GAZETTE TWGAZE GAZETTE MARCH 2017
Spring Time pages 4 & 5
ISSUE 56
Land & Property Auction at
Diss Auction Rooms
Handy Hints
In our regular feature Elizabeth Talbot uncovers some Handy Hints relating to Forthcoming Sales
Thursday 11 May
CLOCKS As clock cases are often made of wood, similar guidelines apply to the care of clocks as to furniture. Importantly, they should be kept away from direct heat or sunlight because a clock’s case becomes susceptible to cracking as the wood dries out. Although usually clocks are built to minimise the potential for dirt entering the movement and damaging it, i.e. by case panels, access doors or glass domes, the movement should be kept free of dust and cleaned from time to time by a clock specialist.This will prevent wear and better ensure precision from the working mechanics.
Regular winding avoids the process of having to restart the clock. Clocks are sensitive, some would say temperamental, and it is important that care is taken in moving them and in disassembling and reassembling where appropriate, e.g. it is important that owners know how to remove the weights and pendulum as well as how to replace them. When adjusting the time always move the hands clockwise and apply any pressure to the base of the clock’s hands, not the tip, in order to avoid any bending, snapping or other damage.
Friday 31 March Contact: Lesley Smith
Sharing an Exciting Journey By Andre Ling, Auctioneer and Automobilia Valuer
As we drove up the long winding gravelled drive, there waiting to greet us was Weeny. Wenny, as she is now affectionately known, is a stunning 91 year old Rolls Royce 20 H.P. coupe. We could have been forgiven for thinking that we had been transported back in time to the 1920’s as this beautiful motor vehicle stood glistening in the sunshine. This 1926 coupe with Mullion coachwork was the star attraction amongst a full and varied Automobilia sale held by T W Gaze back in September. It is the only example to have been built with Mullion coachwork. This along with the previous owners care for the car, helped achieve a hammer price of £46,000. The proud new owners have had a Rolls Royce specialist overhaul the engine and bring the 3.127 six cylinder engine
back to life after years of careful storage. The coachwork has had a good old fashioned clean and polish. The original Spirit of Ecstasy has had a buff too, making her look like she was only cast yesterday. The leather canopy which had started to stiffen due to age and lack of use is currently going through a process of oiling to regain its original flexibility. Internally very little work has been required, which is a credit to the previous owner, only having new removable seat covers made to protect the original seats.
Next Automobilia sale to be held in Blyth Barn on Thursday 23 March
Earlier this month, on a bright March day, Matthew Brand (Auction Rooms Manager) and I were kindly invited for a ride out and who could say no to that! Matthew drew the short straw and got to ride in the back, in the dickie seat! This 6 mile trip down bumpy country roads was the first since it was driven back from the specialist (a 240mile trip taking over 7 hours, the owner laughingly told me) and I have to say I was both impressed and surprised by how quiet and smooth the ride was. The bumps and pot holes were no match
for the leaf sprung suspension. The car has a purposely converted and insulated garage where she is now stored ready and waiting for a dry sunny day. What does the future hold for Weeny? Well a new wing mirror has been made for the passenger side to match the driver’s side and I believe a few trips out to Rolls Royce enthusiast shows may be on the cards. Apart from that, she will be used purely for the new owners’ pleasure and what a pleasure it was for me to see this rejuvenated 91 year old girl again.
From Russia with love… Russian watches have a rich and interesting history dating back over 80 years with the creation of the First Moscow Watch Factory, which today manufactures Poljot watches.A highlight of Russia’s watch history came in 1961 when cosmonautYuri Gagarin took the first ever flight into space with a watch from the First Moscow Watch Factory. Here’s a chronological summary of key events in the history of Russian watchmaking. 1927 The Labour and Defense Council passed a decree to establish a watch industry to serve government and Red Army needs. The Soviet watches were to be accurate, reliable and not inferior in quality to their Western counterparts. The equipment for the production of these watches was purchased from the USA. This was the origin of the First Moscow Watch Factory. 1930 The first 50 Russian-made watches were presented at a ceremonial meeting in the Revolution Theatre, now known as the Bolshoi Theatre. 1940 The “Commander” watch produced by the First Moscow Watch Factory was commonly used by officers
of the Red Army. Watches with distinctive engravings were given by the army as a form of reward. In the ten years since the factory opened it produced 2.7 million pocket and wrist watches. 1941 During World War II The First Moscow Watch Factory was evacuated to the city of Zlatoust. Throughout the war the factory worked for needs of the front producing aircraft watches and sea and aviation chronometers. 1942 The Chistopol Watch Factory was created and began manufacturing products for needs of the front. This is the origin of today’s Vostok brand. 1943 The Chistopol Watch Factory started production of the K-43 man’s watch. 1946 The First Moscow Watch Factory began production of Pobeda (Victory) watches. The name, design and characteristics of these watches were personally approved by Stalin himself. 1949 The First Moscow Watch Company began production of the Shturmanskie watch. These watches were produced for the air force and were not available for the open market. 1957 The Sputnik watch was produced, in honour of the launch of the first Soviet satellite.This watch was
