Latest news with #Lyon&Turnbull
The National
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
18th century Scottish Jacobite noblewoman's dress for sale
At auction house Lyon & Turnbull's two-day long Scotland Collected sale later this month, more than 80 lots belonging to the Earls of Airlie which will go under the hammer. The brocaded dress was worn by Lady Margaret Ogilvy, wife of David Ogilvy, the 6th Earl of Airlie, when they attended a ball hosted by Prince Charles Edward Stuart at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in 1745. The dress is estimated to be bought for between £8000 to £12,000. READ MORE: The full list of UK Government departures since Keir Starmer became Prime Minister The gown has been on long term loan to the Royal Collection, Palace of Holyrood, for almost 100 years, and was part of the Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites exhibition at the National Museums Scotland in 2017. It was also displayed at Glamis Castle, in late 2020, and most recently, in The Queen's Lobby, next to the Great Gallery in Holyrood Palace. It was in the Great Gallery that the coup[le, who were both in their early 20s, attended the ball following the Jacobite victory at the Battle of Prestonpans on September 21, 1745. The countess went on to join Jacobite troops on their journey to the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. She was among the group of several women who were taken prisoner by the Duke of Cumberland, nicknamed the Butcher Cumberland, after the battle. She was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle, where she was condemned to death as a traitor. Lady Margaret Ogilvy's escape In a daring escape, the Lady Ogilvy swapped closed with a washerwoman and then disguised herself as man. Soldiers later stopped her in London, believing she was the Bonnie Prince. After being examined by a woman to prove her gender, and persuading the men that she was a woman of rank, she journeyed to France and joined her husband in exile. John Mackie, head of sale, said: "This gown is a rare and tangible link to the 1745 Jacobite rising. "While much Jacobite material has been lost or romanticised, this piece stands out for its provenance and condition. "Objects like this shed light on the period not just politically, but personally. Lady Ogilvy's story reveals the complexity of individual experience during the rising." An oval straight-sided snuff box with a portrait of Prince Charles Edward Stuart and a pistol with engraved scroll and foliage decoration are all included in the lot.
Scotsman
30-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Inside the Scottish auction of rare treasures, from a Culloden cannonball to £12,000 frock
Every year, the Scotland Collected auction at Lyon & Turnbull offers buyers the chance to own some of the country's finest treasure. This year is no exception. On August 20 and 21, with a public viewing at their 33 Broughton Place premises from August 17 to 20, they'll be selling over 700 incredible lots. You could end up being the proud owner of, among many other things, an Edwardian sporran, a Victorian style antler settee, a Flying Scotsman train set, a bust of Robert Louis Stevenson, or a bottle of rare whisky. We spoke to head of sales John Mackie, and a few of the other specialists, about the forthcoming sale. Are the Scotland Collected auctions especially popular? As Scotland's oldest auctioneers, we are proud to hold our annual Scotland Collected auctions. This sale attracts buyers from all over the world, particularly those with Scottish lineage or those with an interest in our history and its craft. Are your buyers usually from abroad, or from here in Scotland? We have a mix of collectors, those who are based in the UK and those in countries like the USA, Canada and Australia with a strong Scottish connection. However, it is always surprising to see what wide and varied quarters the bidders come from. What particularly interesting lots do you have in the sale? Following on from the record-breaking Cairncross Collection auction in August 2025, we are excited to announce the largest private collection of Scottish freshwater pearl jewellery ever to come to market. Carefully collected over a number of years with the assistance of Cairncross of Perth, this collection was amassed by a private connoisseur who hopes their enthusiasm can now be passed on to a new generation of collectors. It is a remarkable opportunity to see, not only a comprehensive record of the renowned Perthshire jewellers designs celebrating the flora of Scotland, including designs rarely found at auction, such as the Timorous Beasties' brooch and a horse-chestnut design; but also a vast array of