The Properties of The Executors Of the Late Lt. Colonel John Chandos-Pole C.V.O., O.B.E., removed from Newnham Hall, Northhamptonshire
AN UNUSUAL ENGLISH RAPIER with tapering blade of flattened hexagonal section, central fuller on each face of the forte stamped with traces of an inscription, iron hilt with cup chiselled with a central rosette forming 'petals' pierced with numerous small holes, recurved scrolled quillons, and half-basket guard formed of scrolled side-bars either side of a heart-shaped knuckle-plate decorated en suite with the cup, fluted ovoidal pommel, and original wooden grip bound with horse-hair (slightly damaged); and an English sword with later blade (incomplete), iron 'mortuary' hilt composed of slender scrolled bars above a shell pierced and chiselled with stylised foliage in low relief, and globular pommel chiselled with foliage (grip missing), both first half of the 17th Century

Details
AN UNUSUAL ENGLISH RAPIER with tapering blade of flattened hexagonal section, central fuller on each face of the forte stamped with traces of an inscription, iron hilt with cup chiselled with a central rosette forming 'petals' pierced with numerous small holes, recurved scrolled quillons, and half-basket guard formed of scrolled side-bars either side of a heart-shaped knuckle-plate decorated en suite with the cup, fluted ovoidal pommel, and original wooden grip bound with horse-hair (slightly damaged); and an English sword with later blade (incomplete), iron 'mortuary' hilt composed of slender scrolled bars above a shell pierced and chiselled with stylised foliage in low relief, and globular pommel chiselled with foliage (grip missing), both first half of the 17th Century
The first 41¾in. blade (2)

Lot Essay

Almost certainly carried by Sir John Gell, 1st Bt. of Hopton or possibly by his younger brother Thomas ('Sweet Tom'). The latter was born in 1594. He was a Bencher of the Inner Temple, Recorder and Member of parliament for Derbyshire in 1645, and a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Parliamentary Army, serving under his elder brother. He died in 1657. The former was born in 1593. He was a Colonel in the Parliamentary Army and in October 1642 raised a Regiment of Foot, took Derby and became Govenor of the town; while in office he inflicted stiff penalties on Royalist families in the county. He was at the taking of Lichfield and the Battle of Hopton Heath in 1643. In 1645 he failed to intercept the King and his troops on their flight to Naseby and charges of misconduct were brought against him. In 1650 he was committed to the Tower and following his conviction, had his lands confiscated, but two years later he was pardoned. He was a signatory on the appeal to General Monck for Parliament in 1660. He was Member of Parliament for Derbyshire, High Sheriff in 1635, and created a baronet in 1641/2. He died at his house in London in 1671. His buff coat and personal colour were sold at Christie's South Kensington on 21 June 1994, lots 383 and 384 respectively

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