A GROUP OF SEVEN ENGLISH RELIEF CARVED BOXWOOD PORTRAIT MEDALLIONS (7)

Comprising; William III, Sir Robert Walpole, Lord Chief Baron Montague, The Duke of Newcastle, an Unknown Nobleman and Oliver Cromwell, each with parcel-gilt ebonised moulded frames, and Edward Emily, possibly later, in a moulded frame, 18.5cm wide; 21.5cm high

Five with labels to the reverse ‘Lent By Mrs. V. Howden’ and numbered. 

PROVENANCE: 

Mr. William Saunders Fiske (1866-1932), sold by order of the Executor, Mrs Vanda Howden, Sotheby’s London, 18-19 November 1937, lot 180 and 181. 

EXHIBITED: 

‘Age of Walnut’, Park Lane, 1932, catalogue numbers, 133 to 149, and noted in the Sotheby’s catalogue of 1937 that the group was formerly on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum. 

An ivory portrait relief medallion of John Roe, by Gaspar van der Hagen (Dutch), carved prior to 1742, also formed part of the collection of William Saunders Fiske, and was acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (accession number A122-1937) in 1937 via the Sotheby’s auction. It is noted that Gaspar van der Hagen, trained in Antwerp and was working in London by 1733 as an assistant to the sculptor Michael Rysbrack.

Condition report: 

William III with further ink inscription to the back, indistinct. See extra image. 

The Duke of Newcastle with a dent to the nose, rubbed eye brow and shrinkage split to the top of the moulded frame. Circular patch to the jacket.  

Both the Duke of Newcastle and Robert Walpole with papered backs, inscribed in ink ‘Portrait of The Duke of Newcastle Boxwood by Grinling Gibbons Dec. 1889’ and ‘ Boxwood Carving Portrait of Sir Robert Walpole by Grinling Gibbons - Dec 89’ 

Cromwell with a painted paper back and numbered 225 and various shrinkage splits to the back of the portrait and also the frame at the bottom. 

Edward Emily with the most obvious shrinkage splits, others with some splits to the frames, some of which have been glued and repaired.  Edward Emily looks to be not part of the set and probably later in date and more than likely to be carved from fruitwood. Cromwell also possibly later and the timber also possibly fruitwood. 

Lord Chief Baron Montague, with repaired crack to the frame and gilt edge to the inner edge of the moulding. A further split to the frame. 

Unknown Nobleman with various shrinkage cracks to the frame and tarnishing to the gilt edge. 

Overall some are loose in their frames. A good build up of patination to the surfaces, together with general rubbing and wear commensurate with use and age.