Page 284 - 88-BOOK2

282
LOT 1292
Impressive Embossed Suit of Armor in the 16th Century Style - This example appears
to be a completely homogeneous contemporary suit of armor. The helmet skull is composed of several pieces welded together. The visor has embossed sights with floral scroll designs above them. There is a plume holder. The bevor latches to the skull with a swiveling hook and a post with a piercing. The breastplate is embossed with a mythological face with floral scrolls. The front of the pauldrons are embossed with a bust of a soldier and there is a strip of embossed floral scroll down the side. The elbow and knee cops are also embossed with floral scroll designs. Welded finger gauntlets with pointed spikes on the knuckles. The edges are rolled and roped throughout. The tassets have a brass double headed eagle coat of arms. There is a crown over the eagle heads and the shield on its chest has a castle in the upper left and lower right. The lower left and upper right have a rampant lion. With a 93 1/2 inch long contemporary halberd. The head screws into a socket on the end of the shaft. Stands almost 9 feet tall with base and halberd. CONDITION: Very good overall. There are some scattered scratches and some patches of discoloration. A very impressive suit with numerous embossed elements, that would be standout in an office or for foyer setting. Estimate: 10,000 - 16,000
LOT 1293
Rare and Desirable Early-18th Century
Scottish Basket-Hilted Broadsword with Ornate Hilt by John Simpson the Younger
of Glasgow - This rare Scottish basket-hilted broadsword is an exceptionally fine example of a pre-Battle
of Culloden sword typical of those favored by Scottish highlanders, civilian and military alike. A high quality
example such as this one would have been a fine fit for the hand of a clan chief or officer in one of many highland
regiments in the British army. These iconic swords remain incredibly desirable to collectors, especially those bearing
Scottish maker’s marks such as this one. The hilt of this weapon bears the deeply struck maker’s mark “I-S/G” on the rear
quillion, the mark of John Simpson the Younger of Glasgow. Simpson the Younger was the son of, and likely apprenticed to,
John Simpson the Elder, who was admitted to the Incorporation of Hammermen in 1683, and later admitted as a Guild-Brother
and Master in 1692, before dying around 1718. Simpson the Elder is believed to be one of the first Scottish makers to stamp his mark on the hilts he manufactured. Simpson the Younger was admitted to the Incorporation of Hammermen in 1711 as a freemason and died in 1749. The lenticular sectioned blade of this example
is marked as made “IN SOLINGEN” on both sides in the center of three deep fullers arranged around the forte, and the Solingen “running wolf” mark is stamped
just above the center fuller on both sides. These Solingen-made blades were of very high quality and commonly used by Scottish swordsmiths of the period. The basket is of the typical Glasgow style, though more elaborate, featuring grooved rectangular bars, scalloped shields and side guards pierced with triangles and dots, and pierced terminal lobes of the side guards flanked by ram’s horns. The pommel is an elaborately grooved flattened dome with a visibly peened tang, and the saltire bars and knuckle guard bars correctly fitted into a groove at its base. Some of the original black Japanned finish on the hilt remains visible in the grooves of the basket and pommel. The grip is shagreen and attractively wrapped in period brass wire. A very similar example to this sword is held in the Royal Armouries Collections (IX.873) and is pictured on p. 103 of “British Basket-Hilted Swords” by Cyril Mazansky.
CONDITION: Fine, the blade showing a mix of bright and dark grey patina with a few light nicks in the edges, some scattered light pitting, some slight edge erosion due to sharpening, and crisp markings. The hilt is also very fine retaining traces of the original Japanned finish in sheltered areas with the balance mostly a bright grey patina and some light pitting. The grip is very fine showing some mild wear and most of the period wire wrapping remaining tight. It would be very difficult to find a finer example of a pre-Battle of Culloden, maker’s marked Scottish basket-hilted broadsword!
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1294 Attractive 17th Century German Style Swept Hilt Rapier with Solingen Marked Blade - Developed beginning in the 16th century, the rapier evolved as a distinctly civilian sidearm that was later adapted to military and battlefield use. Most effective in quick thrusting against unarmoured opponents, it was an ideal everyday carry, self defense weapon for civilians, as well as becoming more and more common on the battlefield as armour began to wane. The blade on this example appears to bear various marks of a Solingen bladesmith, with an unidentified deeply sunk mark on each ricasso, “xxx xxx” in the fuller on each side, and a “steeple and cross” line symbol above the fuller on each side. The hilt is of a typical German style with swept guard featuring S-shaped quillions forming a knuckle guard, dual arms/finger rings, and side rings, the outer having two dropping guards. The ovoidal pommel is fluted with a visibly peened tang and the grip is copper and iron wire wrapped. CONDITION: Fine, the metal mostly an attractively aged grey-brown patina with some scattered patches of light pitting and mostly crisp markings. The wire wrapping on the grip remains mostly tight. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000 LOT 1295 Very Scarce 17th Century “Menina” Marked Venetian Schiavona Broadsword - An early predecessor to other basket hilt type swords throughout Europe, the schiavona was popularized by the mercenaries who guarded the doge of Venice, who were from the Dalmatia region of modern Croatia and Montenegro. These basket hilted swords developed to protect the hands in situations where a protective gauntlet wasn’t worn, such as unarmoured lower class fighters or when out of armour in everyday clothing. The blade of this example is double marked “MENINA” in both fullers on each side of the blade, who is likely the maker. The long straight blade has a low central ridge and deep, narrow, double fullers on the lower third. The hilt features a typical, ornate Venetian style basket and an iconic, brass “cat’s head” pommel with a visibly peened tang. The grip is leather wrapped and spirally fluted. It measures 40 3/4 inches overall with a 34 1/4 inch blade. CONDITION: Very good, the blade a bright grey patina with light pitting throughout, a few scattered light nicks in the edges, and crisp markings. The guard shows a similar bright patina and light pitting. The grip is also very good with mild wear and the brass pommel shows an attractively aged patina. A very good example of a desirable Venetian schiavona! Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1296 Desirable 16th/17th Century French Style Swept Hilt Rapier - Developed beginning in the 16th century, the rapier evolved as a distinctly civilian sidearm that was later adapted to military and battlefield use. Most effective in quick thrusting against unarmoured opponents, it was an ideal everyday carry, self defense weapon for civilians, as well as becoming more and more common on the battlefield as armour began to wane. This example appears unmarked but shows fairly typical French style, with the guard having nearly straight quillions that taper wider at the ends, large loop guard, side loop, and triple counterguards, all over round bar. The pommel is spherical and plain with a visibly peened tang, and the grip is leather wrapped. The flattened diamond section blade has a central fuller at the forte and measures 42 3/4 inches long. CONDITION: Fine, the metal showing mostly a bright grey patina overall with some scattered speckling of light pitting. The grip is also fine with some mild wear. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000