of Scottish freshwater pearls, showcasing the wide range of colours, shapes and lustres this magical Scottish gem can take. This year's auction is particularly varied with a range of Wemyss Ware, provincial and Scottish silverware, hardstone jewellery, Jacobite works of art and collections formed by individuals and families over many years. It also includes one of the largest collections of Scottish pistols to come to the open market in perhaps decades. These and other weapons link closely to the nation's turbulent past but are made with such quality they are works of art in their own right. These connect in with our wider Jacobite section which is always a very popular area to collectors. The collection spans early 17th century examples, which are extremely rare, to the iconic silver and steel Doune pistols. We are also delighted to present a collection from the former Earls of Airlie - a lineage stretching to Robert the Bruce and King James VI of Scotland and II of England. The Ogilvy family was established with lands in Angus as early as the 15th century, with Airlie Castle's foundations laid in 1432. For successive centuries, they have always had a close relationship to the monarchy; raising armies during the Jacobite rebellions to more recently, Lord Ogilvy 13th (8th) Earl of Airlie (1926-2023), who, acting as Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth II, saw him oversee many significant Royal events. Which items do you expect to do particularly well? A wonderful lot in the sale is a dress worn by Lady Margaret Ogilvy, the Countess of Airlie, which reputedly was worn when she was a guest at Holyrood Palace in 1745, where Bonnie Prince Charlie was in attendance. Lady Ogilvy and her husband, David Ogilvy, 6th Earl of Airlie, were prominent Jacobites and supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie in Scotland. Eighteenth-century Scottish clothing with provenance is rare, but to have a piece connected to such a remarkable original owner, and one who may even have danced with the Prince himself, sets the imagination alight. Do the staff have any personal favourites? Kier Alexander, silver specialist: 'We usually offer a fine selection of work by the Scottish silversmith Graham Stewart,and this year is no exception, featuring his iconic honeycomb candlesticks, a beautifully engraved bowl, and a remarkably large centrepiece.' John Mackie, head of sales: 'At this time of year with the countryside in full abundance just looking at a hedgerow with its dog roses, buttercups and other wildflowers reminds me of the myriad patterns that inspired the well-known and collectable Fife pottery Wemyss Ware. Personally, I am very fond of the small pigs that the factory produced from the late 19th century onwards – the early examples are well-modelled and their slightly bewildered expressions are very engaging!' Colin Fraser, specialist: 'It has to be the 18th century invalid feeder, made by Hugh Clark of Perth. Not only is he a particularly rare maker, but invalid cups are seldom seen. This appears to be the only known example from Perth. Although it looks just like a rather odd cream jug this would have been essential to making sure a patient received food and most likely medicine from their carer.' Anything that's particularly rare? Colin Fraser: 'Rare items include a cannonball recovered from the battlefield of Culloden which is a wonderful example of a Scottish relic with an incredible story and provenance back to a family closely connected with the cause. Having been in an exhibition previously this is the first time it has ever been offered for sale.' Any items that are very collectable? Wemyss Ware was developed in the late 19th century as a more sophisticated, decorated range to complement the standard transfer-printed and other wares produced at the Fife Pottery. In many ways Wemyss is perfect for collectors, with its myriad range of patterns and shapes, each hand-painted by a particular artist and, by and large, identified by a maker's mark. It is an instantly recognisable aesthetic: the brightly coloured decoration on a stark white background, drawing inspiration from the Fife countryside. For more information, see
Wales Online
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Roald Dahl sketches sell for almost £24,000 at auction
