Lot 31
31
A RARE LOWLAND SCOTTISH BALLOCK DAGGER
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more
A RARE LOWLAND SCOTTISH BALLOCK DAGGER

CIRCA 1615-25

Details
A RARE LOWLAND SCOTTISH BALLOCK DAGGER
CIRCA 1615-25
With tapering blade of stiff-diamond section changing to a rectangular ricasso flattened on both sides, etched with a mark on one face, 'T' below a coronet, etched and gilt with a series of rectangular panels of scrollwork over its lower half on both sides, tapering polished ivy rootwood hilt of octagonal section swelling to a domed top and with characteristic basal lobes each inset with a brass domed rivet, the top en suite , and with a concave filed iron washer fitted over the base (the basal lobes each chipped), in its original leather scabbard, both sides tooled with a repeating pattern of thistle heads arranged in three panels with raised mouldings between (chipped at the throat on one side)
13½in (34.3cm)
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

This dagger belongs to a recognised group within which the present example compares most closely with that taken off Col. Blood at his capture after his bid to steal the Crown Jewels in 1671. The Blood dagger is dated 1620 and is reserved in the Royal Armouries Collection. Two further examples were sold at Christie's and Bonhams; respectively 18 May 1994, lot 55 and 27 July 2006, lot 262.
See C. Blair & J. Wallace, Scots or still English?, The Scottish Art Review, Vol.1, No.9, 1963, pp.11-15, 34-7. Also see C. J. Ffoulkes, Daggers attributed to Colonel Blood, The Antiquiaries Journal, Vol.VII (1927), pp.139-40

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