[ Boxing / Earls of Lonsdale, Lowther Castle ] A pair of George III Staffordshire figures, respectively of the bare knuckle boxers Cribb and Molyneux, circa 1810-20, likely after the engraving by George Smeeton of 1812, approx 21.5 cm. [ Tom Cribb was one of the great English boxers. On the 18th of December 1810 he defeated the exhausted American champion pugilist Tom Molyneux in the 30th round. He was again victorious in a rematch the following year. [Provenance: Lowther Family / Earls of Lonsdale. Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale was a major patron of sport, and a founding member and first president of the National Sporting Club, he donated the original boxing trophy Lonsdale belt.]