Brightwells Sporting and Militaria. 8th Feb 2012

This is a specialist sale that is unashamedly masculine in atmosphere, reflecting the old traditions of the Services and the country pursuits of hunting, fishing and shooting with slight touches of colour seen in the plumage of taxidermy, the sinister red of Third Reich arm bands or the polished steel and brass of helmets and swords. Paradoxically, considering the mood of the sale, a group of medals awarded to Squadron Officer Muriel Kathleen Dunn A.R.R.C Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service achieved one of the highest prices of the day. The Lot consisted of Defence, General Service with Cyprus clasp, Campaign Service Medal 1962-2007 with South Africa clasp and a Royal Red Cross 2nd class with original case. This record of a nursing career was accompanied by a League of St. Bartholemew’s nurses badge and various miniatures and sold for £1,350. Another interesting group relating to A.R.C Douton born in 1990 and who died in Leominster in 1961, sold for £1,050. This Lot included a 1914-15 Star, Africa Star, George V Royal Naval Reserve decoration and naval dress sword.Two Egypt Star and Campaign 1882 medals awarded to Captain Cuthbert G. Knocker, a 40th Madras Infantry badge relating to his fathers war service, other badges and a file of research material sold for £1,000. It is still possible to buy groups of medals at auction for less than £100 making this an inviting area for new collectors.

Daggers and swords included a Japanese example with a curved 2 inch blade at £120 and an Indian katar with gilt decoration at £140. An Indian gauntlet sword pata with armourers mark and a 38inch blade made £380, another Indian gauntlet sword selling for £700 while a Tulwar sword with a curved blade achieved £220. Three kukri knives, one marked with a war issue arrow made £140. Among European weapons, a George V Sanderson Bros. & Newbould officers infantry sword with its scabbard went for £180. A pair of candlesticks made from sword hilts sold well above estimate at £170. A carved oak shield carrying two swords sold for £150. Firearms included an early 19th century flintlock trade musket, lacking the ramrod, at £160 with a Webley & Son rifle selling for £460. An early 20th century Enfield rifle, de-activated, sold for £180.Sporting guns included an AYA 12 bore double barrel shotgun at £220 and a Cogswell & Harrison 12 bore shotgun at £360. A fitted oak shot gun case by the same maker made £270 while a Westley Richards case with brass corners made £170. A Forsyth & Co. mahogany guncase made £310 while two brass and bronze bullet moulds went for £290. Predictably, Hardy products dominated prices in the Angling section of the sale with an alloy Perfect fly reel Mark II selling for £210 and an Altex reel No 1 making £120, A Hardy split cane two piece rod, the C.C de France sold for £125 with a salmon de luxe making £100. A Smuggler de luxe 7 piece rod made £130. A Maxwell free standing mahogany boot jack led prices in the equestrian section selling for £300. A pair of gouache racing paintings signed W.V Longe sold for £240 and depicted the 1923 Derby and Jubilee Stakes when Diligence and Simon Pure ran a dead heat finish. A leather hare coursing hound release slip leash made £145.

In a smaller than usual selection of taxidermy an unusual cockerel and hen made £120 with a barn owl making £130. A mounted sea turtle sold for £100. Hunting trophy skins remain popular, a polar bear making £190 with a leopard skin selling for £160. More curious items included a part mammoth tusk at £400 while an electrolier of stag antlers sold at £125. An elephant foot umbrella stand was contested to £310.
The high attendance at sales and on viewing days this year is remarkable not only in the specialist areas but in the general household monthly auctions with many people choosing to bid in person rather than relying on commission or telephone bids leading staff to wonder whether we are seeing a move away from technology and a return to the traditional methods of buying. The next Sporting and Militaria Sale is June 13th 2012.