This really fine work of art was put up at 30 guineas, and, after a slight struggle, knocked down to Purnell B. Purnell, Esq., of Stancombe Park, Dursley, Gloucestershire for 125. The Etruscan fictile vases sold for about as many shillings as forty years ago they would have brought pounds, but the miscellaneous articles brought extraordinarily high prices. Two Necklaces of common Venetian beads (Lots 351 and 357) worth about half-a-crown each, were eagerly contended for, and the hammer fell at £2. 6s. The second day's sale closed with a struggle for various gold Etruscan fibulæ and ornaments, which went at high prices, and it was understood in the room that an Etruscan gold necklace, with a head of Medusa attached, was bought in at no less a sum than £50.
The third day's sale was less attractive. An exceedingly curious Lamp in bronze (Lot 470), of oval form, with four burners issuing from the sides, the handle formed of figures of grotesque animals, and stated to have been found near London Bridge, produced four guineas. There were a few (eight) illuminated Manuscripts, but none sold for extravagant prices. An Etruscan gold wreath, composed of masks and foliage worn round the helmet, from the Canino Collection (Lot 529) was secured by T. Crofton Croker, Esq., for £19. 10s. With the disposal of some Shaksperian relics this very miscellaneous sale closed, but they did not appear to be much coveted.
There were some fine and many desirable specimens, with a few of very doubtful character, and some unquestionable forgeries. The Earl Cadogan, Sir Gardiner Wilkinson, Dr. Henderson, and other amateurs of Art and Archæology, seemed to watch the progress of the sale with considerable interest.
N.
The Golden Lion, Fulham, "should not," writes G.W.'s Correspondent, T. C. C. "be confounded with the Golden Lion, Brompton, the exterior decoration of which was figured in 'Current Notes,' No. III. for March, 1851, p. 22, with a facetious reference to Sir Charles Eastlake's speech at the Macready dinner." And it appears to G. W.'s Correspondent that T. M. in "Current Notes" for March last, No. XV. p. 19, and the Rev. Dr. Hume, of Liverpool, February, No. XIV. p. 10, are both in an unnecessary "fume" about what easily admits of explanation; if, indeed, the history of an old tobacco pipe required one. "Suppose," says T. M. "that I was in a hoaxing humour, and that no such Inn ever existed at Fulham as the Golden Lion?" "Now," continues our Correspondent, "I may as well suppose that no such person ever existed as T. M., but to prove that such an Inn existed at Fulham as the Golden Lion, I send you a series of twelve sketches which were presented to me by Mr. Henry Warren, the President of the New Society of Watercolour Painters, and which were made of and in it in April, 1836, previous to the old hostelrie being pulled down and replaced by a modern public house bearing the same name. You have my permission to engrave any one or two of these studies, and I have been assured that the oak panneling of some of the principal rooms was purchased by a dealer, and re-sold to the Earl of Ellenborough for the fitting of his Lordship's residence, Southam House, Cheltenham."
Availing himself of this permission, G. W. has caused first to be engraved the Chimney Piece of the back room, ground floor, South side, and opposite the Chimney Piece, back room, first floor, as characteristic specimens of this curious old house.