BUYERS WILL JUMP AT THE CHANCE TO ACQUIRE SILVER FROGS NOT SEEN SINCE 1950

Buyers will jump at the chance to acquire silver frogs not seen since 1950

A fine pair of Victorian silver novelty frog peppers are a highlight of Cotswold auctioneers, Kinghams, upcoming Silver & Objects of Vertu auction on 11 September.

Uncovered at a valuation day at Kinghams headquarters in Moreton-in-Marsh, the pair of silver frogs were crafted by the celebrated 19th-century silversmith, Alexander Crichton, in London in 1880. The pair of fine frogs have been residing with the vendor for at least 75 years.

According to associate director, Matthew Lafite, “Alexander Crichton was a fine silversmith producing individualistic and iconic zoomorphic silver during the last quarter of the 19th century. Inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Crichton’s animals range from birds, fish, walrus, crocodile, frogs, and even a dodo!”

Consigned to Kinghams by a Cotswold family, the pair of cast silver frog peppers have been kept in the same family since at least 1950. The work produced by Alexander Crichton is of such significance that his pieces are housed in the collections of the National Trust for Scotland, The Royal Collection Trust, and significant private collections in the UK and across the world.

“We are fortunate at Kinghams to be trusted to handle fine and important pieces on behalf of our vendors, and when the frogs were presented to me at a valuation day, I realised their significance instantly. I have handled a number of Crichton pieces over the past twenty years, but never a pair of these frogs”, Mr. Lafite said.

Such is the demand for novelty zoomorphic pieces by Alexander Crichton, prices can extend to £50,000 plus. The pre-sale estimate for the pair of frog peppers is £1500 to 2500, plus fees, at Kinghams Auctioneers’ Silver & Objects of Vertu sale on 11 September. To be held at the firm’s headquarters in Moreton-in-Marsh.

For all enquiries please contact the auction house on 01608695695 or matthew@kinghamsauctioneers.com