Description

Rosewood and electrum bound military case measuring 20 x 16 x 5 cm. deep, this fine and complete set of drawing/draughtsman instruments boasts the added bonus of paints, inking and calligraphy pens, pencil, brushes, tacks, eraser and rulers. With provenance.

Trade label in gold to the interior of the lid reads: “Gould and Porter, Successor to Cary, Opticians and Mathematical Inst. Makers by Special Appointment to the Admiralty War Office, 181 Strand, London” . The transition and re-naming of the Company occured in 1856.

This set belonged to one Arthur J. Salter as indicated by the cartouche inset in the lid and by three of the writing instruments inside. The set is complete and matching and even includes a set of proportional dividers marked “Cary, London”. In addition to the artist supplies there is a 6 inch ebony parallel rule and bone Gunter-type proportional ruler (ink stains). The 9 paints are by Winsor & Newton Lim’d (unusual abbreviation of Ltd.). There is a folding boxwood and brass 4 section, 1 foot ruler as well (later-Stanley?).

As far a drawing sets go, this is the set to own. Rarely are they this complete or complex, signed and with provenance. Although there is a shrinkage crack to both the top and bottom panels, they are stable due to the thickness of the wood (not veneered). Functional lock and key.

Coincidentally, there is a record of Sir (Lord) James “Arthur” Salter, 1st Baron of Kidlington (1881-1975). Although the dates don’t line up by a generation, one has to wonder if this set was repurposed as a gift of succession? He preferred the name Arthur as opposed to James and did work for the Admiralty during both World Wars, in the shipping department. He was a proponent of the EU in conjunction with his close friend Jean Monnet as an economist to Churchill, among others.