IT’S ALL IN THE FAMILY
Antiques connect people with past
Q This picture was passed down to me from my grandmother and is said to be by her father, George Veal, born in 1855 in London. It’s 41 by 43 centimetres and was reframed in Ottawa about 20 years ago. It has the initials G.V. in the lower left corner. Can you tell me what it’s worth and whether there is any biographical information about George Veal.
— Tony, Ottawa
A Yes to both of your very good inquiries. There isn’t much information about Veal and there have been very few of his works sold, but he is known to be British and as having worked in the 19th and 20th centuries.
His subjects in paintings that come to the secondary art market (auction) include horse portraits in stables, steeplechase scenes, steeplechase portraits of jockeys on their horses and, like yours, a mare and foal.
A very large Veal painting once sold for over $50,000. There is no reason to doubt any part of your verbal provenance from your grandmother, but the National Gallery would be a good place to have it looked at for confirmation.
Equine art is always of interest to collectors and this peaceful interaction is worth about $950.
Q I have a two-colour brass bugle my grandfather used while he was stationed in France during the First World War. It’s stamped “Hors Concours Paris 1878-1889-1900 Jerome THIBOUVILLE-LAMY C8r Reaumur Paris No,” and is about 25 cm from the mouthpiece tip to the farthest end. My grandfather did survive the war but was later killed in a car accident in Windsor when my mother was nine. It holds much sentimental value to me, but I mostly thought it would be interesting to show you. — Leni, Essex, Ontario
A Called a British duty bugle, these were made for use by the infantry, but cavalry used them as well. This form appeared early in the 1800s and continued until well into the 20th century. A bugler would use the instrument to signal an attack.
The cord may actually be the original, although leather straps were used as well. Translating, it’s a “Standout” model, made by Thibouville-Lamy in Paris, sometime after 1900. The safety chain around the mouthpiece was to keep it from being lost.
This one has your grandfather’s provenance, making it unique and special to you. Its market value of $150 will likely pale in comparison.
Q I always wondered how my grandfather came into possession of this leather pouch, which is inscribed with the name Cyril Bassett RAF on the front, and “F/o C.A. BASSETT 11281 15 512. SQ DIV RAF” on the inside. Closed, the pouch is about 32 cm wide by 22 cm tall. I recently found an obituary for Bassett, who lived in Ottawa, although he died in 1977 in Florida. He was a retired journalist. Can you tell us anything?
— Mary, Russell
A I think it’s fabulous you’ve taken the time to research the mystery of this flying officer serving with the Royal Air Force, but I cannot tell you much more about the pouch itself.
There is definitely more to the story to be unravelled. The depiction of what looks like a young Asian elephant coupled with identifying the hide itself may give clues to its origin, and where the officer was based.
The hand stitching to highlight the subject is impressive, as is the handsome embossing that further frames the animal. Value is not really appropriate here. Guessing, I’d say $75 — but to you, priceless.