Latest news with #historicalartifacts
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Antiques Roadshow guest wide-eyed as expert gasps 'I need time to come down from this', floored by 'trickiest item she's ever had to value' - before giving eye-watering verdict
An Antiques Roadshow guest was left wide-eyed as an expert gasped 'I need time to come down from this' in response to the 'trickiest item she's ever had to value'. A repeat episode of the BBC show, which sees specialist appraisers value heirlooms and heritage items, went to Belton House near the town of Grantham, Lincolnshire. Expert Hilary Kay met with a woman who had brought in a very unique item - the funeral standard of 17th-century English statesman Oliver Cromwell. He led parliamentary forces in the English Civil Wars in the mid-1600s against King Charles I, helping to overthrow him before his execution in 1649. The soldier and politician then led the Commonwealth of England that was quickly established, serving as Lord Protector from 1653 until his death in 1658. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Hilary began the segment: 'Sheltering from a passing shower and sheltering with an object which is, I feel, almost radioactive with power. 'It's a very interesting phenomenon to be this close to something that is really quite important. 'I'm recognising, immediately, the personal standard of Oliver Cromwell. 'It's a name we all know but let's just put him into his place in history. 'He was one of the signatories to the death warrant for instance to Charles I. 'Very much involved with the regicide, killing of the King, and then he became in 1653 what was known as the Lord Protector of England. 'It was after the Civil War and he ran the country essentially from 1653 to 1658 and that is his importance in English history and why this object has such resonance.' The woman explained how such an incredible object came into her possession: 'It was in a collection about seven years ago. My father actually bought the collection of militaria. 'We now own it as a family. It's actually kept in one of our spare rooms and as you say, it's one of those objects that make you tingle.' The antiques expert agreed: 'It does make you tingle because this is the standard that was part of the funeral procession of Cromwell's on November 23, 1658, and this was extraordinary.' Pointing to all the regal imagery on the object, she continued: 'Here was the non-King being revered really as a King with a royal crown. 'It is an extraordinary image that we have here which was totally against everything that he stood for.' The pair discussed how the standard had been stolen by a young boy in the crowd during the funeral procession, with Hilary saying: 'It's just brilliant.' The guest added: 'My whole family's been into history for generations and my maternal grandparents are actually founding members of The Sealed Knot, the re-enactment society for the Civil War.' Hilary was delighted to hear this further detail: 'Which is amazing, what a coincidence! It was meant to end up with you.' In a heart-warming, sincere moment, the woman replied: 'Absolutely, I believe so. The pair discussed how the standard had been stolen by a young boy in the crowd during the funeral procession, with Hilary saying: 'It's just brilliant' 'Because we're the kind of people who really want to look after it and preserve it and make sure it's seen by everyone it should be seen by for generations, I guess. 'It's a real treasure, it's a pleasure to own.' Incredibly complimentary about the historic item, Hilary said it had been 'beautifully restored' - and will continue to need good looking after. She added: 'However great your spare room is - and I'm sure it has almost museum-like qualities - I do think, even if it went on loan somewhere, I think it deserves to be looked after.' With all this anticipation built up, about an item with such historical value, the valuation could not come sooner - and it did not disappoint. Hilary said: 'This is about the trickiest thing I've ever had to value. 'It is certain to fetch £25,000 but how much more would it go for?' The wide-eyed guest was rendered absolutely speechless, with Hilary saying: 'It's going to take me a little while to come down from this. 'It'll take a couple of bars of chocolate and a cup of tea but this has been a really special moment with a really extraordinary object, don't you agree?' It comes after another repeat episode saw a guest gasp 'I can't believe that!' as he learned the staggering value of a watch bought for £300 - while the crowd erupted into applause. The instalment of the BBC show, which sees specialist appraisers value heirlooms and heritage items, went to Brodie Castle in the Moray area of Scotland. In the episode that reran on Sunday, expert Richard Price was asked to assess a 1960s Rolex GMT-Master watch. The guest said he had owned the timepiece for 32 years, having inherited it from his uncle, who he thought most likely received it as a gift in the sixties. Inspecting it further, Richard was delighted to find it unaltered - a rare outcome, as watches are often modified when their owners take them in for servicing. The appraiser told the guest how watch repairs normally go: 'They would've changed the bezel and they would've changed the dial with an upgrade. 'You would've had it back thinking, "Oh, it looks new." Collectors hate that.' As to this particular timepiece, by contrast, Richard noted: 'It's absolutely original - spot on.' The expert estimated the watch would have cost around £300 to £350 when the guest's uncle bought it back in the sixties. The guest simply replied: 'Wish [my uncle] bought more.' But even the single watch proved a good investment - as Richard valued it as now being worth £12,000 to £15,000. The owner was left in utter shock, as the crowd broke into applause. He exclaimed: 'I can't believe that, can't believe that.'
