Cesnola Lawrence sale 15-16 May 1884

analysing the activities of a nineteenth-century collector

Pitt-Rivers' purchases from the sale of the Cesnola-Lawrence collection at Sotheby's in 1884 as listed in the annotated sale catalogue of the auctioneers. The sale actually went on three days but Pitt-Rivers did not purchase anything (and may not have attended) the third day on 17 May 1884.

Pitt-Rivers purchased 125 objects in 57 lots for £15.2.0 over the two days. In addition he may have obtained 2 more [lots 1378 and 1379] from Lincoln, a dealer

Our thanks to Thomas Kiely for providing a copy of this catalogue from which the following table has been taken.

Lot number	Sale Catalogue Description	Number of objects	Price paid £.s.d	Notes
15.5.1884
1107	Ancient Terra Cotta Vases Bright red Oinochoe as before [Bright red with black concentric circles?] 7 in high; and a pale red glazed Lecythus 9 1/2 in high	2	0.5.0	Add.9455vol2_p32 /6 & Add.9455vol2_p33 /3
1109	Ancient Terra Cotta Vases Very fine bright red Oinochoe, deep colour, rich and full ornament of circles 8 in high; and a pale red glazed Lecythus of good shape and colour 10 in high	2	0.13.0	Add.9455vol2_p32 /7 & Add.9455vol2_p33 /4
1123	Ancient Terra Cotta Vases Black-splashed ware Wine Jug, fluted handle, 10 in high; and a rare and archaic Jug ornamented with incised chevrons handle wanting 8 1/2 in high	2	0.7.0	Add.9455vol2_p33 /1 [cant match jug possibly One of Add.9455vol2_p31 /1-13 marked as 1124]. The first item was found on the internet for sale, see end of this page for more information
1135	Ancient Terra Cotta Vases Archaic Wine Jug with copious ornamentation of the best pattern, red and black chipped 8 in high and an Amphora of buff ware 6 1/2 in high	2	0.4.0	Add.9455vol2_p32 /8 & Add.9455vol2_p36 /7
1145	Ancient Terra Cotta Vases Fine Cypriote Wine jug, cream coloured ware with concentric circles, black and red, 9 in high and a Tetine or Sprinkler loop handled	2	1.2.0	Add.9455vol2_p32 /9 & Add.9455vol2_p31 /1. The first was sent to SKM and later donated to the PRM see 1884.38.51
1147	Ancient Terra Cotta Vases Early Wine Jug, with black pattern, 10 in high; and a deep red ware sprinkler ornamented with a white slip	2	0.2.0	Add.9455vol2_p32 /10 & Add.9455vol2_p32 /10. The sprinkler was sent to SKM and then donated to PRM. see 1884.38.25 [it is numbered 1147.2]
1151	Ancient Terra Cotta Vases Lecythus of pale yellow ware, ornamented with red colour, 6 in and a Water Vessel with two handles and side-spout of archaic design	2	0.10.0	Add.9455vol2_p31 /3 & Add.9455vol2_p36 /6
1154	Ancient Terra Cotta Vases Red glazed ware Jug, with white glazed pattern 8 in and archaic water vessel with red ornament	2	0.5.0	Add.9455vol2_p31 /4 & cant match
1167	Ancient Terra Cotta Vases Fine large Cypriote Wine Jug, spherical body pale colour with geometrical design in black 14 in high neck broken, and a deep red glazed bowl, handle wanting	2	0.2.0	Add.9455vol2_p36 /5 & cant match
1301	Inscribed Lamps 4 others [terracotta lamps] Epmaino IIpainon &c	4	0.8.0	Add.9455vol2_p40 /1-4
1306	Inscribed Lamps 4 others [terracotta lamps] uncertain words	4	0.4.0	Add.9455vol2_p40 /5-8
1309	Greek lamps Others [Terra cotta lamps of greek design] floral devices	3	0.17.0	Add.9455vol2_p40 /9-11
1316	Terracotta Vases Others amphora, Phoenician red-ware jug, sprinkler and diota	4	0.11.0	Add.9455vol2_p33 /8 & Add.9455vol2_p34 /1 & cant match
1321	Terracotta Vases Others Sprinkler, fine ware Askos, three handled jar, diota	4	0.12.0	Add.9455vol2_p31 /5 & Add.9455vol2_p32 /3 & cant match. Two of these objects were sent to SKM and then donated to PRM, see 1884.38.24 [probably the diota as it is numbered 1321.4] and 1884.38.47
1331	Terracotta Vases Others Red ware Vase, Amphoreus, Sprinkler, and Vase with rare incised pattern	4	0.19.0	Add.9455vol2_p41 /7 & Add.9455vol2_p33 /5
1341	Terracotta Vases Others, curious frilled sprinkler, three handled jar, askos, and another	4	0.7.0	Add.9455vol2_p36 /3 & Add.9455vol2_p34 /2 and cant match
1342	Terracotta Vases Others, Diota white ware, Amphora, red ware Vase’ and white ware Jug	4	0.6.0	Cant match
