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LOT 1301
Decorative Copy of Late 16th Century/Early 17th Century European Suit of Armour - The components of this suit of armour copy, appear to show primarily Italian and German influences and appears to be based on common styles found in the late 16th to early 17th centuries in the transitional period from full plate armour to three-quarter and half-plate styles during the adoption of pike and gunpowder warfare. The suit is not heavily adorned but many of the pieces show rolled edges with roped border decor. The helm is of the “close burgonet” variety composed of three pieces, with hinged oreillettes, a large keel-like comb, and a pierced falling buffe, retained to the helm with a leather strap. The breastplate shows a central crease and a short flared tace at the waist, which the cuisses are attached to with leather straps. The large pauldrons are made up of several lames and provide ample armpit protection along with full arm and hand protection, terminating in gauntlets with articulated fingers. The suit features full frontal leg and foot protection, including articulated cuisses and sabatons made up of multiple lames. The interior of most of the plates has a black enamel finish. It stands approximately 6 feet tall including the wooden base, and approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall from the bottom of the foot to the crest of the helm. CONDITION: Very good, showing mostly an attractive bright grey patina overall with some scattered light speckling of oxidation and pitting, and a few areas showing a darker grey patina. The newer leather straps are in near new condition. Overall an attractive suit of armor that is ready for display! Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
LOT 1302
Desirable Engraved Late 17th/Early 18th Century German Executioner’s Sword - This morbid piece of art is a German executioner’s sword from the late 17th to early 18th century, near the end of the use of swords for beheading. Executioner’s held an interesting place in European society throughout the medieval ages and through the renaissance, in part being societal pariahs, while also being highly respected for their grim work. Both sides of the blade are lightly engraved, one with the image of a breaking wheel and a Latin inscription loosely translated to “The departure of the divine does not remain unsaid” and the other with a gallows and a Latin inscription loosely translated to “Let the world seek justice”. It measures 40 inches overall with a 32 3/8 inch blade that is blunted/squared at the tip, typical of this type of sword that was only intended to ever make decisive cuts. It weighs approximately 3.7 lbs. (1.68 kg). The gilt brass guard is of a simple cross type. The grip is tightly leather wrapped and lightly fluted. The “scent stopper” pommel is also of gilt brass, and has a small button finial with visibly peened tang. CONDITION: Very fine, the blade mostly bright with some very light spotting throughout and mostly crisp engraving. The brass shows an attractively aged patina overall with some faint traces of the gilt finish. The grip is also very fine with tight leather wrapping that shows light wear. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1303
Early/Mid-18th Century “Andria Ferara” Marked North British Basket Hilted Cavalry Backsword - Famously associated with Scottish highlanders, the basket hilted sword was popular throughout Britain, especially in the north, and prior to the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. This example, manufactured in the early/mid-18th century shows the typical characteristics of a sword produced for British heavy cavalry. Both sides of the blade within the double fuller are double marked “x ANDRIA x FERARA x”. Typically only the finest Scottish manufactured blades were marked with the “Andrea Ferrara” name. The fullers run three quarters of the blade, which measures 32 inches. It measures approximately 38 inches overall. The basket guard shows the typical, un-pierced, plain style of munitions grade British cavalry swords, as well as the characteristic “low bun” pommel with a visibly peened tang. The grip is shagreen that has been rewrapped with waxed sinew and there are remnants of a tassel near the guard ring at the pommel base. CONDITION: Very good, the metal showing a mixture of bright and dark grey patina overall with some moderate pitting throughout and clear, deep markings. The grip is fine with moderate wear and rewrapped with modern sinew. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 1304
Attractive Early/Mid-18th Century Scottish Basket Hilted Backsword - Manufactured in the early-mid 1700s, this backsword is typical of those favored by Scottish highlanders of the period. The blade measures 30 1/4 inches with one full edge and a short false edge near the tip. It has a deep fuller just below the spine and a wider shallow fuller below that. There is some faint illegible engraving visible on the lower third of the blade on both sides. It measures approximately 36 inches overall. The hilt is of the fairly typical “Glasgow type” with inner and outer shields pierced with heart variations and small circles, looped forward guard, and pierced heart shaped side guards flanked by ram’s horns. It has a narrow rolled wrist guard. The pommel is a faceted scent stopper with visibly peened tang. The grip is shagreen that was once wire wrapped (wire wrap now absent). CONDITION: Very good, the blade mostly a bright grey patina with some evidence of sharpening and mild wear, and a few scattered nicks in the edge. The guard is mostly a smooth grey patina with some scattered mild pitting. The incomplete grip is good with the wire wrap absent and moderate wear. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500