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
46 Extremely Rare, Mind-Blowing Photos From The 19th And 18th Century That Show Just How Wildly Different Things Used To Be
1800s 25¢ bill: 1880s ID card: 18th century diving suit: 1800s shoes for crushing chestnuts: 18th century fire alarm that you'd need to hit with a hammer to alert the village of a fire: 18th century machine that let researchers read up to eight open books at once: 1840s medical inhaler that administered anesthesia: 18th century condom: 1890s brass knuckle pistol: 1850s women's self defense glove: 1800s hidden staircase in a Victorian home: 18th century sword-shaped Chinese coins: 1830s clock: 1700s oil lamp: 1880s Victorian dollhouse: 1740 wheelchair for Holy Roman Empress Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel: 1820 coffin collar that prevented grave robbers from stealing corpses: 18th century Scottish mortsafe to stop graverobbers: Related: People In HR Revealed Truly Unhinged Reasons Employees Got Fired, And My Jaw Is On The Floor 1890 steamer trunk that converts into a dresser: 1880s penny farthing bike: 1850 $10 bill: 22.1890s manners book: 18th century gaming device that came before the pinball machine: mid-1700s well that was glassed over and eventually became part of a home's kitchen: Related: 50 People Who Woke Up One Morning Over The Past Month And Accidentally Destroyed Their Entire Lives 18th century French chair for reading books: 1750s wall latern: 18th century mansion's dog grave: 18th century case of amputation instruments: 18th century lock that requires four keys to open: 18th century palace hall: 1700s graffiti on a cathedral: 18th century building in Norland, Norway: 1700s lighthouse Fresnel lens: 1800s sundial alarm clock: 1800s pepperbox pistol: 19th Century guide on how much you could sue for loosing a limb: 1830 cost of a semester at Harvard: 18th century uranium glass china that glows under UV light: 1800s cemetery that was preserved in the basement of a building: 1840 Japanese shadow puppet guide: 1880 tap and die set (aka toolkit): 1821 recipe for Ginger Ale: 1800s corner chair: 1800s telephone: 19th century Victorian home library: finally, this 19th century guide on who to avoid in the marriage market: Also in Internet Finds: The History We're Taught Is Wildly Sanitized, So Here 28 Disturbing Historical Events Everyone Should Be Aware Of Also in Internet Finds: 18 People Who Took A Picture Of Something That — Oops — Is Super Dangerous Also in Internet Finds: 13 Tweets From Women This Week That Made Me Laugh So Hard I Might Need Medical Attention
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Rare royal pistols owned by first Duke of Sussex to be sold
A pair of rare pistols from the private collection of an 18th Century prince are to be sold at auction guns were owned by Prince Augustus Frederick, the first Duke of Sussex, the sixth son of King George were made in the 1790s by the esteemed Spanish gunsmith Francisco Targarona and are believed to have been given to the prince as a diplomatic pair are estimated to fetch between £20,000 and £30,000 at a special sale of medals and coins, arms and armour at Woolley & Wallis, in Salisbury. The duke was well liked and noted for championing societal freedom and was also known for his large weapons collection, which was put up for auction on his death in 1843, including the pistols. The guns are Spanish 22 bore convertible 'Madrid' lock pistols, which date from about are highly decorative, with geometric and floral accents, and can be fitted together to create a short, single are housed in a fitted mahogany case with velvet lining. On the outside, the case has an oval silver plate on its lid engraved "Purchased at the sale of His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, 1845".Ned Cowell, head of arms and armour at Woolley & Wallis, said the selling the guns was a privilege."We are honoured to be offering such an outstanding pair of pistols by such a distinguished gunmaker and with such a historic background," he items in the sale include a selection of military medals, rare coins, swords, cannons and a coronation robe worn in 1937 and in 1953.
