Pair of Antique Customs & Excise Measures, English, Etched Glass Beakers C.1920

This is a pair of antique exercise clubs. An English, weighted beech fitness aid, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1920. Fascinating exercise...

This is a pair of antique display domes. An English, glass over pine taxidermy showcase, dating to the early Victorian period, circa 1850. Superb display pair, with appealing bases...

This is a set of 7 antique circus juggler's clubs. An English, beech performance aid, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1920. Delightfully tactile and unusual, a charming set...

This is an antique marimbaphone. An English, brass and oak decorative musical instrument, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1920. A striking, concussive idiophone with beautif...

A lovely shaped little folding / pocket magnifying glass which folds into a shaped brass case, marked "Made In England". Dating to c.1920, remaining in excellent condition measuring...

This superb pair of model desk cannons has been beautifully handmade in mahogany with nailed brass fittings and heavy cast bronze barrels. The attention to detail on these fine minia...

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...

Antique 20th Century English wooden dairy cow, intricately carved and hand-painted. This delightful piece would have been displayed alongside butter, cream, and cheese in a local dai...