December 10, 2019 Edged Weapon, Armor & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2019
This beautiful saber is an American mounting, circa 1792, of an import blade, likely of German make, with lustrous bluing and drypoint etched motifs with gilt wash and highlights. The blue extends 11" from the guard on either side and terminates with flat ends. The obverse is etched with a short geometric and floral panel just above the narrow ricasso. Above that at panoply of arms with a liberty cap on a pole leads to the principle motif: a large American eagle with a US shield on its chest, fifteen stars overhead, and a knotted ribbon above, reading E Pluribus Unum. The motifs are topped with a wreath of victory and a finely detailed seven-pointed star. The reverse has a similar geometric and floral panel at the base, with a small floral motif above. The uppermost element is panoply of crossed cannons, flags and a liberty cap rising above, atop a pole. The principle element, however, is a boldly etched, "HONOUR AND MY COUNTRY" just below that panoply. The grip is a simple wood grip with black finish, very American in its simplicity, with a simple, round, channeled pommel. The guard is narrow, flaring slightly along the underside to display beveled edges forming an elongated diamond on the exterior, before tapering in again to form a narrow, flat-sided counterguard with a slightly curved flat quillon that ends with a squared off tip, echoing the simple ends of the blued panels. Scabbard is brown leather with dark brown leather collar. CONDITION: Excellent. Very slight thinning to the blue in the upper areas, for the most part rich with good luster. Motifs are gold filled and given bright border highlighting. Gilt border lines are visible to blue panels. Upper blade is grey with dark grey spotting, but good edge and point. Grip has very slight play, shows minor wear to the black finish at points of contact for ridge of holder's palm and finger tips. Scabbard is excellent. No breaks. Good seam. Mixed brown and black with overall crazing and flaking to thin finish, but showing well. No mounts and likely never had any. The throat has narrow leather band sewn around it that may have held a ring or other form of attachment to a belt or baldric. It is possible another such band with a ring was positioned at the midpoint and is now missing. Intact leather scabbards of the period are very rare. A very beautiful sword with quintessentially American hilt form and motifs of the early Republic. (SR)