1345	Terracotta Vases Others, Others, sprinkler, or libation vase; water-vessel, amphora askos	4	0.8.0	Add.9455vol2_p34 /3 & Add.9455vol2_p33 /10 & cant match
16.5.1884
1377	Terracotta Vases Ancient pale yellow ware Jug, with spherical body, red ornamentation 6 in, and a bowl or Patera, red and black ornaments	2	0.3.0	Add.9455vol2_p38 /12 & cant match
1378	… and a bowl or patera, red and black ornaments	1 of 2?	0.5.0	Sale catalogue has this as sold to Lincoln with a jug But recorded in catalogue of second collection as Add.9455vol2_p38 /13
1379	… and a Bowl with black and red devices	1 of 2	See above	Sale catalogue has this as sold to Lincoln with a jug But recorded in catalogue of second collection as Add.9455vol2_p38 /14
1401	Terracotta Vases Another, arrow, wheel and fylfot patterns 5 in diam and a spouted vessel	2	0.6.0	One of Add.9455vol2_p31 /1-13 & Add.9455vol2_p35 /1. One of these objects was sent to SKM and then donated to PRM. see 1884.38.29 [probably the first]
1402	Terracotta Vases Another Birds in red and black 6 in diam and an askow	2	See above	Add.9455vol2_p35 /2 & cant match. One of these objects was sent to SKM and now forms part of the Pitt Rivers Museum's collections see 1884.38.11
1403	Terracotta Vases Another Bird and fylfot 5 1/4 in diam and a spouted tetine	2	See above	One of Add.9455vol2_p31 /1-13 & Add.9455vol2_p34 /7. One of these objects was sent to SKM and then donated to PRM. see 1884.38.23
1410	Terracotta Vases Another [bowl] star pattern 4 1/2 in and an archaic sprinkler highly ornamented	2	0.12.0	Add.9455vol2_p35 /3 & Add.9455vol2_p37 /7 and on. One of these objects was sent to SKM and then donated to PRM. see 1884.38.16
1411	Terracotta Vases Another [bowl] bright colour flower pattern 5 1/2 in and a finely ornamented sprinkler	2	See above	Add.9455vol2_p35 /4 & Add.9455vol2_p37 /7 and on
1412	Terracotta Vases Another [bowl] rosettes 5 1/2 in and an archaic askos	2	See above	Add.9455vol2_p35 /5 & Add.9455vol2_p37 /5. One of these objects was sent to SKM and now forms part of Pitt Rivers Museum's collections 1884.38.10 described as a pottery vessel
1421	Terracotta Vases Red ware Cylix with spout and an archaic sprinkler	2	0.16.0	Add.9455vol2_p37 /7 & Add.9455vol2_p38 /7. One of these objects was sent to SKM and now forms part of Pitt Rivers Museum collections 1884.38.19
1422	Terracotta Vases Ornamental sprinkler and early bowl black ornamentation	2	See above	Add.9455vol2_p35 /6 & Add.9455vol2_p37 /6. One of these objects was sent to SKM and now forms part of Pitt Rivers Museum collections 1884.38.9 now described as a jug?
1423	Terracotta Vases Early blackish red ware bowl or phiale, and archaic amphora cream coloured with black ornaments	2	See above	Add.9455vol2_p33 /7 & Add.9455vol2_p38 /8
1424	Terracotta Vases Another and sprinkler of deep red ware incised patterns	2	0.19.0	Add.9455vol2_p37 /10 & Add.9455vol2_p38 /9
1425	Terracotta Vases Phiale or bowl, with single handle, blackish red ware and a frilled sprinkler	2	See above	Add.9455vol2_p37 /11 & Add.9455vol2_p38 /10
1426	Terracotta Vases Another 6 in diam and curious double Vase black ware unique	2	See above	Add.9455vol2_p35 /11 & Add.9455vol2_p38 /11
1451	Terracotta Vases Spherical food vessel, yellow ware and red ornament two holes pierced for a loop handle 3 in mouth and a creamy white Oinochoe	2	0.10.0	Add.9455vol2_p32 /2 & Add.9455vol2_p34 /8
1452	Terracotta Vases Globular bowl red ware 3 3/4 in and an elegant jar or aryballos of red ware	2	See above	Add.9455vol2_p36 /2 & Add.9455vol2_p35 /8
1453	Terracotta Vases Red glazed ware bowl shaped lip, and an archaic Tetine or sprinkler hatched ornament of early style	2	See above	Add.9455vol2_p34 /5 & Add.9455vol2_p32 /1
1457	Terracotta Vases Another [globular bowl] 3 3/4 in diam; ornamental sprinkler or spouted bottle and a small Phoenician oinochoe red glazed ware	2	0.8.0	Add.9455vol2_p37 /12 & Add.9455vol2_p35 /9
1458	Terracotta Vases Another [globular bowl] 3 1/2 in diam; and an elegant Hydria in cream coloured ware with black lines	2	See above	Add.9455vol2_p35 /7 & Add.9455vol2_p38 /3
