SOUVENIRS FROM THE BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION COME TO AUCTION

The forthcoming Select Interiors auction on 25 January features cutlery that was part of the Terra Nova Expedition, officially the British Antarctic Expedition, led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott from 1910 to 1913. 

Reporting at the time details Captain Scott’s foresight to provide for souvenir hunters by placing a considerable order of 1194 pieces electroplate and cutlery required for the expedition from Walker and Hall of Sheffield.  He equipped the ship, Terra Nova, with pieces of value and of interest from the wide and varied selection available.  Captain Scott selected the hand engraved design himself showing a penguin surmounting the globe surrounded by the inscription ‘British Antarctic Expedition, Terra Nova, R.Y.S’.  His choice reflects one of the objectives of the expedition, alongside securing the honour of being the first to reach the South Pole for the British Empire, which was to continue investigations of the emperor penguin colony at Cape Crozier that he had started on his earlier Discovery Expedition.  As history tells us, Captain Scott’s team reached the pole on 17 January 1912, 34 days after a Norwegian team led by Ronald Amundsen.  Scott and his four team members perished on the return journey, and the expedition has continued to be revered as a monumental achievement in exploration and scientific research.

Offered as lots 310 to 313, the cutlery is attracting a high level of interest from avid collectors and promises to bring some exciting bidding.

SELECT INTERIORS

25 January
10:30am 

Viewing
Saturday 21 January 11am to 3pm
Monday 23 January 10am to 4pm
Tuesday 24 January 10am to 4pm