produced in two versions: with a central second hand and with a transparent disk with a mark in the form of a satellite instead of a second hand. In the same year, by special request, the watch Antarktida (Antarctica) with a twentyfour-hour scale, was designed.This watch was intended for the participants of the first Soviet expedition to the South Pole. Both Antarktida and Sputnik are today a collection rarity, due to the fact that both models were only in production for one year. 1959 The first Soviet mechanical watch with an alarm function, Signal, was developed. The manufacturing of the watchchronograph Strela with a one-hand stopwatch and 45-min minute counter commenced. Its dial had extra telemeteric and tachometric scales. Strela watches were not available for open sale, as they were specifically developed for the commanding officers of the air force. 1960 The First Moscow Watch Factory produced the first watch under the Poljot brand. 1961 The first ever flight into space in the history of mankind took place. Yuriy Gagarin took the watch of the First Moscow Watch Factory into space with him. 1962 The “Vostok” watch was awarded a gold medal at the
by Oliver Allen Clocks & Watches Specialist Leipzig international fair. Production of “Komandirskie” watches began at the Chistopol Watch Factory.The factory becomes the official supplier of these watches to the Ministry of Defence of the USSR. 1963 The Vimpel watch produced at The First Moscow Watch Factory won a Diploma and gold medal at the international exhibition-fair in Leipzig. 1964 The manufacturing of the watch Orbita with an automatic winding system and 29 rubies was mastered. From this year on the watches of The First Moscow Watch Factory are marked with the trademark Poljot. 1965 Cosmonaut Andrey Leonov took the Strela watch on the first ever space walk. In the same year the USSR Council of Ministers passed the decree wherein The First Moscow Watch Factory was appointed as the head enterprise in the exportation of mens wrist
watches.The watches were exported to 70 countries: USA, Great Britain, Belgium, Italy, Federative Republic of Germany, Hong Kong, Greece, etc. Vostok was appointed an official supplier of watches for the Defense Department of the Soviet Union. 1966 For successfully developing the national watch industry The First Moscow Watch Factory is awarded with the highest Soviet award the Order of Lenin by the Decree of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. 1969 All watches manufactured by Chistopol Watch Factory now use the Vostok brand. 1972 Vostok exports watches to 54 countries of the world. 1972 The First Moscow Watch Factory increased the volume of production of
Clocks & Watches Saturday 22 April mechanical wristwatches to 2.7 million. 70% of what the factory produced was sold abroad. Among the new designs was the water-tight watch Amphibia, capable of working under water at a depth of up to 200 meters. 1976 The First Moscow Watch Factory commenced the production of a the 3133 model. For this development the association of the designers of the The First Moscow Watch Factory was rewarded with the USSR State Prize. Since these watches were intended for the needs of the army and navy, they were produced in limited editions and were not available for open sale. The cosmonauts of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany took these watches with them into space, and together with V.V. Polyakov, this chronograph set the record for the duration of a space flight.
1992 The administration of the Russian president selects Poljot to be the rewarding watch “From the President of the Russian Federation”. 2000 Volmax is formed by exPoljot employees. 2004 Vostok-Europe is created.
Many people don’t know a lot about Russian watches, including myself until a call from a private vendor wishing to sell his personal collection caught my attention. The collection comprises fifteen watches all of Russian historical significance, dating from the late 20th Century and early 21st Century. They range in aesthetic design and function with prices spanning £100 to £1000; they all have manual winding or automatic mechanical movements and will feature as part of the Clocks & Watches sale on Saturday 22nd April. Other desirable watches consigned will include Rolex, Omega, Breitling, Cartier,Vacheron & Constantin with other quality entries still welcome. For enquiries relating to the Clocks & Watches sale please contact Oliver Allen.
Militaria: May 2017 A call to arms… From the moment the hammer went down on the last lot in September’s Militaria sale, I had the next one in my sights. In the following weeks I began to look ahead to 2017, keen to build upon its strengths and encourage another sale of variety. Within a matter of weeks, I took delivery of a large collection of Imperial and Third Reich era German militaria, focusing on edged weapons. Spanning most collectors’ interests from Police to SS and Luftwaffe to Kriegsmarine, the collection was amassed over decades by a keen enthusiast.
