BY CUFF, CURZON STREET, LONDON, CIRCA 1820

Details

A YEOMANRY ARTILLERY OFFICER'S PRESENTATION SWORD
By Cuff, Curzon Street, London, circa 1820
With curved pipe-backed blade etched for approximately two-thirds of its length with foliate decoration, royal arms, 'GR' cypher, trophies, figure of Britannia, the Ordnance shield and other devices, and inscribed 'Presented by the Goodwood Troop of Yeomanry Artillery to their Commandant, His Grace the Duke of Richmond as a token of their Respect and Esteem' (minimal traces of pitting to blade), mameluke-style hilt with gilt-brass crosspiece of the pattern used by Lancer regiments, and ivory grips (one securing bolt missing from grip, the sword-knot hole now plugged), and scabbard also with gilt-brass mounts of Lancer pattern (the blue velvet covering replaced, the ring-bands incorrectly positioned): in a later case
33¼in. (84.5cm.) 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

The troop was formed by the 5th Duke (when he was Earl of March and Darnley) on 19 October 1817. The sword is strongly reminiscent of that adopted by lancers (for full dress and levée use) around 1822. It was presumably presented between the death of the 4th Duke in August 1819 (he was a full General and Commander of the Forces in North America) and 1827, when the troop was disbanded. The 5th Duke (who was to be its Commandant) after a brief period in the 8th Garrison Battalion, was promoted Lieutenant in the 13th Light Dragoons in June 1810 and Captain in the 52nd Foot from April 1813. He was placed on half pay in July 1816 as a Lieutenant-Colonel, having served at Waterloo the previous year, and lived on until 1860

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