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LOT 1223
Historic Presentation British Artillery Officer’s Sword with Sculpted Gilt Silver Lion Head Pommel and Inscribed
Scabbard for a Commandant of the Leith Volunteer Artillery - Measuring 37 1/2 inches in overall length, this sword
is fitted with a 32 1/2 inch curved single fuller blade with a flat spine and broad fullers. In contrast to typical martial
decoration of the era, which typically ran the lower third of the blade, or half at most, the niter blue accents run to
within 3 1/2 inches of the tip, with gold accents running a solid 2/3rds of the length and numerous floral and martial
accents around a set of decorative panels. The right side of the blade is decorated with a scene of a maiden providing
water for a swan or other large bird in the upper half and the King George royal cipher in the lower half, and the left
side shows a female figure in Grecian-style armor with a spear and shield (either a classical goddess like Athena or
Minerva or an allegorical figure) over the Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom. The guard and pommel are constructed
from gilt silver, both bearing a set of hallmarks including a “GT” stamp in the style of George Turner, a silversmith active
between 1809 and 1835, which would correspond to the final years of the reign of George III (mostly during the regency
of then-Prince of Wales George) and the beginning of the reign of George IV. Scalloped triangular languets are present on
the guard, with raised and sculpted designs of laurels, a fasces with axe, and a quiver of arrows on each side, and ribbing and
feather motifs on the stirrup-shaped bow, and the pommel is a sculpted lion with details of the mane running all the way to the
ferrule of the checkered ivory grip. Scabbard is black leather construction, with three sections of “GT” hallmarked gilt silver forming
the throat, mid band, and tip, all decorated with pierced-through circle and crescent designs and a mix of floral and key pattern
engraving. On the reverse of the throat is the inscription “Presented/by the Leith Trinity House/Volunteer Artillery as a/mark of respect
to John Hay/Esquire, Cap. Commandant/October 25. 1809”. Trinity House in Leith, Scotland, was the headquarters of the Incorporation
of Master and Mariners of Leith, one of the oldest recognized trade guilds in one of Scotland’s busiest port
cities. A number of volunteer artillery units were started in England and Scotland around this time due
to fears of Napoleon’s activities on the Continent, the War of the Fifth Coalition having just ended to
the great loss of Britain’s coalition ally Austria, with Leith known to have erected at least one Martello
Tower coastal fort in anticipation of a possible attack by sea. John Hay has not been positively
identified, though clearly was an organizer, trainer or other supporter of the Volunteer Artillery.
CONDITION: Very fine. The blade shows some minor spotting on the bright sections, retaining excellent
detail in the decoration and minimal fading of
the niter blue near the tip. The hilt shows a dark
patina in some of the lower areas with sharp
detailing in the engraving and lion head, with
some minor chips of the grip. The scabbard is
good, with a glue-repaired break between the
throat and mid band, mild scuffing on the leather,
and attractive metal.
Estimate: 11,000 - 16,000
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