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150 GBP
1
160 GBP
GBP
100 - 200 GBP
Timed auction
Lot location
London
□ TWO CHINESE JADE ARCHERS RINGS, QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

comprising: a yellowish jade ring with brown inclusions, 2.7cm high; and a grey and cream jade ring, 2.2cm high

Provenance

The William Reid collection; the yellow and brown ring acquired in London in 1977, the cream and grey ring acquired in Birmingham in 1980

William ‘Bill’ Reid CBE (8 November 1926 – 19 June 2014) was a Scottish military historian who became director of the National Army Museum in 1970, a position he held for 17 years. He was an acknowledged military historian, curator and expert in weaponry and the leading authority in the UK on armour and medieval arms. He published widely on his subject, most notably The Lore of Arms: A concise history of weaponry, New York, 1984, which was translated into six languages.

He was an avid collector of Chinese thumb-rings, some of which were gifted to the British Museum in 2022 and featured in the museum’s exhibition China’s Hidden Century, 18 May - 8 October 2023, London .

The Manchu thumb ring was used on the hand that pulled the bowstring to allow for a snappier release for archery on horseback. In the 19th Century, their use spread to the merchant class and other elites as a form of jewelry and a symbol of masculinity, rather than as a practical accessory. What had originated as a sign of Manchu ancestry also became an accessory, and a symbol of masculinity, for Han-Chinese men.

Olympia Timed: Arms, Armour & Militaria June 2024
Timed
Venue address
25 Blythe Road
London
W14 0PD
United Kingdom
Olympia Timed: Arms, Armour & Militaria June 2024

PLEASE NOTE:

The lots close 30 seconds apart from each other, but if there is another bid in the final 10 minutes of a particular lot closing, the time of this lot will be extended.

 

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Auction dates
Starts: 21 Jun 2024 09:00 BST
Ends from: 30 Jun 2024 16:00 BST
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The Buyer must arrange collection of lots within 10 working days of the auction. Purchased lots are at the Buyer's risk from the earlier of (i) collection or (ii) 10 working days after the auction. Until risk passes, Olympia Auctions will compensate the Buyer for any loss or damage to the lot up to a maximum of the Purchase Price actually paid by the Buyer. Olympia Auctions’s assumption of risk is subject to the exclusions detailed in Condition 6.4 of the Terms of Consignment for Sellers.

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1.1 INTRODUCTION The following notes are intended to assist Bidders and Buyers, particularly those who are inexperienced or new to our saleroom. The sale of goods at our auctions are governed by our Terms of Sale (for Live Auctions or Online Auctions as applicable), our Privacy Policy, the Important Information for Buyers, and any notices that are displayed in our saleroom or announced by the Auctioneer (in the case of a Live Auction) or displayed on any Listing for a Lot in our Online Auction catalogue (in the case of an Online Auction) (collectively, the “Terms and Conditions of Business”). The Terms and Conditions of Business are available for inspection on our Website and at our saleroom on request. Our staff will be happy to help you if there is anything in our Terms and Conditions of Business that you do not fully understand. Please make sure that you read the applicable Terms of Sale carefully before bidding. If your bid is successful, you will be obliged to comply with our Terms of Sale.

