One particular lot in gun auctioneer Holt's next sale, on June 20, is already eliciting much topical interest among collectors. Lot 1600, a 20-bore single-trigger over-and under sidelock ejector made by Purdey & Sons, is finely engraved with a portrait of Baroness Thatcher, inscribed ‘Margaret Thatcher Prime Minister 1990'.
It was engraved by Marcus Hunt and completed in 1990 for a keen shot and Thatcherite, whose businesses-a commercial cleaning firm in the City and an importer for Le Chameau footwear -flourished during her tenure as Prime Minister in the 1980s. ‘I was abroad when Baroness Thatcher died [on April 8] and the first I knew of it was when five collectors rang me up about the gun,' explains auctioneer Nick Holt. ‘The man who had it made was a great fan of hers.'
* Subscribe to Country Life and save; Get the Ipad edition
The gun is estimated at £30,000-£50,000, but is likely to fetch far more now (01485 542822; www. holtsauctioneers.com).
-
'For here is pure noodle nirvana': How to make Tom Parker Bowles's favourite Thai soupThe best bit about south-eat Asian-inspired soups is the fact that you can make them entirely your own, from mellow and comforting to blow-your-head-off hot.
-
How sport achieved global domination — and the luxury brands that followed in pursuit of goldSport is now a prime target for luxury brands and if they play it right there’s a multi-billion dollar prize waiting for them at the finish line.
