A MEDICINE chest fit for a Queen and a moving piece of Australian war history which washed up on the shores of Turkey are among the lots available at a Carlisle auction this week.
Laidlaw Auctioneers, based at the Temple Auction Rooms on St Nicholas Street, run the sale of historical treasures monthly.
A key item in this month's auction is an 'impressive' personal travelling medicine chest, which belonged to Queen Alexandra.
It comprises large leather-bound oak chest, velvet-lined and containing 61 mostly sealed and unused glass bottles and their medicinal contents. The lid is emblazoned “Queen Alexandra’s Medicine Chest”.
The medicines range from “soothing tooth tincture” to “after dinner pills” and described in a handwritten label affixed to the lid underside.
These bottles have paper labels of “Squire and Sons, Chemists in Ordinary on the Establishment of the King and of HRH The Prince of Wales”.
The firm was located at 413 Oxford Street, London and were known “Chemists to the Royal Family” and in turn, to Queen Alexandra.
Queen Alexandra (1844 – 1925) was a Danish Princess becoming consort to King Edward VII in 1901. Renowned for her beauty and steadfast support for the King, her popularity revived affection for the monarchy at the time.
After the King’s death the Dowager Queen retreated from public view due to increasing deafness and fading beauty, perhaps using some of the contents of this chest to soothe her aliments.
A piece of medical and royal history, the medicine chest a pre-sale estimate of £2,000 to £4,000.
Paintings are also included in the sale. Two stand outs this month are from equestrian artist Rosemary Sarah Welch. Welch was the daughter of an illustrator of children’s books and a horsewoman with a keen interest in heavy horses. These influences combined led her to be known for her rural scenes featuring working horses.
Two examples in this month's sale both carry a pre-sale estimate of £200 to £400.
Militaria continues to attract 'strong interest' at auction and 'some outstanding sale results', according to Laidlaw.
This month a Great War ANZAC Australian Commonwealth Military Forces cap badge with Gallipoli landings provenance is for sale.
The badge comes with a note affixed to it which reads: “This badge landed on the beach of Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey, at about 4.20 am on the 25th April 1915… where it was the first badge to land on that particular part of the beach…”.
Its specific history transforms it from a common-or-garden badge to a priceless item of Australian military history. It carries a pre-sale estimate of £100-200.
The sale will take place on Friday October 27 and Saturday October 28 with viewing on Thursday October 26 Bidding is available online via the saleroom.
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