1459	Terracotta Vases Patera or bowl yellow ware, black and red ornamentation 4 in and an ornamental sprinkler	2	See above	Add.9455vol2_p37 /9 & Add.9455vol2_p39 /9. One of these objects was sent to SKM and now forms part of PRM collections see 1884.38.18
1460	Terracotta Vases Spherical bowl red glazed ware with peculiar incised pattern of considerable rarity 3 1/2 in diam, and a tetine with loop handle	2	0.3.0	Add.9455vol2_p34 /6 & One of Add.9455vol2_p31 /1-13
1461	Terracotta Vases Red ware Patera archaic sprinkler with hatched ornaments and a conical vessel	3	See above	Add.9455vol2_p37 /13 & Add.9455vol2_p38 /1
1471	Terracotta Vases Bowl or drinking cup, good shape, yellow and red, 4 1/2 in diam; and an archaic Amphora cream coloured ware black ornaments	2	0.16.0	Add.9455vol2_p34 /4 & Add.9455vol2_p33 /9
1472	Terracotta Vases Archaic sprinkler or spouted aryballos hatched ornaments 6 1/2 in and a patera or cylix deep red ware black ornaments of early Cypriote style	2	See above	Add.9455vol2_p37 /8 & Add.9455vol2_p35 /10. One of these objects was sent to SKM and now forms part of Pitt Rivers Museum collections 1884.38.20
1473	Terracotta Vases Ornamental Aryballos archaic style 6 1/4 in high and Phoenician lecythus	2	See above	Add.9455vol2_p33 /6 & Add.9455vol2_p37 /4. One of these objects was sent to SKM and now forms part of the PRM's collections see 1884.38.12
1522	Glass Finger Rings Another [Iridescent glass ring] iridescence of good quality and a small Unguentarium of fine colours	2	0.13.0	Add.9455vol2_p40 /12 & Add.9455vol2_p40 /13
1574	Terra Cotta Figures Egyptian cat-headed goddess Pasht or Bast on a throne 7 in high	1	0.13.0	Add.9455vol2_p39 /1
1575	Terra Cotta Figures Statuette of a female holding a kid, and another of a patera 5 in high	2	See above	Add.9455vol2_p39 /4-5
1576	Terra Cotta Figures Graeco-Roman Statuette incalcareous stone – a youth with long hair, cap and toga 7 in high	1	See above	Add.9455vol2_p39 /2
1577	Terra Cotta Figures Draped figure perhaps Iconic 7 in high	1	See above	Add.9455vol2_p39 /3
1582	Terra Cotta Figures Another [draped female] headless holding a patera and a head early style	2	0.2.0	Add.9455vol2_p39 /6 & Add.9455vol2_p39 /7
1583	Terra Cotta Figures Fine statuette of Venus, hands on breast, a type peculiar Cyprus 11 in high	1	See above	Add.9455vol2_p39 /8
1584	Terra Cotta Figures Another [Fine statuette of Venus, hands on breast] 12 in high	1	See above	Add.9455vol2_p39 /8
1618	Terra Cotta Vases Another [bowl] black ornamentation and a cream coloured ware Jug with black ornamentation of hatched lines	2	1.1.0	Add.9455vol2_p33 /11 & cant match
1619	Terra Cotta Vases Another [bowl] black ornamentation and a cream coloured ware Jug with black ornamentation of hatched lines	2	See above	Add.9455vol2_p37 /2 & cant match. The object that cannot be matched to an entry in the second coll. catalogue was sent to SKM and formed part of the founding collection, it is now at the Pitt Rivers Museum see 1884.38.3
1620	Terra Cotta Vases Yellow ware bowl of early pattern with black ornamentation and a fine deep red oinochoe of Phoenician style with black circles	2	See above	Add.9455vol2_p41 /6 & cant match
1621	Terra Cotta Vases Redware hemispherical bowl with loop handle a small spouted cup or lamp feeder and an archaic aryballos	3	See above	Add.9455vol2_p38 /4-6
1625	Terra Cotta Vases Archaic aryballos with ornamentation of black hatched lines in lozenge shaped panels and a black and red ware spouted cup with spiral ornament	2	0.10.0	Add.9455vol2_p37 /1 & cant match
1626	Terra Cotta Vases Another Aryballos a spouted cup with spiral ornament and a fine red clay spherical vase with two handles mouth chipped	3	See above	Add.9455vol2_p36 /1 & Add.9455vol2_p38 /4-6
1627	Terra Cotta Vases Another spouted cup an ancient Greek lecythus of black ware, with antefixal ornament, painted in red, mouth chipped and a bell shaped object painted with black and red lines	3	See above	Add.9455vol2_p38 /2 & cant match
17.5.1884
	Nothing purchased

