Lot 64

A GEORGE III ENAMELLED TWO-COLOUR GOLD FREEDOM BOX, A LARGE NAVAL GOLD MEDAL AND TWO DOCUMENTS

11 More

14 More

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK … Read more

VICE ADMIRAL THE HON. WILLIAM WALDEGRAVE'S FREEDOM BOX AND NAVAL GOLD MEDALPROPERTY OF THE BAYREUTH TRUST

A GEORGE III ENAMELLED TWO-COLOUR GOLD FREEDOM BOX, A LARGE NAVAL GOLD MEDAL AND A RELATED DOCUMENT

THE BOX WITH MARK OF JAMES MORISSET, LONDON, 1797; THE GOLD MEDAL DESIGNED BY LEWIS PINGO

Details

A GEORGE III ENAMELLED TWO-COLOUR GOLD FREEDOM BOX, A LARGE NAVAL GOLD MEDAL AND A RELATED DOCUMENT
THE BOX WITH MARK OF JAMES MORISSET, LONDON, 1797; THE GOLD MEDAL DESIGNED BY LEWIS PINGO
The box, oval, the cover chased with outer borders of oak leaves and acorns, and an inner border of laurel leaves, all on a sablé ground, framing a painted enamel plaque of a naval battle, the sides decorated with four rectangular transluscent enamel plaques painted with the arms of the city of London, the arms of Waldegrave and the monogram WW, both in trophies of arms, a naval coronet and four square enamel plaques depicting naval trophies, all divided by gold pilasters and surmounted by a friese of gold swags of oak leaves and acorns with three small oval enamel plaques, the base engraved with H.M.S. Barfleur in full sail within an applied gold border of oak leaves and laurel, the inside lid engraved with inscription, in its original silk-lined red leather case, marked in cover and base;
The medal enclosed in plain gold frame with original lunettes, and with gold suspension ring, the obverse cast and chased with Britannia on a trireme being crowned with a laurel wreath by the winged figure of Victory, the reverse engraved with inscription within a border of oak and laurel: 'The Hon : William Waldegrave Vice Admiral and Third in Command on the 14 of Feb : MDCCXCVII . the Spanish fleet defeated', in original silk-lined red leather circular case;
Together with two documents, first baron Radstock (a) George III, King of England (1760-1820), royal letters patent, appointing vice admiral the honourable William Waldegrave as governor of Newfoundland, manuscript in ink on vellum, two membranes printed initial letter, portrait of the King and ornamentation in borders, repaired fragments of the privy seal, brown wax, attached by original plaited cords, Westminster, 16th. may 1797, fragments torn away from left border not affecting text; (b) William Waldegrave, first Baron Radstock, Grant of Arms, confirming to his wife Cornelia Jacoba Lady Radstock the Arms of Radstock and Van Lennep, manuscript in ink on vellum the arms depicted in the upper left corner, the seals of Garter and Clarenceaux, Kings of Arms, attached by original ribands, and in original tin cases (one lid Missing), 25th. November 1800, in original case
The box 4 1/4 in. (107 mm.) long; the medal 2 3/4 in. (70 mm.) high; the two documents approx. 500 mm. x 700 mm. and approx. 340 mm. x 450 mm.
gross weight of the box 9 oz. 9 dwt. (294 gr.); gross weight of the medal 3 oz. 15 dwt. (117 gr.)
The inscription inside the lid reads: "Watson Mayor a Common Council Holden, in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the City of London on Friday, the 10th. day of March, 1797. Resolved unanimously, that the thanks of this court be given to vice Admiral Thompson, Vice Admiral the Hone, Willm. Waldegrave, Rear Admiral Parker, &; Commodore Nelson, for their gallant behaviour on the 14th of February last, in defeating the Spanish fleet and that they be presented, severally with the freedom of this city in a gold box. note: Sir Robt. Calder omitted by mistake, afterwards rectified by a like vote."

Provenance

By direct descent from the recipient to the previous owner.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 21 October 1991, lot 109 (the box), lot 110 (the medal) and lot 111 (the documents).

Special notice

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.

Sale room notice

Please note that the printed catalogue incorrectly states this lot is sold with two related documents. It is actually only sold with one related document. The cataloguing on Christies.com is correct.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Amjad Rauf International Head of Masterpiece and Private Sales

arauf@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7389 2358

Lot Essay

ADMIRAL WILLIAM WALDEGRAVE

Admiral William Waldegrave, First Baron Radstock, G.C.B. (1753-1825), entered the Royal Navy at the age of 13 years; served in a number of vessels before obtaining command of the sloop H.M.S. Zephyr in 1775. The following year he acted as Flag Captain to Sir Edward Vernon, taking H.M.S. Ripon to the West Indies, and in 1778 while commanding H.M.S. Pamona he captured the American privateer Cumberland. This first personal victory was of considerable importance, since the enemy vessel had been particularly destructive to British shipping. For the next four years Waldegrave was continually in action. From 1783 until 1793 he was on half-pay, travelling in Europe. At the renewal of hostilities in 1793 he was appointed to H.M.S. Courageux and joined Vice Admiral Hotham before Toulon. Nominated Colonel of Marines, he advanced to Rear-Admiral in 1794 and then Vice-Admiral in H.M.S. Balfleur in 1795 and conducted negotiations with the Dey of Tunis in 1796. Still with his flag in the Barfleur, Waldegrave joined Sir John Jervis' squadron off Cape St. Vincent in January 1797, bringing the Admiral's strength up to 15 ships.

