More than 450 fascinating lots have been sourced for the first auction of 2023 at Hanson Holloway’s Ross in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
The sale starts at 9.30am on Saturday, February 4 and bidding is already under way online at Hansonslive.
Here, our valuers pick our some of the star items set to go under the hammer.
Lot 305 | Antique Stomach Flattener
This George III treen stay busk enhanced the female figure centuries ago.
Corsets were called stays prior to 1830 and antique treen stay busks were flat pieces of wood which were inserted into long pockets at the front of the stay/corset. Many were undecorated and were purely functional to flatten the stomach of the person wearing it. They must have been fairly uncomfortable but ladies of elegance suffered to look their best.
Some antique treen stay busks were carved and were given as a love token in England, similar to the Welsh Lovespoon in Wales. The decorated ones were inserted into small pockets at the top and the bottom of the front of the bodice.
This example is chip carved and decorated with love heart over trailing flowers. Dated 1789 and initialled to reverse. 36cm long | £200-£300
Lot 210 | Grand National Star
This atmospheric, framed Edwardian photograph shows Reynoldstown, the winner of the 1935 and 1936 Grand National at Aintree. The horse is pictured with jockey Frank Furlong who rode the horse to victory in 1935 | £100-£150
Lot 230 | WW2 Bravery Honoured
This WW2 militaria collection consists of a group of six medals awarded to Flight Lieutenant Frank J Lewis (born 1916; No 79250). It includes An Air Force Cross, a 1935-1945 Star, an Aircrew Europe Star (copy), an Africa Star with North Africa 1942-3 clasp, a Defence medal, a 1939-45 War Medal with oak leaf, together with three RAF pilot log books starting on December 7, 1937 and finishing on October 19, 1945, showing a total of 2,756 hours and 35 minutes.
Aircraft flown include a Tiger Moth, Blenheim, Anson, Whitley, Tomahawk, Hurricane, Liberator Horsa Glider, Wellington and Junkers JU52. He was in Squadrons 108,37, 23, 22,81,93 and 3 among others.
A notable entry in Log Book 2 (11.11.42): “W/O Lewis of 108 Squadron on 15th October 1942 while preparing for a bombing run over the Tobruk area the port engine failed. The Captain showed a high standard of skill and airmanship in difficulty and successfully effected a belly landing at base. His excellent flying undoubtedly resulted in the return of the aircraft and crew.”
In addition, the collection includes four Ministry of Civil Aviation pilot log books for his 25 years as a BEA commercial pilot flying mainly Vicker’s Viscounts; a framed Royal citation for his Air Force medal; a framed record with RAF wings relating to an entry in the London Gazette January 1, 1942; a small photograph of the recipient in BEA uniform and a framed large pencil drawing of the recipient signed and dated indistinctly | £1,000-£1,200
Lot 374 | Timely Perfection
Quality clocks stand the test of time and collectors could bid in force for this William Gibbs, Haverfordwest, early 19th century rosewood bracket clock. It has a Gothic Revival architectural case enclosing a twin fusee movement, striking upon a bell, faced by silvered 6 3/4 inch Roman dial. 43cm high | £400-£600
Lot 74 | Art Nouveau Delight
This beautiful sterling silver fragrance bottle, in the Art Nouveau style, has a hinged lid, stopper and green glass lining. It is hallmarked ‘London, 1903’ | £100-£150
