Wednesday 26 March 2025

Lot 1

A pair of silver mounted 'Dragon of Wantley' table lighters.  Walker & Hall,  Sheffield, 1932. 

View More

Lot 1

A pair of silver mounted 'Dragon of Wantley' table lighters. 
Walker & Hall, 
Sheffield, 1932. 

Starting Bid: £1,400

Estimate: £2,000 - £4,000

Get Shipping Quote

See shipping conditions on our partner's website.

Get Shipping Quote

See shipping conditions on our partner's website.

Additional fees apply 31.2%. Inc.VAT/sales tax - Bid Calculator

Please note that submitting this bid is legally binding.

Share this lot

Let your friends and family know about this lot

Lot 1

Description

A pair of silver mounted 'Dragon of Wantley' table lighters. 

Walker & Hall, 

Sheffield, 1932. 

Realistically modelled as dragons with twisted antelope horn bodies, each embossed to the chest with the words 'Ye Dragon of Wantley' and designed with wicks protruding from mouths and snuffers on chains, an arrow form lighting rod to the chest of one dragon, approx. 53.2cm long, 15cm high (2)

Note: Please note that this lot is subject to CITES regulations (Appendix III). Please check your country's import regulations before bidding. It is the buyer's responsibility to obtain any relevant export licences.

 

The lighters are in good overall condition. Heavy tarnish to the silver mounts. Some general scratching and nicking commensurate with age. Hallmarks clear. One dragon is missing the arrow-shaped lighting rod to its chest. Antelope horns in good condition with only some small scratches, minor losses and marks noted. Rear legs to one dragon slightly wobbly - screws possibly a little loose. The other dragon is steady on feet. Some discolouration and solder noted to silver in places (difficult to assess due to heavy tarnish). Some small flecks of gilt paint noted to one dragon. Both heads unscrew to reveal cavities for wicks. Overall a very nice pair of table lighters. Further images available to download via this link: https://we.tl/t-ns33FYfZbm 

Please login to request a condition report or ask more questions.

The Dragon of Wantley is a legend about a huge and terrible bat-winged dragon that was said to inhabit Wharncliffe Crags, near Sheffield in South Yorkshire. The legend was recounted in a comic ballad in 1685 and later made into an opera by Henry Carey in 1787. It tells the story of a dragon which terrorised villages, devouring trees, buildings and people before being slayed by a comic, inebriated knight in a bespoke suit of Sheffield armour. The knight, More of More Hall, kills the dragon by delivering a kick up its ‘arse gut’; the only vulnerable spot on its scaly body.

Some consider the ballad to be nothing more than a flippant twist on the standard ‘George & the Dragon’ tale, intended to satirise medieval romance. However, the South Yorkshire historian, David Hey has argued that the ballad probably had its origins in the 1590s, in litigation between local people and their landlord Sir Richard Wortley. The litigation concerned tithes and enclosures –common sources of conflict in Elizabethan times – and he believed Sir Richard Wortley (d.1603) to be the prototype for the allegorical dragon. In real life, he argued, it was deer, rather than dragons, which ‘ate up men’.

These table lighters are thought to have military associations (each dragon rests a front foot on a grenade) and may have been used in officers’ mess halls.

Buyer's Premium

The buyer shall pay the hammer price together with a premium thereon of 26% up to £20,000 (31.2% inclusive of VAT), 25% from £20,001 - £500,000 (30% inclusive of VAT), 20% from £500,001 thereafter (24% inclusive of VAT). The premium price is subject to VAT at the standard rate.

VAT
VAT is not charged on the hammer price unless it is stated that there is 'VAT applicable on the hammer price at the end of the description. Buyer's premium is subject to VAT.
(ARR) - ARTIST'S RESALE RIGHT

Qualifying living artists and the descendants of artists deceased within the last 70 years are entitled to receive a re-sale royalty each time their work is bought through an auction house or art market professional.