Appointed Governor of Newfoundland from 1797 to 1800, he was created Baron Radstock in the Peerage of Ireland in 1800, Admiral in 1802. At Nelson's funeral he attended Nelson's body by water from Greenwich and served as supporter to the Chief mourner Sir Peter Parker; G.C.B., 1815. Lord Radstock, Admiral of the Red, died 1825.

THE BATTLE OF SAINT VINCENT

The scene on the lid possibly copied from a watercolour, especially commissioned from the popular naval artist Robert Cleveley, depicts H.M.S Barfleur, Waldegrave's flagship, at about 3.00 p.m., two hours after the beginning of the action. Nelson in H.M.S. Captain had placed himself along the centre of the Spanish line at about 12.45 a.m., and together with H.M. ships Culloden, Blenheim and Excellent bore the brunt of the action. By the time the rest of the British line joined them, several Spanish ships had suffered badly. Admiral Jervis in H.M.S. Victory, closely supported by Waldegrave in the Barfleur, approached the Salvadore del Mundo. The Spanish ship had already been fired upon by the Excellent, with both fore and main top masts shot away and seeing the arrival of two more British vessels, the ship struck her colours to the Victory.

The enamelled scene shows the Victory pouring a broadside into the Salvadore del Mundo, and this follows several accounts of the action published immediately after the event. In fact the Victory did not need to fire a single shot at the Spanish ship, and the record was not corrected until some years later. After the battle Jervis wrote to Waldegrave "Sir.. No language I am possessed of can convey the high sense I entertain of the exemplary conduct of the Flag-Officers, Captains, Officers, Seamen, Marines, and Soldiers, embarked on board every ship of the squadron I have the honour to command, present at the vigorous and successful attack made upon the fleet of Spain on the 14th instant. The signal advantage obtained by his Majesty's arms on that day, is entirely to be attributed to their determined valour and discipline; and I desire you will accept my grateful thanks for your service on that occasion". Waldegrave also received a note of thanks from Nelson, together with the sword of the Second Captain of the captured San Nicolas, as proof of his esteem for the noble manner in which he conducted himself.

FREEDOM BOXES

The practice of presenting gold and enamel Swords and Freedom Boxes, already popular in England in the 18th Century, became more widespread during the Napoleonic Wars when no official medals for campaign service or awards for gallantry were given.

Twenty-five Gold Medals were awarded to Admirals and Captains of Lord Howe's fleet for the victory of 1 June 1794, but these honorary awards were reserved for the most senior ranks only. Army Gold Medals and Crosses, introduced in 1813, were similarly restricted. It is unsurprising therefore that during this period numerous private awards, including medals as well as Presentation Swords and Boxes, were distributed.

Of the many corporations who presented awards, the Honourable East India Company had perhaps the most consistent record, regularly rewarding officers and men in the company's employ with both medals and 'prize-money'. After the capture of Seringapatam 4 May 1799, medals in gold, silver-gilt, silver, bronze and pewter were distributed among all officers and men, but it was the official prize money which naturally attracted most attention. Altogether £1,140,000 was distributed, from £100,000 to the Commander-in-Chief, Lt. Gen. Harris, to £7 to all privates. (The value of the booty plundered from Seringapatam of course amounted to many times the official prize money). The Company could also be generous to those who rendered valuable service but who were not in the Company's employ. After the destruction of the French fleet in Aboukir Bay in 1798, the Company voted Nelson a "present" of £10,000. When compared to such lavish rewards, the presentations by Trinity House, Lloyds, the City of London, and other cities and large towns, are quite modest. Boxes and swords were sometimes of the value of 200 guineas, most frequently of 100 guineas, some were at 50 guineas. Contemporary attitudes to the fairness of such rewards is reflected in the City of London accounts for the year 1797. On 12th. December, outstanding payments for 'gold boxes and swords' amounted to £945, while for subscriptions to seamen's widows etc', only £500.

Vice Admiral Waldegrave's Box is a perfect and fine example of James Morisset's work with these enamel plaques typical of his style, probably executed by James Montague, an employee of Morisset's, possibly at this time his pupil, and later accomplished enough to become his successor.
There are only five City of London Freedom Boxes known to be by Morisset. They were awarded to the following:
- Earl St. Vincent, for services in the West Indies, 1794-5 (National Maritime Museum, Greenwich)
- Admiral Lord Howe, for 1st. June, 1794 (private collection)
- Sir Robert Calder, for St. Vincent, 1797
- Captain Edward Berry, for the Nile, 1798 (National Maritime Museum, Greenwich) and
- Vice Admiral the Hon. William Waldegrave, for St. Vincent, 1797.

More from The Exceptional Sale

View All