Collectors Sale, 5th November, 2009.
Lot 494a.
Death Masks. Death-head plaster casts of the brothers
Sir William Scott and Sir John Scott, each mounted on ebonised oval base,
with old manuscript paper label to underside, 'Sir William Scott, Lord
Stowell, Died Jan 28th 1836, in the 91st year of his life. His mask after
death. Elden 1843' and 'Sir John Scott, Earl of Elden, Died Jan 13th 1838,
in the 87th year of his life. His mask after death. Elden 1843', contained
in contemporary purpose-made plush-lined mahogany storage case with brass
carrying handle, overall dimensions 16.5 in tall, 20 in wide, 12.5 in
deep (42 x 51 x 32 cm)
William Scott, 1st Baron Stowell (17 October 1745-28 January 1826) was
an English judge and jurist. Educated at Newcastle Royal Grammar School
and Corpus Christi College at Oxford University, graduated in 1754 and
became first a probationary fellow and then a tutor of University College.
Joined Middle Temple in 1762, sometime later graduated as Doctor of Civil
Law, became Registrar of the Court of Facilities in 1783 and in 1788 Judge
of the Consistory Court and advocate-general, as well as receiving the
honour of knighthood. He was made Judge of the High Court of Admiralty
in 1798.
The judgements of Lord Stowell, were, almost without exception, confirmed
on appeal, and they are to this day (as of 1911) the international law
of England, and have become presumptive though not conclusive evidence
of the international law of America. John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon (4
June 1751-13 January 1838) was a British barrister and politician. Served
as Lord Chancellor of Great Britain between 1801 and 1806 and again between
1807 and 1827. Educated at Newcastle Royal Grammar School and through
the intervention of his elder brother, William, he entered University
College, Oxford, in 1766 with the view of taking holy orders, he graduated
with a Bachelor of Arts in 1770.
On the 18th November 1772 Scott, with the aid of a ladder and an old friend,
carried off Bessie Surtees from her fathers house in the Sandhill, across
the border to Blackshields, in Scotland, where they were married. They
were eventually both reconciled with their families. In 1776 Scott was
called to the bar and settled in London on the northern circuit. He entered
parliament in 1782 for Lord Weymouth's close borough of Weobley and gave
general and independent support to Pitt. He was promoted to the office
of Attorney-General in 1793 and after 17 years service in the Lower House,
he entered the House of Lords as Baron Eldon. (3)
Estimate: £500-£700
