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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
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THE LINCOLN RACES 1831– A BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION BOWL A very fine and large silver gilt presentation rose bowl with original mahogany box, made by Edward Barnard & Sons and stamped on the base J Widdowson Fecit London, of urn form with everted stiff leaf rim, inscribed: LINCOLN RACES/1831/CHRISTOPHER TURNOR ESQ, /JOHN FARDELL ESQ, /STEWARDS, the inscription within a chased laurel leaf border flanked by a pair of seated winged Victories, the other side chased with a scene from an ancient chariot race, with pairs of horses pulling Roman charioteers flanked by standing winged Victories, with double foliate-wrapped handles, the lower body chased with foliage and flowers, the stem with foliate skirt on a circular foot London, dated 1831 Fully Hallmarked. Height 28 cm, width including handles 44 cm, diameter 31 cm. As the inscription implies, this fine rose bowl was a presentation piece given to the two stewards, Christopher Turnor and John Fardell in recognition of their service to the turf. In 1831 a riot broke out at the Lincoln Races between the gentry and the ‘rustics’ as a result of elicit pick pocketing and other fraudulent business. It may have been as a result of Fardell and Turnor’s intervention that they were awarded a silver gilt rose bowl. While the records concerning the former are scarce there are more concerning the latter. Christopher Turnor (1809-86) of Stoke Rochford and Panton, Lincolnshire was a prominent figure in society; he became Deputy Lieutenant, a J.P. and High Sheriff (1833) as well as M.P. for South Lincolnshire 1841-47. Having been educated at Eton and Trinity College Cambridge in 1837 he married Lady Caroline Finch Hatton, eldest daughter of the Earl of Winchilsea. The Lincoln racecourse was quite an important one in its time. First recorded as early as 1597 it was attended by King James I in 1617; the first grandstand was erected in 1826 and races continued there until it eventually closed in 1964. Only one meeting was held in 1831, between 28th -30th September; during that period six races took place, namely The Champion Stakes, The City Plate, The Produce Stakes, The Plate of 70 guineas, The Gold Cup and The Produce Stakes. The story of the firm of Edward Barnard & Sons is one of success matched by longevity. It supplied almost every retail business in the country. It is also considered to be the oldest silver manufacturer in the world since it was a continuation of a business established in circa 1680 by Anthony Nelme at Ave Maria Lane in the City of London. During the eighteenth century the concern was run by successive owners including Charles Wright, who in 1786 amalgamated with a neighbouring business run by Henry Chawner. In 1796 the latter took the engraver John Emes (d.1808) into partnership. Emes then became sole owner after Chawner’s retirement circa 1798. Enter Edward Barnard (1767-1855) who joined the firm in about 1773; having served his apprenticeship under Charles Wright, he was appointed foreman in 1786 and subsequently manager under John Emes. Following the death of Emes, his widow Rebecca ran the concern with Edward Barnard as partner. When Rebecca retired in 1828 Edward Barnard became sole proprietor. Edward and his wife Mary Boosey (cousin of the William Boosey who founded Boosey & Hawkes, the famous music publishers) had ten children. Of their five sons, the youngest died in infancy and George (b. 1807) became an artist. The remaining three Edward II (1796-1867), John I (1797-1880) and William (1801-48) all followed their father’s trade and having served their apprenticeship under him were taken into the business in 1829. Thereafter it was renamed Edward Barnard and Sons. The concern, which moved in 1838 to new factory premises at Angel Street, remained in family hands until the controlling interest was sold in 1974 and three years later became a subsidiary of Padgett and Braham Ltd, the London silversmiths. |