find-reclamations of love: 2012

Fire insurance marks were lead or copper plaques embossed with the sign of the insurance company, and placed on the front of the insured building as a guide to the insurance company's fire brigade. They are common in the older areas ofBritain's and America's cities and larger towns. They were used on the eighteenth and nineteenth century in the days before municipal fire services were formed.The UK marks are called 'Fire insurance plaques' the first to use the mark was the Sun Fire Office before 1700.^]For most of the 18th century, each insurance company maintained its own fire brigade, which extinguished fires in those buildings insured by the company and, in return for a fee to be paid later, in buildings insured by other companies. By 1825, fire marks served more as advertisements than as useful identifying marks; some insurance companies no longer issued fire marks, and those that did sometimes left them up after a policy had expired. Successive combinations of fire brigades led to virtually the entire city of London being put under the protection of the London Fire Engine Establishment, which fought not only the fires of policy holders but those of nonsubscribers, the reason being that fires in uninsured buildings could rapidly spread to insured buildings.

THE COLLECTION OF WILL FISHER~ FOUNDER OF JAMB ~

TO BE OFFERED AT CHRISTIE’S LONDON IN FEBRUARY 2012

London - Christie’s is pleased to announce the sale of The Collection of Will Fisher; founder of Jamb to be held on 2 February 2012 at Christie’s South Kensington. All lots to be offered at the auction will be on view to the public at an exhibition at Jamb’s premises at 107a Pimlico Road (from 28th January to 1st February) leading up to the sale.
The auction will include approximately 500 lots both from Will Fisher’s own home in Camberwell and from Jamb in Pimilco. With a total estimate in excess of £1 million, the auction will include a broad array of antique chimneypieces, English and Irish furniture, lighting, natural history, sculpture, architectural and garden ornaments. Estimates will range from £500 to £120,000; one of the smaller highly collectable pieces in the sale is a large enamel advertising sign for the News of the World (estimate: £800-1,200) and the top lot of the sale is a George II verde antico and statuary marble chimney piece attributed to Isaac Ware, mid-18th century (estimate: £80,000 to £120,000).
Andrew Waters, Head of Private Collection and Country House Sales, Christie’s: “Will Fisher is a renowned tastemaker and this auction will reflect his unique eye for decoration through works from both his own collection, and from Jamb, the company he founded and for which he is best known. Jamb first became widely recognized for its specialist knowledge with fireplaces, and has since developed a distinctive style further represented through furniture, lighting and garden ornaments. We look forward to working with Will in presenting at auction a diverse selection of lots from both his personal and business collections.”
Will Fisher, founder of Jamb: “The antique dealer’s malaise is buying, so after 20 years I have finally been persuaded to let go! I've had a love affair with auctions ever since I worked at Christie’s when I was 16. Since then I’ve furthered my love for art and antiques as a dealer and with the gallery moving to new premises, now the time has come to return to Christie’s. There are objects I have owned since my childhood, items I swore I would never sell and even fifty of my favourite chimneypieces. After several relationships with girlfriends who referred to themselves as 'furniture widows' I have settled down with the love of my life, Charlotte. Her pragmatism, yet mutual passion for the business combined with her remark, 'what don't you understand about having two kids under the age of five', when I tried to bring a nine foot giraffe head and shoulders into the house, have helped me to my new perspective.”