The bridle from a horse reputed to have been ridden by Captain Nolan in the charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaklava will be sold at Christie's auction next weekend. The Raglan Collection: Wellington, Waterloo & The Crimea will be offered at auction on 22 May as part of a two day sale, followed by Works of Art from the Collection of the Marquesses of Londonderry on 23 May.
 
These two distinguished families are linked together through their prominence in early 19th century history. The 500 lot sale includes important historical medals, arms and armour, militaria, pictures, furniture, silver, books, Indian weapons and works of art, as well as a selection of ethnographic art.
 
Lot 125 is the bridle of the charger ridden by Captain Nolan who conveyed the order for the charge of the Light Brigade on 25 October 1854. The major elements of the bridle consist of brown leather with brass fittings and large domed bosses and a horse hair jowl plume, est £3,000-£5,000.
 
Lot 529 is a French monumental bronze sculpture of 'Ajax Bravant Les Dieux' (Ajax defying the gods), est £25,000 - £40,000. Cast by Charles Crozatier, Paris from the model by Louis Marie Charles Henry Mercier Dupaty, circa 1830, Ajax was shipwrecked after the sack of Troy by Athena, but saved by Poseidon. Ajax, boasting of his own power defied the gods and was struck down by lightening. The Marquess of Londonderry probably acquired the bronze after attending a dinner given by King Louis-Phillipe in 1837. It is possible that the Borghese Gladiator (lot 530) also offered in this sale was acquired at the same time. The oversize bronze gladiator stands 160cm high and is estimated to fetch £15,000 - £25,000, and was possibly also cast by Crozatier.
 
A French life-size white marble figure of 'Suzanne au Bain' by Pierre Sebastien Guersant, dated 1840, was probably commissioned whilst the 3rd Marquess and Marchioness of Londonderry were visiting Paris in 1837 possibly for the gallery at Holderness House (later Londonderry House). Suzanne is draped on a rock issuing water surrounded by reeds with a serpent and snake to the base. This example has an estimate of £25,000-£40,000. The original example by Beauvallet, 1813, is now in the Louvre.
 
The Londonderry collection will see a number of overmantle mirrors for sale (lots 146, 147 and 255). The two larger ones are made from giltwood and simulated bamboo, and date from around 1820. Their estimate is £2,500-£4,000 each. Also for sale are two lots of pairs of early Victorian white painted cast iron garden benches, estimate £2,000-£3,000 and £1,500-£2,000.
 
For those with a smaller budget Lot 140 comprises of four cast iron cannon balls of varying sizes almost certainly from the crimean war, est £100-£150.
 
The Raglan Collection: Wellington, Waterloo & The Crimea and Works of Art from the Collection of the Marquesses of Londonderry.
Christie's Saleroom, 8 King Street, St. James's, London
22 May 2014 - 23 May 2014