November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
This impressive sword uses a double-fullered short saber or cuttoe blade made and marked on the spine by William Rose mounted in silver by Annapolis silversmith William Faris, using a beautiful silver eagle head pommel, shallow reverse-P knuckleguard, and an openwork counterguard in the shape of Federal eagle with raised wings, having feathers, eyes and beak finely rendered on both the interior and exterior. The pommel eagle uses a single-cut mouth with line decoration, prominent brow, and incised overlapping feathers. The flat knuckle bow has narrow depressed channel borders with a raised zig-zag or wavy interior line. This merges with the tail feathers of the eagle on the underside of the guard. The quillon is formed by the head of the eagle employed for the counterguard, which is open between the raised curve of the wings and the eagle's neck and between the lower curve of each wing and the eagle's outstretched leg, with its claw merging with its wing tip. Feathers are delineated by narrow, vertical roped lines. The eagle was also fashioned with a United States shield on its chest, portions of which are visible on either side of the blade. All 3 scabbard mounts are silver. The middle mount bears Faris's raised "WF" in rectangular cartouche. The upper mount bears a later engraved U.S. eagle and flag with delicate script inscription, "Harry Woodward / War 1812." Hartzler (Silver-hilted Rev. and Early Fed. Swords, 1. 332) attributes the sword to William Faris, Jr. (1762-?,) who left Annapolis by 1790 and was working in Edenton, NC by 1799 and at least to 1803, but there seems no good reason not to see it as the work of Willam Faris, Sr. (1728-1804.) Though sometimes thought to postdate 1810, the "W. Rose" blade mark is known on an officer's sword dated to 1805 by Peterson (Silver Hilt addendum to the American Sword, Plate 24.) The configuration of the sword is clearly early and the eagle used for the guard has a wonderfully early Federal period "chicken-legged" look. Hartzler reports Harry Woodward served in the Anne Arundel County militia in the War of 1812. A family connection to the owner is suspected through the wife of William Faris, Sr.: Priscilla Woodward. CONDITION: Very good. Blade is smooth metal with good edge and point, muted silver gray with some darker stains. Hilt is tight. Cream color grip with light brown spotting. Some narrow hairlines obverse. Some minor chipping near guard. Twisted wire binding in place with gold tone. Minor tarnish in places to silver. Scabbard good, minor scuffs, reverse seam good, lower edge separated for 4" starting about 9" from tip. Middle carrying ring missing with replacement simply wired in place.
Paperwork
Excerpt from Book