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1.5.1 Items in our catalogue may be marked in the following ways: (a) (†) indicates that VAT is payable by the Buyer on both the Hammer Price and the Buyer’s Premium. VAT will be chargeable at the standard rate (presently 20%) for most Lots. Qualifying books will be charged at 0%. This imposition of VAT is likely to be because the Seller is registered for VAT within the UK and is not operating the Dealers’ Margin Scheme on their consignment to us. (b) (‡) indicates that the Lot has been imported from outside the UK using customs Temporary Admissions procedures. Import VAT of 5% (reduced rate due to nature of the Lot) is due on the Hammer Price and an amount in lieu of VAT at 20% will be included in the Buyer’s Premium. This VAT on the Buyer’s Premium cannot be itemised separately on our invoices. The successful Bidder and therefore Buyer of the Lot will become its importer. (c) (Ω) indicates that the Lot has been imported from outside the UK using customs Temporary Admissions procedures. Import VAT of 20% (higher rate) is due on the Hammer Price and an amount in lieu of VAT at 20% will be included in the Buyer’s Premium. This VAT on the Buyer’s Premium cannot be itemised separately on our invoices. The successful Bidder and therefore Buyer of the Lot will become its importer. (d) Lots which do not display one of the above symbols (referred to herein as unmarked Lots) have no VAT payable on the Hammer Price. This is because such Lots are sold using the Auctioneers’ Margin Scheme. Therefore, an amount in lieu of VAT at the standard rate is included within the Premium and will not be shown separately on our invoice or be recoverable as input Tax.

1.5.2 For the items marked (‡) or (Ω), Buyers registered for VAT in the UK should notify us as soon as possible after the sale so that we can correctly instruct our shipping agents to complete the import into the UK under the Buyer’s VAT registration and HMRC can issue a form C79. The charge on our invoice for the import VAT is not sufficient evidence to make a claim for the import VAT.

1.6 REFUNDS OF VAT 1.6.1 For Buyers from outside the UK, the VAT charged on the Hammer Price and Buyer’s Premium or included in lieu of VAT in the Buyer’s Premium can be refunded so long as the Buyer has: (a) registered to bid with an address outside the UK; and (b) discussed with us the proof of export we require and the timeframes to complete the export.

1.6.2 Once we are satisfied that the requirements referred to in Clause 1.6.1 have been met, and with the proof of export provided, the following VAT will be refunded: (a) For Lots marked (†): The VAT on the Hammer Price and on the Buyer’s Premium. (b) For Lots marked (‡) and (Ω): the import VAT and, for non-UK business customers only, the VAT in lieu in the Buyer’s Premium. (c) For unmarked Lots: the amount in lieu of VAT in the Buyer’s Premium. 1.6.3 To enable us to refund the VAT charged correctly we normally require the use of our international shippers to assist with the required paperwork. For private Buyers, we will only be able to refund the VAT if our shippers are used for the export of the Lot outside the UK.

1.7 REINVOICING SALES For unmarked Lots, you can request a Lot to be reinvoiced outside the Auctioneers’ Margin Scheme. VAT at 20% will be charged on the Hammer Price and the VAT on the Buyer’s Premium will be itemised separately on our invoice. This will enable a VAT registered business to reclaim all the VAT. Please note that the item will no longer be eligible to be sold in the Margin Scheme. We recommend you seek advice before proceeding. Requests must be made within 6 months of the sale and certain conditions apply.

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1.15.1 Online: Payment can be made at www.olympiaauctions.com/payments.

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1.16 COLLECTION AND STORAGE Please note what the applicable Terms of Sale say about collection and storage (see Clause 13 of the Terms of Sale for Live Auctions and Clause 15 of the Terms of Sale for Online Auctions). It is important that you pay for and collect goods promptly. Any delay may involve you having to pay storage charges. You (or your agent) must bring photographic ID for collection. Please note that collection may be made during working hours only, usually Monday to Friday 09:30 to 17:00.

1.17 POTENTIAL CANCELLATION RIGHTS If you purchase a Lot in an online sale as a Consumer in the UK or EU from a Seller who is a Trader, you may have a right to cancel your purchase of that Lot from the day of the auction up to the day which is 14 days after the date on which you take possession of the Lot. You may also have the right to cancel Services provided by us. Further information is set out in the Terms of Sale for Online Auctions.

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Public Exhibition

Sunday 23rd June: 12.00pm to 4.00pm

Monday 24th June: 10.00am to 7.00pm

Tuesday 25th June: 10.00am to 5.00pm

AUCTION OPENS: Friday 21st June at 9.00am

AUCTION CLOSES: Sunday 30th June, from 4.00pm