The 12 Days of Christmas

Two Italian painted roundels of angels in a filigree giltwood frame with a vendor’s label ‘George Cole, FLORENCE’.  Circa 1890.  £675
 

This Christmas I was looking into our stores to see if we could celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first 9 Lessons and Carols service at King’s College Cambridge. Although oxen and camels are easy to find, stars, magi, sheep and the Holy Family are rather thin on the ground. I have had to content myself with this charming pair of Victorian angels in an ornate Italianate gilt wood frame.

One Christmas favourite we can accommodate however is ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’. As we normally feature nine photographs here are the nine gifts Wick Antiques would send to me.
 

On the 9th day of Christmas my true love sent French silvered bronze classical ladies dancing to the beat of a tambourine. French, c1870. (sold)	On the 8th day of Christmas my true love sent two Italian pine Bacchanalian pipers dancing and blowing rustic instruments H 54" Circa 1860, £12,000	On the 7th day of Christmas my true love sent a Japanese bronze and gilt Oni holding aloft a Japanese cauldron drum with a cloth covered striker. H  32 1/2" c 1900

On the 6th day of Christmas my true love sent these tricoloured geese which are more likely a-swimming in their black lacquer pond than a-laying but we could not find any swans. With fitted box, Japanese, c1920. £3,800	On the 5th day of Christmas my true love sent a gold Nelson mourning ring.  This is included as a preview of our next Masterpiece stand in June 2019 which we hope will feature numerous pieces which relate to Admiral Lord Nelson and connected Royal Naval items.	On the 4th day of Christmas my true love sent some Japanese calling birds. (Originally the fourth day involved Colly birds (black birds) but later versions of the song refer to calling birds and these cranes are clearly bobbing and calling. c1920, with the original fitted box, £4,800

 

On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love sent a silk embroidery of two cockerels and a chick. Although handsome these birds are not strictly French hens or ‘Faverolles’ which are covered in plumage from their ruffs to their feet. (Meiji period c1910. £3,850	On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love sent a proud bronze pigeon or dove on a roof tile. This is actually a koro with a removable feather which allows the incense to escape.  H 11", Japanese, c1990, £11,500	On the first day of Christmas my true love sent a beautiful fruit from our pear tree in the form of a tea caddy from 1800, fruitwood £2,950

Having sung our way through all that we wish you a rather breathless ‘Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year.’
 

---