LATE 18TH CENTURY

Details

AN ENGLISH SMALL-SWORD
Late 18th Century
With tapering blade of hollow triangular section retaining its etched, blued and gilt decoration on each face of the forte, the hilt entirely of bright steel, including the grip, with pierced oval shell (damaged) with undulating edges, knuckle-guard en suite, and urn-shaped pommel, decorated throughout with faceting and inlaid and applied cut-steel beads (a few losses), in its original steel-mounted vellum-covered scabbard, the locket signed 'Tho.s Gray Sackville Str.t', together with a tasselled sword-knot of silver galloon
35in. (88.9cm.) blade

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium

Lot Essay

Thomas Gray (recorded 1786-1818), who is first recorded in 1786 in bills in the Royal Archives at Windsor, was outstanding amongst 18th century English suppliers of swords. For an account of him and other examples of his work see A.V.B. Norman, The Rapier and Small-Sword, 1460-1820, pp. 346, 390, 392 and plate 153

More from Antique Arms & Militaria

View All