Ellis Finch
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Lot 74
A monumental Victorian silver and parcel-gilt 'Battle of Bosworth Field' presentation vase Charles Frederick Hancock, London 1866, rim of base stamped C F HANCOCK 39 BRUTON STREET LONDON Ɔ44
1 July 2025, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£30,000 - £50,000
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A monumental Victorian silver and parcel-gilt 'Battle of Bosworth Field' presentation vase
Charles Frederick Hancock, London 1866, rim of base stamped C F HANCOCK 39 BRUTON STREET LONDON Ɔ44
Tapering ovoid urn form, polished gilt highlights to the whole, the vase with flared neck chased with a matted foliate design, the rim encircled by gothic structure rising to four points to form the handles, interspersed with winged putti blowing double trumpets and highly stylised foliate supporters, supported by two mythical scaled beast masks, to the main body a finely detail high bas-relief War of the Roses diorama of the Battle of Bosworth Field, depicting the victorious Henry Tudor being crowned by Lord Stanley, amongst numerous armoured soldiers and horses, surmounted by a three dimensional armoured solder on horseback holding his sword aloft, to the reverse a blank oval cartouche bordered with highly stylised gothic floral design, a gilded double banded girdle to the lower body above scaled design, with a beaded knopped stem, on a pedestal flanked by two figural grotesques, with two cast portrait medallions one with a crowned Henry Tudor as king the reverse with the uncrowned Henry Tudor, on a spreading base with repeated cast naturalistic design, height 65cm, weight 257oz.
Tapering ovoid urn form, polished gilt highlights to the whole, the vase with flared neck chased with a matted foliate design, the rim encircled by gothic structure rising to four points to form the handles, interspersed with winged putti blowing double trumpets and highly stylised foliate supporters, supported by two mythical scaled beast masks, to the main body a finely detail high bas-relief War of the Roses diorama of the Battle of Bosworth Field, depicting the victorious Henry Tudor being crowned by Lord Stanley, amongst numerous armoured soldiers and horses, surmounted by a three dimensional armoured solder on horseback holding his sword aloft, to the reverse a blank oval cartouche bordered with highly stylised gothic floral design, a gilded double banded girdle to the lower body above scaled design, with a beaded knopped stem, on a pedestal flanked by two figural grotesques, with two cast portrait medallions one with a crowned Henry Tudor as king the reverse with the uncrowned Henry Tudor, on a spreading base with repeated cast naturalistic design, height 65cm, weight 257oz.
Footnotes
Provenance:
Property of a private collector purchased
Sotheby's 22nd February 1971, lot 176 (with copy of receipt)
In the cataloguing it notes as 'Formerly in the collection of The Most Hon. The Marquess of Zetland, sold in these rooms as lot 127, on 7th March 1968.
Although with no engraved inscription, this vase is one of several prizes presented at the Stockton Races of 1885. It is probably the piece, then valued at 200 sovereigns, which was won by Lord Zetland's Amalfi in the Town Welter Selling Handicap race. (See 'The Times', 19th August, 1885, page 7a)
Literature:
'The Sun' Tuesday Evening 28th May 1867
The Hanock silver vase on offer here was exhibited at the Paris 1867 Universal Exhibition and noted in the above article 'Correspondence from Paris', the correspondent from the Paris 1867 Universal Exhibition. The accompanying text describes it thus:
'A writer in the Siecle, who inspected some articles exhibited in the stand of Messrs. C.F. Hancock, Son & Co., speaks of them as unsurpassed by the French manufacturers in the same branches. This eminent firm has just added more wonders to the Exhibition. The first addition is a magnificent solid silver cup in the Renaissance style of art. The subject is the Earl of Richmond proclaimed as Henry the Seventh, after the defeat of Richard the Third on the battle-field of Bosworth. Lord Stanley is represented as placing the crown upon the Monarch. All personages are in bold relief... The gem was manufactured expressly for the Exhibition, and is well worthy of it... These article excite admiration from all '
The Battle of Bosworth Field, fought on August 22, 1485, was a pivotal battle in the War of the Roses, the civil war between the houses of Lancaster and York, marking the end of the Plantagenet dynasty and the beginning of the Tudor dynasty in England. Richard III, the last Plantagenet king, was killed, and Henry Tudor, later Henry VII, won the crown.
Hancock was particularly well known for specialising in high quality trophy and presentation plate, for which he won numerous medals at the respected International Exhibitions: the Council Medal 1851; Gold Medal d'Honneur Paris 1855; Juries prize medal 1862; gold and silver medals Paris 1867 and Vienna 1872.
Collaborating with famous artists and sculptors of the day. It is probable that this piece was designed and modelled by Henry Hugh Armstead (1828-1905).
The profile and subtle elements were used on a variety of his commissions.
A Goodwood Cup with a close resemblance to the present lot is The Steward's Cup of 1857, with a bas-relief of 'Queen Elizabeth at Tilbury', shown in 'The Illustrated London News' 1st August 1857, p.128.
The design and manufacture of grand presentation silver reached the peak of its popularity in the mid-19th century. At the top end of the silver market, sculptural trophies and testimonials dominated this period; trophies awarded for competitive achievements such as horse racing, and testimonials presented to worthy individuals. 'These silver sculptures, bulky, glittering and proud, celebrated the achievements of the Victorian industrialist, soldier and sportsman and demonstrated the virtuoso skills and techniques of the contemporary silversmith' (Patterson, p.59). The subject matter chosen for these pieces was always on an epic scale, often figural compositions featuring dramatic mythological tales or key historical moments. Heroes from history were frequently staged in mounted combat against man or beast, often within a battle scene or historical diorama. Whatever the scene portrayed, each element was meticulously designed and modelled, with every minuscule detail intricately cast and hand-chased for absolute realism. These trophies were a vehicle to not only showcase silver as a national art form, but also to symbolise and represent Britain's place as a trailblazing manufacturing nation in the industrial age – art and industry combined to spectacular effect.
Hancocks London is still in existence as a prestigious goldsmith's and jewellers, formerly in Burlington Arcade, London now residing at 62 St. Jame's Street, London.
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