December 10, 2019 Edged Weapon, Armor & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2019
This fine statue hilt features a fullstanding, robed female figure, either Victory or Columbia, wearing a wreath and holding another resting in an elongated shell with a shell and floral cast back. The knuckleguard has deeply cast and chased floral elements and the openwork guard is composed of surprising scrolling leafy branches that are worked in three dimensions and are superimposed on one another. The quillon is in the form of an open-mouthed, snarling hound. The blade pad is present. The back of the blade is etched "iron proof." The reverse ricasso bears the Clauberg trademark. The blade is bright, with a central etched and gold washed panel with Arabesque ends on either side. The obverse is etched with an American eagle and drypoint detailed motto scroll with foliate scrolls at either end. The reverse is etched with "US" between similar scrolls. The scabbard is bright steel with brass mounts, cast on the obverse with openwork floral motifs and on the drag mount with a deeply cast flaming torch. On the reverse between the upper mount and throat the sword is inscribed, "Vote to / Capt. Chas. W. Baxter, / 2nd Light Battery M.V.M. / at the Fair of Post 7 G.A.R. / Boylston Hall, March 5, 1870." Baxter's commission dated to November 6, 1865. He had wartime service at age 25 as a private in the 11th Mass. Battery, a nine month unit that served in the 22nd Corps in the defenses of Washington from August 1862 to May 1863, and received a commission as First Lieutenant of Co. A 42nd Mass. Infantry that served one-hundred days in 1864 doing guard and patrol duty in Maryland. It may be a testimony to his character that the sword was voted to him at a fair held by Post 7, but he is listed in some sources as member of Post 15. He died in 1906. CONDITION: Excellent. A minute pencil-point gray spot on either side of the bright blade at midpoint and a few small gray spots near the point, otherwise immaculate. Three or four shallow dings to the reverse of the scabbard. Bright silver and steel. Mellow tone to the brass. Some gilt in the recesses and more gilt on the foliate upper knuckleguard and the fan of leaves at the back of the figure's head curling over the upper end of the elongated shell around her back. A very impressive sword. (SR)