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Hunting heritage under the hammer
SILVER hunting horns from the early 19th century, scarlet hunting jackets and a Yorkshire Post cuttings scrapbook from the 1920s are just a few of the antiques and collectables going under the hammer at an auction next weekend.
Items for the sale, held at Beverley Racecourse a week tomorrow, come from private collections across Yorkshire and feature, as their centrepiece, a rare collection of Holderness Hunt memorabilia.
Altogether 700 items will be sold by Hawleys Auctioneers, based at North Cave, near Hull, as part of its autumn sale.
Caroline Hawley, who runs the auction house with her husband John, says the hunting memorabilia is much sought after.
"It's very rare to have an auction like this and we have had a lot of interest, not only from past and present members, but those people who are interested in countryside pursuits.
"We've even had inquiries from Germany and France which may surprise some people, but we forget just how interested people are in our history," she says.
"One of the main points of interest is a collection of six books of press cuttings from newspapers, including the Yorkshire Post, from the 1920s and 30s.
It's absolutely fascinating because it lists all the activities of the Holderness Hunt, like the hunt ball, who was there and what they were wearing.
"Many of the names on the guest list refer to families that still live around here and it's like a Who's Who of the great and good of the county."
The newspaper cuttings offer a fascinating insight into the 250 year-old hunt's social calendar during the two world wars.
One article from the Yorkshire Post on January 11, 1928 describes the Hunt Ball at Tranby Croft – now Hull Collegiate School – when it was owned by Captain Stanley Wilson.
It reads: "When dancing began at half past nine there was a brilliant assemblage, glowing with life and colour, the scarlet coats of the members and the dazzling dresses of the ladies making a magnificent scene."
Among other items for sale are two scarlet hunt jackets, an evening dress coat, leather boots, canes and sticks.
A set of four Holderness Hunt prints from 1908 in their original maple frames and a painting called The Old Earth Stopper, by well known local artist Kenneth Elwell are among the artworks being sold.
"There's a wide range of items that will suit almost every pocket," says Mrs Hawley.
"Many of them are specific to Holderness, like the Holderness jacket with hunt buttons. There is a big collection of crops with various handles from ivory, to brass, some with gold and silver bands, and there are some fabulous hunting horns that date back to the early 19th century."
Despite the controversy that has surrounded hunting in recent years, she believes hunt memorabilia remains important to many people.
"Whatever you feel about the rights and wrongs it does spur a lot of interest. It's part of our heritage and, like it or not, it will remain so."
The auction will be held at Beverley Racecourse next Sunday – November 7 – starting at 11am.
The items can be viewed at the racecourse next Saturday between 10am and 8pm.
From the catalogue
n A selection of silver and copper hunting horns, several made by Kohler, price estimate 100-500 each.
n Part of a collection of quality hunting crops, many with gold and silver bands, price estimate 20 – 60 each.
n An unusual 19th century inkwell with a well-carved wooden fox, estimate 50 - 80.
n A group of five horns, comprising a pair of 1898 silver hunting horns, engraved Callow and sons, 800-1200; two long slender banded hunting horns, 200- 400 each. A large London 1817 silver hunting horn, 300-500.
n A red cloth evening dress coat with Holderness Hunt buttons, estimate 200-300.
n Set of Holderness Hunt prints, by artist GD Giles, with a guide price of 800- 1,200.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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