November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
An absolutely remarkable example of a Maryland silver hilted eagle pommel sword with stunning patriotic blade inscription. This attractive sword's hilt was crafted by Thomas H. Warner, who was born in 1780 and learned the trade from his father, later following in his footsteps and going into business for himself. Thomas and his brother Andrew Warner became partners during the early years of the 19th century and are known to have worked together through 1813, before Thomas closed their shop to become the city assayer of silver. In 1827, he is recorded as working on his own using three known hallmarks as signatures of his work. This sword is hallmarked "T WARNER" along with a separate eagle head cartouche and "STERg" inside the knucklebow. The eagle head cartouche designates sterling purity. According to the book "American Silver-Hilted, Revolutionary and Early Federal Swords Volume I" by Dan Hartzler, in which this sword is featured on pgs. 326-327, it is believed that the "T WARNER" hallmark predates the Warner Brother's partnership in 1805. The eagle head is prominent, each feather is individual and features vague rachis and vanes. Significant crest with wide mouth, hooked beak, and football shaped nares. The eyes are in the shape of elongated football, with round centers and deep pupils. A doorknob capstan completes the pommel. The knucklebow is heavy and D-shaped, featuring a sophisticated, rotating hinged branch while the sturdy mainframe has four wonderfully executed slots in the guard. The crossguard terminates in a slightly forward-curved quillon. The folding branch also features similar smaller scaled open slot decorations. A low ferrule holds the center swelled spiraled ivory grip that accommodates twisted silver wire in its grooves. The blade is slightly curved with double fuller, a wide, shallow center fuller, and a deeper, short fuller just beneath the spine. The forte is adorned with the words "HONOUR ~ COUNTRY" on the obverse and "LIBERTY" on the reverse contained in a blued panel with scrolled ends, reading as a parchment scroll when viewed horizontally and a column when viewed vertically. The letters are gilded and terminate in a long stemmed tulip. The word "LIBERTY" is flanked by a leafy branch at each end which include an intertwined pole topped by a liberty cap towards the guard. Complete with its back leather scabbard with scalloped silver mounts. CONDITION: The blade is bright with generous traces of faded blue and strong gilding. A few minor shallow nicks throughout the length of the edge. Evidence of fire bluing remains towards the top of the panel while the lower half is rubbed, most likely from the friction caused by a tight scabbard throat. The hilt is mostly polished with scattered areas of dark patina. Folding guard functions properly. The ivory grip exhibits a pleasing honey patina with some hairline cracks, minor chipping above ferrule at base. The twisted silver wire is tight. The hilt is tight to blade. The scabbard is in 2 pieces, as the drag has separated. Center mount is missing the suspension ring while the top mount remains in place and has a damaged suspension ring. Seam remains tight with some minor cracking crazing. An attractive and patriotic example of an early and innovative eagle head sword.