Some objects from this sale were sent to South Kensington Museum [SKM] and then donated to the University of Oxford and now form part of the Pitt Rivers Museum's [PRM] collections. Apart from the ones noted above there are some that cannot be matched to specific entries in the sale catalogue above but seem, from the date they are recorded as having been received at SKM (22-29 July 1884) to have been sent from the sale-room and coming from this sale. Note that they could be matched, but sufficient detail is not available to make it possible: in other words they are described above, it is just not possible to identify which specific entry matches.

Here are their descriptions from the Pitt Rivers Museum accession books:

1884.38.8: Large oval (round x section) buff jug on tripod points with maroon coloured latticed patterns: extended neck with oblique undulating mouth, small handle below neck and three small ring holes on each side (one each side of neck)

1884.38.13: [Jug] with round bottom, mouth slant jug form: four rows of 3 twin ring-holes down the sides and two pairs on neck near handle, latticed triangle designs

1884.38.22: Small red-ware spouted vessel: globular body, handle and flared small mouth ornamented with black band and two concentric ring designs

1884.38.41: Buff pot with neck and funnel mouth: body ovoid (round oval): 2 handles at neck: ends decorated with red and black concentric circles with central nipple

1884.38.48: Large buff jug with ovoid body as above, with red and black transverse rings (one red)

1884.38.49: Globular bodied pot of same ware with trefoil mouth, target in each, targets in row in front: handle 'double-barrelled'

1884.38.52: Small jug (8") of red-brown painted ware, of similar form [to 1884.38.51], 2 black circles each side cut by transverse bands, handle as above [36 red label]

1884.38.53: Small jug (7"), globular jug of buff ware, with transverse black rings and a red band: hook painted below handle (?bird tail)

1884.38.54: Small jug (4 1/2"), buff ware jug painted with red and black arrow heads (large), wicker patterned handle

1884.38.55: Larger jug (10"), with large red 'bird foot' designs and three targets in line between: double barrelled handle, trefoil mouth

1884.38.56: Small jug (c 5") with red and black large arrowhead designs and single black targets between

