December 10, 2019 Edged Weapon, Armor & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2019
This custom mounted 1852 US Navy officer's saber features a cupguard with Neptune (Poseidon) and pommel featuring his offspring, the winged horse Pegasus, naval motifs on the blade and on the scabbard mounts. The brass hilts and special attached motifs on the mounts are made with a reddish copper tone. The grip is antique ivory (walrus?) with four turns of wire. The pommel features Pegasus and the gorgon Medusa, here with an appropriate fish tail, bursting forth out of the water, indicated by a thin narrow wave along the base. The motif is mirrored along the lower edge of the deeply cast and chased cup guard where two horses break out of the waves with a conch horn blowing Nereid beneath. Amid swirls of scrolling and entwined vines and leaves Neptune stands prominently, wearing a cape and holding a trident and victory wreath. The blade is etched with more conventional US naval motifs on each side: American eagle, fouled anchor, USN in a foliate scroll, stand of arms with a "US" pennant on spear, US shield superimposed on an anchor, etc., with an etched Ames address at obverse base of blade. The scabbard is browned steel with brass throat, upper, middle and lower mounts. The drag is cast as extra-detailed winged dragon. The mounts have separately applied decorative cast in the same reddish brass as the hilt. The lower mount above the drag has Neptune's head at the top, scrolls, and long trident with serpent wrapped around it. The middle mount features a nautical panoply with anchor, lantern, etc. The upper mounts is fitted with a head-on view of a sailing ship with waves curling beneath it, a figurehead bow, a sail with rope hanging from a slanted yardarm. The throat is brass with a oval panel on reverse bordered with stars and bearing the stamp "Ames Mfg. Co. / Chicopee Mass," indicating the whole sword is a product of their workshop. CONDITION: Excellent. Wonderfully detailed hilt scabbard mounts with bright blade etched with US naval motifs. A little green forming on the brass sea monster scabbard drag. Otherwise immaculate. A truly stand-out sword for the Ames or US Navy collector. (SR)