LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 June Civil War Grand Format Auction #663  / 

72210

Confederate General Williams Wickham Silver Tea

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
Confederate General Williams Wickham Silver Tea
<B>Confederate General Williams Wickham Trunk, Silver Tea Service, Ivory Match Safe and Pocket Watch</B></I> Confederate General Williams Wickham was a lawyer in Virginia at the outbreak of the Civil War when he volunteered as the captain of the Hanover Dragoons. He went on to fight at Bull Run and Gettysburg and took part in General JEB Stuart's raid into Maryland. Like his friend General William Mahone, he served as a railroad president after the war.<BR><BR>This five-piece silver service, match safe and pocket watch were owned by Wickham, the silver service being made of coin silver as is the watch. The elaborate floral and garden pattern of the silver continues through the 10” teapot with the hinged top, the 6” sugar and creamer vessels, the sugar tong and spoon. Made by the noted Baltimore silversmiths Kirk and Son, each piece is hallmarked in the base. Each piece is in excellent condition and is engraved "C M".<BR><BR>Included with this service is a silver drinking cup made by the Richmond, Virginia silversmith Mitchell and Tyler. At 3” in diameter at the top, the cup has some small dents and the name of Wickham's daughter, "<I>Eliza</B></I>", engraved in period script on the front.<BR><BR>An unusual piece of silver, a marrow scoop for removing marrow from bones, made in London in 1743, is included. The coin silver watch is double-hinged with a Roman numeral dial and is in running condition with its key and short watch chain included. With a beaded rim, the watch is numbered 23522 and was manufactured by H. and O. Perret of Geneva, Switzerland.<BR><BR>A remarkable and attractive ivory match safe from General Wickham's days as the commander of the 4th Virginia Cavalry is included with this grouping as well. Presented to him by the captain of Company G, Captain W. B. Newton on September 11,1861, the front of the 3” match safe is engraved in high relief with "4th Va. Cav." and an engraved presentation form the Captain to the then-Lieutenant Colonel Wickham on the reverse. The brass hinge is in perfect working order and the bottom of the match safe is carved in a checkered pattern for striking.<BR><BR>General Williams Wickham also served as a Confederate congressman, transferring his command to General Thomas Rosser when he traveled to Richmond. After the war he served as president of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. A statue of him stands at Monroe Park in Richmond, Virginia.<BR><BR>This collection comes with a magnificent 44" x 21 1/2" x 15" Virginia-made field trunk with brass studs, handles, and locks. The interior has a floral pattern lining and two wooden stands on which this heavy trunk may be placed.<BR><BR>This is a valuable and artistic silver service, watch, match safe, and wonderful trunk owned by a Confederate general, Congressman, and prominent businessman from Virginia.<BR><BR> <B>Provenance:</B></I> <I>Wickham Estate; The Tharpe Collection of American Military History</B></I><BR> <BR><B>Exhibited:</B></I> <I>The Liberty Heritage Society Museum</B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Requires 3rd Party Shipping (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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