L13404

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Lot 205
  • 205

Cromwell, Oliver

Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
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Description

  • Cromwell, Oliver
  • Funeral escutcheon
  • pigment on cloth
Cromwell’s arms as Lord Protector impaled with the Bourchier family arms, surmounted by the royal crown, gilt and coloured paints on a banner formed from two stitched pieces of silk, one white and one dyed black (525 x 380 mm.), with a note on the bottom right corner in an eighteenth century hand (”Oliver Cromwell his Scutcheon that was taken from his Hearse 23 Nov[embe]r 1658”), framed and glazed with a provenance note on the reverse of the frame signed by Charles A. Prescott, left hand portion of the banner with significant heat damage, paint worn, some worm holes

Provenance

Nevill family of Nevill Holt; Rev. Dawson Peake; acquired by Charles A. Prescott in 1884; thence by descent

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

A rare piece of Commonwealth ceremonial. Following Cromwell’s death on 3 September 1658 there was an official lying in state at Somerset House on the Strand that lasted until 23 November, when there was a ceremonial funeral procession to Westminster Abbey.  The ceremonial – in which the traditional wooden effigy bore orb, sceptre and crown – was based on the funeral of James I, and demonstrated the Commonwealth’s inability to instil Republicanism into the British body politic as much as it did Cromwell’s personal power.  Both the lying in state and the progress took place without the presence of Cromwell’s body, which was badly embalmed and rapidly began to decompose. Large numbers of escutcheons such as this example will have been produced, both to hang in Somerset House and for the funeral procession. At least one similar escutcheon is known to survive and is found in the Museum of London.