Telegraph
01-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
‘You don't build a medieval manor house with a great hall to sit on your own'
Charlie Courtenay, 19th Earl of Devon, has been having a clear-out. At his home, Powderham Castle near Exeter, 'up in the attics and roofs there's what we refer to as the 'wild archives',' he says, 'just a bunch of stuff that we never really get to'. Now the wild archives are no more. Next week Dreweatts auctioneers will sell 209 pieces from the Powderham attics, as well as 172 lots from the Earl of Yarborough's Brocklesby Park in Lincolnshire. It isn't a downsizing sale; more of a consolidation. 'Powderham spends a lot of its time being used for public events, and every time you do that you're lifting and shifting, so it's not nearly as fully furnished as it once was,' says Lord Devon. The castle is open six days a week, nine months of the year, with a vibrant events calendar. This summer it will host Duran Duran as well as comedian Frank Skinner, food festivals and Shakespearean productions. This is exactly what it ought to be doing, says Lord Devon. 'You don't build a medieval manor house with a great hall to sit on your own and not see people. You build it for the purpose of entertaining and bringing people together. I'm strongly of the view that Powderham does today what Sir Philip Courtenay intended to do when he built it in the 1390s.' The auction is an eclectic mix. Lots range from a pocket telescope (est. £80-120) to a George VI coronation chair (est. £300-500), a pair of three-metre tall mahogany and parcel-gilt cabinets (est. £5,000-10,000), and a pair of rare Chinese imperial Qiangjin and Cloisonné sedan chair poles (est. £8,000-12,000). Lord Devon has long had 'a bit of heartburn around sales'. In August, it will be a decade since he succeeded his father to both the earldom and Powderham, and the same week he will turn 50. With this has come a realisation. 'It's very easy to sit there and do nothing, and hold on to everything like the dragon in Lord of the Rings,' he says. 'But that's not creative. I've done a lot of work retaining stuff and it's time to get my arms around the collection and responsibly manage it. That requires letting some stuff go to make room – and hopefully raise some funds to assist in our programme of works.' Lord Devon's father Hugh was born in the state bed at Powderham in May 1942, on the night the Luftwaffe bombed Exeter. Since it was wartime, no beacons were lit nor cannons fired in recognition of his arrival, and his mother Venetia was heard to remark: 'poor little heir. No church bells. No fireworks.' Post-war, Venetia and her husband Christopher Courtenay, 17th Earl of Devon, poured all of their efforts into Powderham. First, they established a finishing school, before in 1960 the house opened to the public, with Powderham's 116-year-old tortoise Timothy in tow with a label attached that read: 'My name is Timothy. I am very old. Please do not pick me up.' 'They were very enterprising,' says Lord Devon of his grandparents. 'I often think that I run their business, which my dad did a great job developing.' The Devons were totally wedded to their titular county. Christopher never once spoke in the House of Lords in his 63 years as a member, nor did he partake in much of aristocratic society – possibly since his 1939 marriage to Venetia had been preceded by scandal. The pair had met when Christopher was still at prep school, and Venetia was the young bride of his second cousin, Mark Pepys, 6th Earl of Cottenham. After Venetia attended Christopher's coming-of-age in July 1937, the pair fell in love, and when Mark Cottenham sought a divorce from Venetia, he cited Christopher as a co-respondent. Following both this, and his experiences in North Africa – where he was shot through his helmet on Christmas Day – Christopher retreated to Devon with what would likely be diagnosed now as PTSD. He pursued a policy of never opening any of his post and, as his stepdaughter Lady Rose Pepys remembered, 'set about becoming an old man,' in his 30s. Finances were tight. By the time Christopher succeeded his father the Reverend Frederick Courtenay, 16th Earl of Devon, in June 1935, there had been a succession of deaths meaning that Powderham came with triple death duties. The Devons' estate, which had been over 53,000 acres in the 1880s, was severely reduced. Today, it is just 3,500 acres. The Courtenays' legacy is ancient: they were founding members of the Order of the Garter; fought at Poitiers, Agincourt and Bosworth; and had William of Orange to dinner on the first night of the Glorious Revolution. Lord Devon is the 19th earl dating from the fifth creation in 1553, but his ancestors have been earls of Devon, one way or another, since the 1140s. When both his father and aunt Lady Kate Watney died within two months of one another in 2015, Lord Devon became not only head of the family but also 'the authority,' he says. 'I was always the one asking the history questions and I thought, 'there's no one I can go to to tell me whether that's right or wrong'. That was a big loss.' He is also almost the last of the line, only his 15-year-old son Jack, Lord Courtenay, is in line to succeed him. 'Despite being a very long-established title, the earldom of Devon is a very weedy one.' He feels strongly about his role, and was elected to the House of Lords as a cross-bencher in 2018, becoming the most visible Lord Devon for several generations. 'I had a real interest in what the earldom meant and it wasn't until I got into the Lords and started offering some of the stories in the context of providing perspective to our legislative process that I realised there aren't many of us who are feudal earls with that sort of continuity,' he says. He believes that part of being a hereditary peer is to have a role in the Lords, though when the remaining hereditaries exit the upper chamber, he will remain a 'flag-waver' for Devon. 'I am fortunate to live in and run a business in the county of which I am the earl,' he says. 'We call Powderham 'the home of Devon'. Just because I'm not able to contribute to the legislative process, there's still that ability to provide a sense of perspective for the country – and a sense of identity for the region.'
