Not so much the mantelpiece as the wall this time!
We all have different tastes as far as Art and Antiques are concerned and maybe mine are not that sophisticated really. I’ve always liked certain pictures and maps, so much so that wall space these days is nonexistent and some of my acquisitions have been sold on to make space, over the years. This is very unusual because I rarely sell anything, much to my wife’s annoyance on occasion! Also, living in a small cottage as we do, we have to agree on what we have about the place and on the walls particularly. Therefore items we don’t both agree on end up in what is euphemistically called ‘the study’, which sounds grand but is in fact where my desk is, my wife’s piano sits and my hi-fi and music collection reside. More than this it is a bit like a small antiques (junk) shop where my collections gather dust as they are barred from the remainder of the house!
I’ve always liked ‘Snaffles‘ prints and have a handful l I’ve garnered over the years, mostly inexpensive ones that I like. Although the artist is particularly famous for his Hunting, Racing and general Horsey prints, it’s the military ones I have a few of. Snaffles was the pen name of Charles Johnson Payne, a British artist born in 1884, who died in 1967. He specialised in painting horses in different scenarios and, as an admirer of a good ‘hoss’, who used to ride as a youngster before discovering motorbikes, I’ve always loved his work. The majority of his horse prints, which all feature a back stamp of a snaffle bit and were signed ‘Snaffles’, have always fetched good money and have continually been unjustifiable as purchases by me when I’ve had good ones in to sell over the years.
Historically the First World War is a period that has always interested me, particularly as both Grandfathers and a Great Uncle all served in France, with all the horrors that were involved, all surviving but shot up and dying young in most cases as a result. That’s another story in itself and one we should never forget. I did go on a guided trip through Flanders a few years back, following the Welsh Brigade which was both fascinating and harrowing at the same time and, coincidentally, came across a couple of places where my maternal Grandfather had been.
As a result of this interest (as well as the fact they are usually cheaper!) I have a few FWW examples, including ‘Pass Friend’, which does feature a horse and a fox and another one called ‘The Gunner’ which is of additional interest as my Father was in the Royal Artillery in the 2nd World War. We all have to live with our art and other items and so they must have some sort of personal connection in my opinion. That’s why I rarely sell anything.
My favourite Snaffles is the one where a British light tank has met a field of Fox Hunters and the tank commander is saluting the Master of the Hunt from his turret. The Master rides a grey and looks uncannily like Capt Peter Francis, himself an MFH and who often rode a grey! I’ve sold this on quite a number of occasions but never been able to justify the expense of buying it so I never have. It’s well over £1,500 these days, which is a lot for a print even though signed. Don’t think it will happen now as wall space is so limited, although I might sell something to fit that one in - time will tell!
The Auctioneer
