SECOND QUARTER OF THE 18TH CENTURY

Details

A Scottish Basket-Hilted Backsword, The Hilt By Walter Allan Of Stirling
Second quarter of the 18th Century
With tapering blade double-edged towards the point (tip missing) and struck 'Andria Farara' within single narrow fuller running along the back edge on each side, iron guard of rounded bars involving fretted panels pierced with circles and triangles and incised with lines, the rear quillon stamped 'WA/S' and with scrolled wrist-guard (damaged), (associated?) fluted flattened conical pommel surmounted by an iron washer, shagreen-covered grip (incomplete) bound with silver ribbon, and later leather liner faced with red braize
35¾in. (90.8cm.) blade

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Walter Allan of Stirling was admitted Freeman of the Incorporation of Hammermen at Stirling in 1732. He was one of the most skilful of all the Scottish hilt-makers
See William Reid, 'Walter Allan, Armourer in Stirling', The Scottish Art Review, vol. 9, no. 1 (1963), pp. 16-21
For similar Walter Allan hilts see Charles E. Whitelaw, F.S.A. (Scot.), 'Notes on Swords with signed basket hilts by Glasgow and Stirling makers', Transactions of the Glasgow Archaeological Society, vol. VIII, part IV, p. 33, plate III, fig. 4; The Swords and the Sorrows, exhibition catalogue, Culloden, 1996, cat. no. 1:15, p. 31

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