James Bassam, a leading specialist and organiser of Modern Design auctions at TW Gaze, has worked at Diss Auction Rooms since 1994. He is a font of knowledge and renowned for his gentle but infectious enthusiasm for the best in art, design and creativity emanating from last century. His formative career included experience gained at Tey Pottery and working at a printers, so he has always had an eye and an appreciation for both applied and fine art. The market for 20th Century art and design is diverse, dynamic and full of surprises. If you have need of advice in this area for insurance or prospective sale, please contact James on 01379 650306 j.bassam@twgaze.co.uk
Birgit Skiold 1923-1982
An appreciation by Senior Valuer James Bassam When the vendor brought in a large folio of artworks I must admit that I had not heard of the artist whose work was hidden inside it. It was only when I started to research about her that I wondered why I had not come across her work before, given that she had taught and produced work for some of the leading British artists of the 1950’s to the 1970’s, a pioneer in the printing world but overshadowed by her pupils. Birgit Skiold was born in Stockholm, Sweden on the 18 March 1923, a fitting date as the first of this year’s Modern Design sales has around 50 lots of her work on the anniversary of her birth. After an early study in furniture design, in 1948 she came to London to study art where she found a love for prints. She went on to study etching and lithography at the Regent Street Polytechnic under Henry Trivick and Richard Beer up until 1953 before travelling in Europe the following year sketching and painting. On her return to London she moved from studios in Charlotte Street, Ogle Street and George Street where she began producing
prints of her work using an old press that formerly belonged to Vanessa Bell. In 1958 she moved back to Charlotte Street setting up the famous Print Workshop in the basement of the artist Adrian Heath at No.28 and became secretary of The Senefelder Group of Artist Lithographers.
Council becoming chairman from 1972-74 and was instrumental in getting the British International Print Biennale off the ground. With such a strong and important background in the printing world I
In the following years she organised exhibitions not only of her own work but those of the Senefelder Group and those artists connected with Charlotte Street as the basement became an important meeting point. Names such as Michael Rothenstein, Michael Ayrton, Eduardo Paolozzi, William Scott, Allen Jones and David Hockney just some of the leading artists who came to Birgit for tuition on printing. She was a visiting lecturer in lithography and printmaking in both the US and in this country, meeting her future husband, Peter Bird at the Bradford Regional College of Art while teaching in 1963. In 1965 she was a founder member of the Printmakers
Modern Design
am surprised that so little of her work has come up for auction before. But despite this printing background the majority of the works we have for sale are original sketches, watercolours and oils mainly from the early 1950’s to the 1960’s. Featured are the sketches she produced on her European travels, still life studies and figural works. It was her tutor Richard Beer that told her to “Go abstract, dear” which she wisely did and many of the lots show an influence of Adrian Heath. Sadly only a few are signed but are undoubtedly her work and are ready to be framed up and enjoyed rather than left in an old folio. Birgit died in 1982 aged just 59 but her printmaking legacy lives on with a memorial trust in her name championing ‘The Advancement of the Crafts of Innovative Printmaking’. Her works can be found in many public collections including the British Museum and theVictoria & Albert Museum. Hopefully this will be the chance to include her in your own collection.
Saturday 18 March 10am
Taking Stock of the Basics Shotguns are not all the same; they are made with dozens of variations on a theme, variations that make them more suitable for certain forms of shooting than others. However, in essence there are three main categories: Double Barrel Side-by-side: as the name suggests, these guns have barrels set next to each other in a horizontal plane.They are light weight and well-balanced so are mainly used for live quarry. Over and under (o/u): despite being heavier than the side-bysides, these are undoubtedly the most popular all-round gun for clay, game and rough shooting today. The two barrels sit one on top of the other and so give a clearer view of the target. Single Barrel Semi-automatics: these multishot guns, which use a gas or spring-operated system to eject and reload cartridges, are again quite weighty, but are
Automobilia
excellent for clay shooting, wildfowling and pigeon shooting. “lock, stock, and barrel” definition: including or every part of something (Cambridge Dictionary)
Each gun is then made up of three main components, the lock, stock and barrel. Lock The lockwork on a gun comprises a trigger that releases the hammer which in turn hits a firing pin to strike the cartridge primer. When the gun is opened the hammer is re-cocked by way of spring-operated levers. If the gun is “an ejector” rather than the more archaic “non-ejector” type, other springs housed either inside the fore-end wood, or in the walls of the barrels, kick empty cartridges clear of the gun at the same time. The most common form of mechanism
Entries of Sporting Guns & Shooting Equipment for future sales now being taken. Consignments by appointment only 01379 650 306 L.Smith2@twgaze.co.uk
GAZETTE Issue 56 March’17
by Louis Smith
TW Gaze Diss Auction Rooms, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4LN www.twgaze.co.uk
used by gunmakers is known as a boxlock action, which is not only strong and reliable but also cheaper to build than a sidelock system, where the lockwork for each barrel is fitted to a detachable plate inlet into both sides of the stock. Stock The lock and action of the gun are fitted securely to a stock made from walnut, a resilient wood that gunmakers can shape easily and which rarely cracks during use. The stock is shaped to fit the user’s shoulder, allowing him to rest his face comfortably on the wood so that his eyes align with the target down the rib, or top length, of the gun. Most factory-made guns are stocked to suit most people, but a gunsmith can easily alter the dimensions to suit an individual’s requirements. Barrel Barrels are made from individual steel tubes held together by soldered ribs.The barrels hook onto the action of a gun and everything is locked solidly in place by a dovetail bolt when the gun is shut. The bolt prevents the gun springing open when a shot is fired. Barrels have to be able to withstand high pressures generated by a cartridge and the makers test them by subjecting them to a test charge far in excess of the pressures they will be expected to withstand in the course of normal use. If the gun passes “proof” the barrels are stamped accordingly before the gun is offered new for sale.