Lot 24 , Two 16th century carved wooden armorials 11.75 x 8in. & 7.5 x 8in.

Two 16th century carved wooden armorials one inscribed '1600 Esq. Sackvill. Crow. of Brad-sted in the Cunty. of Kent', the other 'RTC 1600 PTC', later painted black 11.75 x 8in. & 7.5 x 8in.
Estimate £400-600

Sackville Crowe was born in 1595 in Brasted, Kent. He lead an interesting life serving as an M.P, as Treasurer for the Navy and as ambassador at Constantinople before being imprisoned in the Tower. See our online listing for further details.

Smaller of the plaques has holes drilled through the top, top arch section looks to have been re-attached after breaking away, a further 3 inch split running at 9 o'clock into the panel, overpainted in black paint, looks to be complete beneath it and also looks to be carved in oak
Larger panel has top section broken away with a hanging hole drilled through it and the motif which looks to have once been a cockerel or possibly a martlett partially missing, main body of the panel shows old wear around the edges, again has been overpainted in black paint which conceals all of the timber and again is thought to be oak beneath.


Sir Sackville Crowe, 1st Baronet (7 December 1595(baptised) – 27 October 1671)[1] was an English politician.

He was born in Brasted Kent in around 1595. He later married one of the daughters of the Earl of Rutland; he had one son, also named Sackville, born around 1636 and who died in 1706. He acquired lands around Llanherne, in Carmarthen, and took up residence there.

He was a Member of Parliament for Hastings in the 1625 Parliament (the "Useless Parliament") and for Bramber in the 1628-9 Parliament. He was Treasurer of the Navy from 5 April 1627 to 21 January 1630; on 8 July 1627 he was created a baronet. The King nominated Sir Sackville to be ambassador at Constantinople on 19 November 1633 during the personal rule. Royal instructions were delivered on 14 July 1638.

In 1636 he obtained a share of a lease on the Crown's ironworks in the Forest of Dean for twenty-one years, which he later tried to sell; this caused some great legal trouble, and had to be brought before Parliament. Nonetheless it did not prevent Sir Sackville sailing for Constantinople in October 1638.

He later served as the Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire; it is not recorded when he was sent to Constantinople, but in April 1642 the records of the House of Commons already mention objections being made to his "meddling" by the Levant Company. By 1646 they had progressed to formally requesting a letter of withdrawal be sent, citing his "seizing the Estates, and imprisoning the Factors and Servants, of the said Company, at Constantinople and Smyrna". Crowe was recalled after nearly a decade by Parliament in January 1647. Perhaps the ambassador had not received news of Royalist defeat because he did not finally depart until 23 November.

He was brought back in April 1648, as a prisoner in the ship Margaret and consigned to the Tower of London to await trial. In March 1652 he was bailed on a £2000 bond; by September 1658 the Levant Company had dropped all charges and he petitioned the Lords to annul his restraints.


Descriptions provided in both printed and on-line catalogue formats do not include condition reports. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Interested bidders are strongly encouraged to request a condition report on any lots upon which they intend to bid, prior to placing a bid. All transactions are governed by Gorringes Conditions of Sale.

Sold for £1,700