton’s mahogany Naval Architects/Naval draughtsman box of curves and templates, probably by Gillows still retaining around 100 superb quality...

Rare WWII Italian Prisoner of war work model of Italian heavy cruiser 'Zara' with finely detailed superstructure and armament in a cedar and pine glazed c...

An oil on canvas seascape by T G Thurgood (England, circa 1920) An oil on canvas by T G Thurgood. A large battle cruiser on fire. In the foreground is another ship painted in Razzle Dazzle...

This monumental George III gold and hardstone intaglio fob seal comprises a profile portrait of the head and shoulders of Admiral Viscount Nelson, in uniform displaying...

Antique print titled 'Vaisseau du premier rang portant pavillon d'Admiral'. Beautiful copper engraving of a naval vessel. From Mortier's famous maritime Atlas "Neptune François". Eng...

Antique print titled 'Plan et Elevation d'un Portique Composite (..)'. Old print showing the design of a Composite portico. This print originates from 'Recueil Élémentaire d?Architec...

An unusual English nineteenth century leather and brass single drawer hand held Naval signals telescope with a lens cap, sliding eyepiece cover and panel insert into the leather show...

Antique print titled 'Principal Front of Sandon'. Architectural elevation of Sandon Hall, Staffordshire. This print originates from 'Vitru...

Antique map Indonesia titled 'Nouvelle Carte de l'Isle de Java - Nieuwe kaart, van het Eiland Java'. Chart of the island of Java, depicting soun...

The Making of an American Army: The World War II Artwork of Frederick Counsel (A G.I. View of Army Life) was an exhibit at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center from 2019-2020. 1st Ed softcover. Frederick Counsel’s art book features many watercolor drawings of army life from his service days. He painted scenes of mess halls...