Catalogue Of The Celebrated Collection Of Works Of Art, From The Byzantine Period to that of Louis Seize, Of That Distinguished Collector, Ralph Bernal, Esq., Deceased; Also, Of The Beautiful Decorative Furniture And Service Of Plate: Which (By Order Of The Executors) Will be Sold by Auction, by Messrs. Christie & Manson, At The Mansion, No. 93, Eaton Square, Commencing On Monday, March the 5th, 1855, At One O'Clock Precisely. - The Collection may be publicly viewed on Thursday, March 1st, and two following Days, from 10 to 4 o'clock, with Catalogues only, price Eight Shillings, to admit Three Persons.
357, [1] p., frontis., [33] pl.; 239 mm. (Octavo.)
Contents
[Frontis., t.p.] - Conditions Of Sale - [Introductory note signed by J.R. Planché] - Order Of Sale - Catalogue [with plates] - [Colophon].
Responsibility Note
The frontispiece and many plates are signed as engraved by A.J. Mason.
The printer is named in the colophon: 'London: Printed by W. Clowes and Sons, 14, Charing Cross'.
Summary Note
The Catalogue lists 4,294 items, and the 'Order Of Sale' indicates that the sale extended over thirty-two days from 5 March to April 30th. Some lots attracted high bids and the collection realised £70,000. Bernal's collection was chiefly of glass, plate, ceramics and miniatures. The latter, according to Planché's introductory note, had been 'avowedly not selected for their value as paintings, but for their illustration of costume'. The Society of Artists and John Charles Robinson, curator of the Museum of Ornamental Art at Marlborough House (afterwards transferred to the Victoria and Albert Museum), tried unsuccessfully to persuade the British Government to buy the collection; but several items did reach public institutions.
Copy Note
The title-page is inscribed in ink, 'Marked catalogue' and 'collated and certified correct J C Robinson'. Several entries carry marginal marks or prices in ink.
Binding Note
19th-century red cloth-covered boards, upper and lower covers decorated in blind; spine lettered 'The Bernal Collection'.
Glassware - Ceramics (objects) - Maiolica - Miniatures (paintings) - Europe - History
Collections - Auctions - Great Britian - 19th century
Sales catalogues - Auction catalogues - Great Britain - London - 19th century
Pictorial works - Great Britain - 19th century