£400 - £600
COCKFIGHTING. A GROUP OF 19TH C COCKFIGHTING IMPLEMENTS comprising hood, thong and pairs of short, flat and long spurs, mounted on a slightly later card with captions and a contemporary 19th c handwritten and illustrated table of the 16 RULES AND ORDER OF COCKING... Sanctioned... by John Ardesoif in maple frames as a pair, 31 x 25cm (2)
Evocative early/mid 19th c cockfighting relics with an early illustrated handwritten table of rules. The John Ardesoif referred to of Tottenham who died on 8 April 1789 is described as having been "very fond of cock-fighting and [he] had a favourite cock upon which he had won many profitable matches. The last bet he laid upon this cock he lost, which so enraged him, that he had the bird tied to a spit and roasted alive before a large fire. The screams of the miserable animal were so effecting that, some gentlemen who were present attempted to intervene, which so enranged Mr Ardesoif, that he seized a poker, and with the most furious vehemence declared that he would kill the first man who interposed; but, in the midst of his passionate asservations, he fell down dead upon the spot."
Both in good original untouched condition, somewhat dusty, the frames backed in the original 19th c marbled bookpaper
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Room and Absentee Bids:
24% inc VAT*
Online and Autobids:
27.6% inc VAT*
