Lot 540 , A C.B. group of three awarded to Major General Stephen Gallwey Adye C.B., R.A.,

A C.B. group of three awarded to Major General Stephen Gallwey Adye C.B., R.A., comprising: The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion's breast badge in 22ct gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1815, maker's mark 'IN' for John Northam, complete with wide swivel ring, gold straight suspension and gold ribbon buckle, Sultan Selim III's Gold Medal for Egypt, 1801, 3rd Class, 42mm, chain and hook suspension and the Waterloo Medal (Lieut. Col. S. G. Adye, Royal Foot Artillery), fitted with original steel clip and split ring suspension

together with:

English School (19th century)
on ivory
a half-length portrait of Major General Stephen Gallwey Adye C.B., R.A. (1772-1838), depicted wearing a Royal Artillery 1812 pattern coatee with the breast badge of a Companion of the Bath; the Sultan's Gold Medal for Egypt, 1801 and the Waterloo medal
arched rectangular
9.5cm x 6.5cm
gilt frame

and three further 19th century English School family miniature head and shoulder portraits on ivory:

Major Ralph Willett Adye R.A. (1764-1808), oval, 5.6cm x 4.4cm

Major General Stephen Gallwey Adye, C.B., R.A., oval, 5.5cm x 4.2cm

Major James Pattison Adye R.A. (1783-1831), oval, 6.4cm x 5.1cm

all mounted in oval gilt composition frame
Estimate £7,000-9,000

Note: Major General Stephen Gallwey Adye C.B., R.A. (1772-1838) was the third of nine members of the Adye family to serve in the Royal Artillery over six generations. Commissioned on 24th April 1793, in 1801, following the battle of Alexandria and the action of Ramanieh, he received Sultan Selim III's Gold Medal for Egypt from Grand Vizier Kör Yusuf Ziyaüddin Pasha. He was appointed Brevet Major in 1810 and advanced to Major following Wellington's victory at Salamanca in 1812. He became Lieutenant Colonel on Christmas Day 1814 and, in February 1815 following Napoleon's escape from Elba, he joined the allied army in the Netherlands as commander of the artillery attached to the 1st Guards Division. On 15th June Adye's artillery saw action at Quatre Bas under Wellington's direct orders and on the 18th his guns were positioned near Chateau d'Hougoumont where they saw heavy action throughout the day, with 63 of Adye's command being killed or wounded. Adye was made Companion of the Bath on Wellington's personal recommendation.

See Gorringe's Sale on 29th April 2015, Lot 1100, Édouard-Henri-Théophile Pingret (1788-1875), Head and shoulder portrait of Colonel Adye, signed and dated 1818, oil on canvas

Provenance: Adye family by descent

See lots 292-301 and 541 for other Adye family items

The left hand and right hand oval portrait miniatures have fading. The purple velvet is sun-faded and discoloured and the background has come loose from the frame.


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 £14,000