…and especially me. I was unable to attend the second auction of items from Spetchley Park in February 2020, so I was forced to put commission bids on a number of items that, whether noted in the catalogue or not, were linked to Ellen Willmott. These weren’t the grand things, they were small – a rose bowl, a sewing box, a music stand.

I didn’t really need them, but I wanted to keep a link between Ellen and those items, especially when the catalogue did not list the provenance that I knew (and could prove) they had.

Alas, as anyone who attends auctions with any kind of regularity knows, commission bids are just Aunt Sallys, to be knocked down by the very next bidder actually in the room. I was not successful with any of mine, each of which went for about a pound more than my commission bid.

It’s my fault for not being there, and hey, I’ve largely made my peace with lost history on my watch. The one item I would really have liked to have snagged, however, does come with its own provenance, literally carved into it and yesterday a pal sent me a press release – it’s come up for sale again.

This tiny carriage clock is just exquisite. Made in 1900, in silver with a shagreen (usually sharkskin) finish, it is, apparently (and I’m getting this from the auctioneers, who, in their turn, got their background material from Miss Willmott’s Ghosts; I guess it’s my bad if once again Ellen becomes sensationalised) a montre pendulette de voyage – a travel clock.

The auctioneers reckon that it’s from Neuchatel, Switzerland, which was famous for its clockmakers, such as Mathay-Tissot. Certainly Ellen did buy from Tissot, though as yet I have not found proof she bought this particular jewel from them – I may yet be able to, while delving deeper into her receipts and bills.

There’s no doubt about who this mignonette (cute little) clock belonged to. The inscription inside is clear:

This was a period in Ellen’s life when she was stamping everything with her name and her home, making it quite clear who was in charge. She had maps made, jewellery fashioned – even a giant key cut – in her name.

Here,

E A Willmott

Warley Place

Essex

might be a way to ensure that it would always find its way home to her in the event of losing a travel clock, but frankly, it looks like part of that pattern. Hey – she may even have engraved it herself – she had an exquisite turning rose and knew how to use it.

At first I thought this would have been one of the items that didn’t sell at the 1935 auction immediately after Ellen’s death and which made it back to Spetchley afterwards, but I’ve been through all ten days of those sales and there’s no sign of it.

It does appear in a 1949 inventory as being in the strong room at Spetchley; cupboard two, shelf one:

…so my guess is that Ellen simply left it behind on a visit to her sister Rose.

It was valued as being worth £4.10 in 1949. The listed estimate for September 2023’s auction is £1,200-£1,800.

If you have up to a couple of grand to spare, the sale will take place at Dreweatts, September 13, 10.30am.

Alas, it’s too rich for my blood. No commission bids from me this time.