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Napoleon's iconic hat leads stunning auction of French emperor's prized possessions worth more than £5million
Napoleon Bonaparte was, according to everyone who matters, utterly compelling. The 'Little Corporal' conquered Europe, made himself emperor and wore his hat the wrong way around just to stand out. Now, that iconic bicorn headpiece is leading a stunning auction of the emperor's prized possessions. Expected to sell for nearly £700,000, the hat is one of around 100 objects being sold in Paris via leading auction house Sotheby's with an overall estimate of more than £5million (€6million). Also on offer are relics of Napoleon's romance with his beloved first wife, Josephine, whom he divorced after she failed to give birth to his desired heir. The couple's handwritten marriage contract is tipped to sell for up to £42,000 (€50,000), whilst a folio that is believed to have held their divorce papers could fetch £67,000 (€80,000). A set of Napoleon's linen clothes, complete with faded monograms, are on offer with the same upper estimate. And one of Napoleon's portable campaign beds, which he came to love so much that he even used them when in residence in France, is believed to be worth up to £50,000 (€60,000). Sotheby's expert Marine De Cenival, who is leading the sale, told MailOnline: 'This is the first time that we are offering such an important group of lots about Napoleon. 'He is probably the most famous French person in the world.' She added: 'It is really the first time you will have items from every important moment from his life.' The trove was compiled by France 's most famous antiques collector, Pierre-Jean Chalencon, who has described himself as 'Napoleon's press officer'. He is selling his collection - and his Parisian mansion separately - after getting into debt. According to The Times, he is said to be trying to pay off a €10 million loan that he took out from Swiss Life Banque Privée to fund his collection. But Chalençon told Le Parisien: 'I am not riddled with debts. I am doing well.' Napoleon's hats quickly became an inseparable part of his identity. Depicted in dozens of portraits and engravings, it ensured he stood out. The one being sold was crafted by Poupard, Napoleon's official hat maker. The emperor used it and then gifted it to General Mouton, one of his most trusted commanders. Napoleon ordered several hats in the same style each year and would change them frequently. Napoleon's signature portable campaign bed that was invented especially for him could sell for up to £50,000 (€60,000). He loved the design so much that he used it everywhere, including when at home. He bequeathed these camp beds to his son. He wrote from exile on St Helena that they were a 'modest legacy' which would preserve the memory of 'a father the universe will forever speak of' The ceremonial sword and stick used during Napoleon's coronation ceremony in 1804. They were crafted for the person in who lead the ceremony, Michel Duverdier, the chief herald of the empire. They feature imperial bees, thunderbolt engravings. Together they are expected to sell for up to £336,000 (€400,000) Born on the island of Corsica in 1769, Napoleon rose from a minor noble family to lead France after the French Revolution. He made his name at the Siege of Toulon in 1793, where he was credited with overseeing a victory over English and Spanish forces. The military leader went on to win a series of crushing victories over the Austrians, which further boosted his profile. He later went to Egypt, where his forces were roundly beaten by those of British naval hero Horatio Nelson at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. Returning to France, he launched a military coup in 1799 and was crowned Emperor of France five years later, at Notre Dame on December 2, 1804. He famously wore two crowns for the ceremony. One was modelled on the one worn by medieval Emperor Charlemagne, while the other was a gold laurel wreath befitting of a Roman emperor. His wife Josephine, whom he married in 1796, was crowned by her husband. The couple's volcanic romance - depicted in Ridley Scott's controversial 2023 film - was tempestuous. Napoleon penned frequent, graphic love letters to his wife, which she responded to tersely, driving him wild with frustration. Also in the Sotheby's sale is a portrait of Napoleon in his coronation robes, by François Gérard. It is tipped to sell for up to £252,000 (€300,000). And the ceremonial sword and stick used during the coronation ceremony by chief herald Michel Duverdier, are expected to sell for up to £336,000 (€400,000). Napoleon's dream of invading Britain and securing naval supremacy were crushed at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, at which Nelson was killed. But that defeat did not stop Napoleon from securing successive victories in Europe, over the Russians, Austrians and Prussians. Overreach followed with campaigns in Portugal and Spain and then French forces suffered catastrophic losses in the Peninsular War. Further defeats followed with the failed invasion of Russia and at the Battle of Leipzig. He did sensationally break out of exile on the island of Elba, but suffered his final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. It was after that disaster that he spent his final days under British watch on the island of St Helena. An exhibition featuring the objects is being held in Hong Kong from today until May 27 and then in New York from June 5 until June 11.
