Francis S Smitheman 1927 - 2016, English 20th Century Oil on Canvas 'The Battle of the Nile 1798' signed lower left Smitheman. 60 x 90cm approx. Vendor was a personal friend of Frances Smitheman and purchased all of his paintings directly from his studio. This painting was personally painted for the vendor. Along with this picture there is a vast and detailed description with personal hand written sketches to the vendor explaining how he will paint this picture. His works are to be found in many private collections, on board ships and in museums. His later career included lecturing at graduate level and a number of years designing for the theatre. Smitheman's work is notable for the series of paintings he has undertaken on a number of themes including Sea Battles, the Port of London, Arctic Exploration, Working Ports and Epic Voyages. Much travelled he consulted curators, ships' captains, and marine archaeologists gathering evidence in order to create genuine 'history paintings'. Working with ships' trusts and museums he re-created many of the world's greatest historic ships in their legendary settings. His work has now travelled world wide, not only as finished paintings but also on a series of postage stamps. Eleven countries (Ascension Island, Nauru, British India Ocean Territory, Tristan da Cunha, Gibraltar, Kiribati, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, St.Helena and Jamaica) marked 200 years since the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 by issuing commemorative stamps incorporating detail from Smitheman's painting "Victory leading the line at the Battle of Trafalgar". The British fleet under Horatio Nelson defeated the combined fleets of France and Spain, blocking their attempt to clear the way for Napoleon's projected invasion of Britain. An unique feature of the stamps is that the wooden hull and spars in the image actually contain tiny quantities of wood from the original Victory. Ironically the stamps were printed by a specialist French company.
about Lot 26
A large Terracotta ground very fine handwoven Indian Runner with traditional floral medallion design surrounded with a rich border. Extremely fine woven. 900cm long x 77cm approx.
about Lot 522
A really good pair of early Oriental Ginger Jars of large size with cream ground and hand painted decoration of horses and ponies on timber bases. H 32 cm approx.
about Lot 185
A superb quality life size cast Bronze group, consisting of a Stag, Doe and Fawn.
about Lot 422
A Fabulous matched pair of 19th Century oval Irish 'Silver' Mirrors probably Waterford with repeating Blue and White panel decoration. One has blue and cream crystals with four gold fillets and square blue crystals with flattened pyramid tops. Has puttied interior and metal exterior banding four of the squares on this mirror have cracks. 78 x 53 cm approx. The second has cream and square blue crystals with no flattened tops, with three gold fillets and metal interior and exterior banding. This mirror is in good condition. 87 x 55cm approx.
about Lot 290
A Superb Regency/William 1Vth style Mahogany and Veneered Partners Desk by Maitland & Smith, London, with highly tooled and embossed leather top, carved lions leg supports and brass mounts. 200 x 91 x 77h cms. Knee room 62w x 64h cms.
about Lot 153
A Fabulous Bronze Sculpture of a Boy and a Girl on a bench reading. H92 x D67 x W100cm approx.
about Lot 773
A really good pair of early Oriental Ginger Jars with lids, on blue and ivory ground depicting a vase of flowers. H 29 cm approx.
about Lot 273
A Fantastic Parker Knole style Couch of large size. W 240 x D 97 x SH 48 x BH 97 cm approx.
about Lot 110
The Tullamaine Hounds by Rupert Till. A Fantastic five piece Sculpture of four hounds running across a field chasing a stag and one breaking cover from a ditch. Lead Hound H66 x D27 x W130cm approx.
about Lot 774