Roald Dahl sketches sell for almost £24,000 at auction The collection of sketches were produced by Dahl in black ball point pen for his memoir, Boy (1984), in which he describes his experience of growing up (Image: PA ) Original drawings by Roald Dahl which were found in an envelope have sold for almost £24,000. The collection of sketches were produced by Dahl in black ball point pen for his memoir, Boy (1984), in which he describes his experience of growing up. They were found in an envelope marked "Dahl's drawings & odds and sods", which belonged to Ian Craig (1944-2023), art director at the author's publishing firm, Jonathan Cape, in London. Mr Craig, who died in 2023, created the final illustrations for the book, inspired by Dahl's drawings. The sketches were auctioned as part of the production archive from the late Mr Craig's estate and sold for £23,940 when they went under the hammer at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh on Wednesday. Dominic Somerville-Brown, Lyon & Turnbull's rare books & manuscripts specialist, said: "This archive is unique in the Roald Dahl canon – it's very rare to find material by his own hand. Article continues below "This is reflected in the price achieved which also demonstrates the enduring popularity of his children's stories 35 years after his death." Dahl died in 1990 aged 74 and Boy is the only book which he produced illustrations for during his career of almost five decades. In the book, he writes about his childhood exploits, including playing a prank with his friends on the local sweetshop owner, Mrs Pratchett, by putting a dead mouse in a gobstopper jar. To accompany the story, Dahl drew a mouse lying on top of the sweets with its legs in the air. The collection of sketches was bought by a single buyer who wished to remain anonymous. A collection of rare manuscripts from Kilravock Castle, near Nairn in Highlands, also went under the hammer on Wednesday. It included a selection of letters and documents signed by Mary Queen of Scots, her father, James V, son, James VI and I, and mother, Mary of Guise. The collection sold for £124,614 to a number of different buyers as part of Lyon & Turnbull's Books & Manuscript auction. Described as one of the most important collections of historical Scottish manuscripts ever offered for sale, it included a letter from Mary, Queen of Scots to the Laird of Kilravock, appointing him Sheriff for Inverness and dated September 26 1565. The letter, signed by both the Queen ("Marie R.") and her then husband, Henry Stewart, Earl of Darnley ("Henry R.") sold for £15,120. Another of her letters, again signed jointly by the pair, in which they remove the charge of Inverness Castle from the Laird of Kilravock and give it to the Earl of Huntly, dated October 9 1565, went for £11,340. A group of five letters from her mother, Mary of Guise, sold for £6,930. Cathy Tait, head of books & manuscripts at Lyon & Turnbull, said: "We are absolutely delighted with the results of the archive from Kilravock Castle. "There was a great deal of interest from a wide range of collectors, both private and institutional." "The documents sold today comprise a range of very old and important items, illuminating Scotland's history, and we are pleased that they have found good homes." Article continues below All prices include buyer's premium.
Wales Online
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Drawings by Roald Dahl for memoir Boy to be sold at auction
Drawings by Roald Dahl for memoir Boy to be sold at auction The sketches were produced by Dahl in black ballpoint pen for Boy, which was published in 1984 (Image: Getty Images ) Original drawings children's author Roald Dahl produced for his memoir are to be sold at auction after being found in an envelope which belonged to a colleague. The sketches were produced by Dahl in black ballpoint pen for Boy, which was published in 1984. Dahl died in 1990 aged 74 and Boy is the only book which he produced illustrations for during his career of almost five decades. The sketches will be sold in Edinburgh as part of Lyon & Turnbull's books and manuscripts sale on Wednesday. They are part of a collection estimated to sell for between £20,000 and £30,000. In his memoir, Dahl recalled various childhood exploits, including playing a prank with his friends on the local sweetshop owner, Mrs Pratchett, by putting a dead mouse in a gobstopper jar. Article continues below Dahl drew a mouse lying on top of the sweets with its legs in the air to illustrate the escapade. He had being approached to help by publishing house Jonathan Cape as his usual illustrator, Quentin Blake, was on holiday. The drawings were found in an envelope marked "Dahl's drawings & odds and sods" which belonged to Ian Craig, the art director at Jonathan Cape. Mr Craig, who died in 2023, created the final illustrations for the book, inspired by Dahl's drawings, and received a blue cashmere cardigan as a gift from the author. The sketches being auctioned are part of the production archive for Boy from Mr Craig's estate. Mr Craig oversaw the production of Boy and the archive includes his designs, as well as the original page layouts and correspondence. He also came up with the title, and received a letter from Dahl saying: "I must thank you for coming up with the first sensible title for my book. 