Page 33 - Oct 3 & 4 Auction 2020

724. JOHN GOSNELL & CO BEARS GREASE POT LID. 3ins diam. Extravagantly decorated Otto of Rose Bear’s Grease Lid. Floral swags loop around the edge hung with crowns and medals flagging their position as Royal suppliers. The hugely characterful bear, looking not unlike the American Werewolf in London caught in headlights, surmounts seven lines of text in various fonts with engrossing lines all about. ‘Otto of Rose’ or ‘Attar of Roses’ is the fragrant, colourless, essence of rose in an oil. Bear’s grease, a preparation used like hair gel, was originally made from bear fat but later lard was used. There is an, old, underside chip plus some sticky residue
(it was taken out of a wooden frame) which should clean off very easily. In truth the entire lid needs a good wash in saopy water! A very rare and significant bear offering. (9?/10) NR £2,000-3,000+
John Gosnell’s name first appears in association with bear’s grease in 1818 as a partner with Patey, Price & Co. From 1818 Price & Gosnell were at the two addresses on the lid but only after Gosnell’s death in 1832 and division of the company did John Gosnell & Co start to be used on their lids (initially with ‘late Price & Gosnell’). Since the building at 12 Three Kings Court burnt to the ground in 1865 and that the lid mentions ‘Her Majesty’ we can be sure this is an early (and particularly impressive) lid dating between 1837 and 1865.
Left: Original gates to the John Gosnell factory.