£850
A partly ebonised wood box, traditionally thought to have belonged to Lord Byron, early 19th c, the cavetto lid with letter slot and brass handle bridging a brass tablet engraved with initial B and coronet of a baron, 48cm l, the interior with old handwritten label "Lord Byron Bought by Sir W A Fraser Bt"
C W Briggs always regarded this box as an authentic relic of Lord Byron (1768-1824). Whence he acquired it is not known. It is certain that the collector Sir William Augustus Fraser 4th Bt (1826-1898) was interested in Byron relics, buying at auction at Puttick & Simpson on 7 January 1863 a sofa (bequeathed to the Garrick Club) on which there is a plaque engraved "This sofa was in the room of George Gordon 6th Lord Byron...when he died at Missolonghi. It was bought at Puttick's by Sir W A Fraser Bt 7th January 1863 lot 1002X". The three-day sale, which was almost entirely of books, included the "remaining library" of 'Annabella' "Lady Noel Byron" (1792-1860). The sofa is not listed and as the lot number is followed by an 'X' the implication is that there a near full alphabet of uncatalogued, or 'A' lots. Lady Byron's successor, the 12th Baron Wentworth, Viscount Ockham, died in September 1862 and that, it is assumed, gave rise to the disposal of her possessions four months later.
Whilst there is no conclusive evidence, it seems likely that the sofa was amongst Byron's personal possessions returned from Greece following his death. Fraser's extensive collections were sold (other than bequests) by Christie's in 1900-01, including a sale of Furniture & Objets d'Art on 30 November 1900
The collection of C. W. Briggs (1906-1971) (lots 1-429)
Lacking some of the veneer and crossbanding, black paint blistered, the interior velvet lining frayed and dirty; unrestored
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Room and Absentee Bids:
28.80% inc VAT*
Online and Autobids:
30.6% inc VAT*