1884.38.57: Larger jug (8 1/2") with trefoil mouth and eyes on each side (bird jug) and three arrows composed of inverted Vs

1884.38.58: Larger 'bird' jug with similar arrow designs [to 1884.38.57] (larger chevrons) and vertical line of three small swastikas

1884.38.59: Small ( 4 3/4") bird-jug with two swastikas and black triangle under chevrons on 'breast'

1884.38.60: Larger bird-jug with swastika under a chevronesque simple design on breast

1884.38.61: Similar bird-jug [to 1884.38.58] with swastikas on sides and edging, a gable-shaped chequered 'breast design'

1884.38.62: Similar bird-jug [to 1884.38.58], chequered gable design on breast and pendant beneath, both edged with black cocked-hat ornament in frame of chevrons

1884.38.63: Similar bird-jug [to 1884.38.62] with chequered gable on breast , the edging lines crossed and prolonged, fringe below and curved lines in the obtuse angles and swastikas

1884.38.64: Similar bird-jug [to 1884.38.63] with designs on breast composed of cocked hat patterns of 13/ 2148a [1884.38.62]

1884.38.65: Similar bird-jug [to 1884.38.64] with designs on breast composed of lines in groups with groups of concentric semi-circles on each side (suggesting design of 9/ 2148) [1884.38.63]

1884.38.66: Similar bird-jug [to 1884.38.65] with T-shaped breast design with curved lines filling the angles and large red semi-circles relieved with black lines and line spaces on each side

1884.38.67: Similar bird-jug [to 1884.38.66] with red neck lines and chevroned arrow, edged with feint [sic] arrows and small swastikas

1884.38.68: Large similar bird-jug [to 1884.38.67] with red-centred, black-edged triangle on breast, dotted "X" derived from swastika and tail-like switch at base of handle

1884.38.69: 10] Smaller similar bird-jug [to 1884.38.68] with red-lined neck, chequered black gable on breast with square and dot in central white square: dotted "X"s on each side

1884.38.70: Similar bird-jug [to 1884.38.69] with chevroned arrow design on breast and dotted "X"s each side

1884.140.603 Pottery 'bird-jug' with pinched mouth painted with eyes, a triangular, partly chequered design on the 'breast' and two swastikas on one side and two crosses, with a single dot inside each quarter segment, on the other side.

Note: A total of XXXX items are thought to have been bought at the 1884 Cesnola-Lawrence sale, and ultimately ended up in the PRM and recorded in PRM accession books (as detailed above). This is XXX out of XXX total objects purchased at the sale.

2nd sale 15-17.5.1884 Successful new bidders:

Babington

Baxter

Bowyer

Currie

Cutter Jnr.

?Gassley

Gulley

Hall

J. Jackson

Lang

Lawson

Mason

Millett

Myers

Powell

Price

F.A. Reynolds

Rose

R.W. Smith

Starling

Whyte

Yardley

Successful bidders who had also bought in 1883: see here for information on that sale:

Brent

Fenton

Fry

Jackson [but see above, initial not given in first sale so might not be same person]

Lincoln

Morgan

Ready

Pitt-Rivers

Way.

Lot 1123

Ancient Terra Cotta Vases Black-splashed ware Wine Jug, fluted handle, 10 in high ... Add.9455vol2_p33 /1

This item was for sale on 11 May 2012 at http://www.antiquitiesonline.co.uk/A-Cypriote-jug-reputedly-from-the-Pitt-Rivers-Museum-and-Lawrence-Cesnola-Collection_AZ2SG.aspx

Described as:

A Cypriote grey ware single-handled pitcher, with tall neck, globular body and ribbed handle measuring 230 mm/9.1 ins. high. Some patches of black discolouration but overall condition good. Hellenistic or early Roman period, c. 300 B.C. - 200 A.D. A worn paper label on the base reads 'Lot 112....nce-Cesnol...collec....ebv. 15. May.'
Reputedly acquired in 1884 by the Pitt-Rivers Museum from the Lawrence-Cesnola collection. Previously in a Welsh private collection, and acquired from Trim Bridge Antiquities of Queen Street, Bath, in December 1977 for £75 (close to £400 in today's money we believe).

See photograph from the above site on this page.

AP April 2012

2nd sale 15-17.5.1884 Successful new bidders:

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