It applies to lots with hammer value over £1,000 as follows:
0 to £50,000 - 4%
£50,000.01 to £200,000 - 3%
£200,000.01 to £350,000 - 1%
£350,000.01 to £500,000 - 0.5%
Exceeding £500,000 - 0.25%
ARR is capped at £12,500

Please note ARR is calculated in euros. Auctioneers will apply current exchange rates.

Export of goods

Buyers intending to export goods should ascertain whether an export licence is required before bidding. Export licences are issued by Arts Council England and application forms can be obtained from its Export Licensing Unit. Details can be found on the ACE website www.artscouncil.org.uk or by phoning ACE on 020 7973 5188. The need for import licences varies from country to country and you should acquaint yourself with all relevant local requirements and provisions before bidding. The refusal of any such licences shall not permit the cancelling of any sale nor allow any delay in making full payment for the lot.

Own a similar item?

Receive alerts about similar lots

Continue Browsing

View More Lots View More Lots

LOT 2

An impressive George II silver salver.  Augustine Courtauld,  London, 1732.  The shaped,...

Estimate: £2000 - £3000

Current Bid: £1,800

LOT 3

A large Victorian silver tray with beaded border.  Goldsmiths' Alliance,  London, 1872.  Of...

Estimate: £1000 - £1500

Starting Bid: £700

LOT 4

An early George V novelty tortoise table bell.  Grey & Co.,  Chester, 1912.  Realistically...

Estimate: £800 - £1200

Current Bid: £800

LOT 5

A novelty Victorian silver letter rack.  William Griffiths & Sons,  Birmingham, 1896.  Designed...

Estimate: £600 - £800

Starting Bid: £420

LOT 6

A pair of George III oval silver salvers.  Richard Rugg I,  London, 1776.  Raised on four claw...

Estimate: £500 - £800

Current Bid: £400

LOT 7

A George III silver tea caddy. Pierre Gillois,  London, 1782.  Of shaped, oval form, the body...

Estimate: £800 - £1200

Starting Bid: £550

LOT 8

A pair of Charles II silver toilet boxes.  Maker's mark PM, probably for Peter Monger,  London,...

Estimate: £2000 - £3000

Starting Bid: £1,400

LOT 9

A pair of German silver partridges. Ludwig Neresheimer & Co., Hanau, c.1900.  Realistically...

Estimate: £1000 - £1500

Current Bid: £800

LOT 10

A late 19th century Russian silver cigar box.  Mark of Dmitry Orlov (active 1840-1899),  Moscow,...

Estimate: £1500 - £2500

Starting Bid: £1,000

LOT 11

An Alexander III Russian silver cake basket. Pavel Ovchinnikov, Moscow, 1887.  Of plain, oval...

Estimate: £800 - £1200

Starting Bid: £550

LOT 12

A large Italian silver centrepiece bowl.  Argenteria il Leone,  Florence, 20th century.  Of...

Estimate: £1000 - £1500

Starting Bid: £700

LOT 13

A decorative five piece silver tea set.  Adie Brothers, Birmingham, 1952.  The set comprising: a...

Estimate: £1500 - £2500

Starting Bid: £1,000

LOT 14

A Peruvian silver tray with 'Water Lily' border. Camusso,  20th century.   Of shaped,...

Estimate: £500 - £800

Current Bid: £400

LOT 15

A Peruvian silver 'Water Lily' pattern water jug and plate. Camusso,  20th century.  The jug...

Estimate: £250 - £350

Starting Bid: £160

LOT 16

A pair of Art Nouveau silver candelabra.  Probably German, c.1900.  The candelabra stamped 900M,...

Estimate: £3000 - £5000

Starting Bid: £2,000

LOT 17

A French Aesthetic Movement silver mounted inkwell.  Abit & Lopisgich (1898-1903),  Paris,...

Estimate: £400 - £600

Starting Bid: £280

Newsletter SignupNewsletter Signup

Keyword AlertsKeyword Alerts