'Boy' is fine. We all like it..." Mr Craig, who grew up in Ipswich, was a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art and joined Jonathan Cape in 1973, five years before Dahl began a partnership with illustrator Blake. His widow Kate Craig, who also worked at Jonathan Cape, said: "The publication of Boy was on a very tight publication schedule. "As Quentin Blake was away on holiday, Ian asked Dahl if he could help with the illustrations. "Dahl ended up producing a variety of sketches which Ian used as inspiration for his own drawings. "Ian never got paid for the illustrations, but Dahl did give him one of his trademark blue cashmere cardigans as a thank-you, which he treasured." Dominic Somerville-Brown, Lyon & Turnbull's rare books and manuscripts specialist, said: "It's absolutely thrilling to see Roald Dahl's one-of-a-kind, hand-drawn sketches up close. "They are a unique addition to his canon and allow us to observe the transformation of his childhood memories into the printed form, a medium in which they would be cherished by generations of readers. "Ian Craig undoubtedly played a key role in Dahl's publishing success, overseeing not only the production of Boy, but many more of his famous children's stories. Article continues below "This archive gives an insight into the creative processes behind a book still enjoyed by children across the world today."
STV News
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
'One of a kind' Roald Dahl sketches to be sold at auction
Rare drawings by celebrated children's author Roald Dahl are to be sold at an auction in Edinburgh after being found in an envelope. The 'one-of-a-kind' sketches were drawn with a black ballpoint pen by the Welsh-born author for his memoir 'Boy' in 1984. They are the only known drawings that Dahl produced before his death aged 74 in 1990. The sketches will now be sold as part of Lyon & Turnbull's books and manuscripts sale in the Capital on June 18, and are estimated to fetch between £20,000-£30,00. In Boy, Dahl recalled various exploits from his childhood, including playing a prank with his friends on the local sweetshop owner, Mrs Pratchett, by putting a dead mouse in a gobstopper jar. Dahl drew a mouse lying on top of the sweets with its legs in the air to illustrate the escapade. He had being approached to help by publishing house Jonathan Cape as his usual illustrator, Quentin Blake, was on holiday. The drawings were found in an envelope marked 'Dahl's drawings & odds and sods' which belonged to Ian Craig, the art director at Jonathan Cape. Mr Craig, who died in 2023, created the final illustrations for the book, inspired by Dahl's drawings, and received a blue cashmere cardigan as a gift from the author. The sketches being auctioned are part of the production archive for Boy from Mr Craig's estate. Mr Craig oversaw the production of Boy and the archive includes his designs, as well as the original page layouts and correspondence. He also came up with the title, and received a letter from Dahl saying: 'I must thank you for coming up with the first sensible title for my book. 'Boy' is fine. We all like it…' Mr Craig, who grew up in Ipswich, graduated from Edinburgh College of Art and joined Jonathan Cape in 1973, five years before Dahl began a partnership with illustrator Blake. His widow Kate Craig, who also worked at Jonathan Cape, said: 'The publication of Boy was on a very tight publication schedule. 'As Quentin Blake was away on holiday, Ian asked Dahl if he could help with the illustrations. 'Dahl ended up producing a variety of sketches which Ian used as inspiration for his own drawings. 'Ian never got paid for the illustrations, but Dahl did give him one of his trademark blue cashmere cardigans as a thank-you, which he treasured.' Dominic Somerville-Brown, Lyon & Turnbull's rare books and manuscripts specialist, said: 'It's absolutely thrilling to see Roald Dahl's one-of-a-kind, hand-drawn sketches up close. 'They are a unique addition to his canon and allow us to observe the transformation of his childhood memories into the printed form, a medium in which they would be cherished by generations of readers. 'Ian Craig undoubtedly played a key role in Dahl's publishing success, overseeing not only the production of Boy, but many more of his famous children's stories. 'This archive gives an insight into the creative processes behind a book still enjoyed by children across the world today.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
